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The Great Marathons

When these happened

30 dated records from 490 BCE to 2027. Each is drawn as wide as its date is certain — a band is a band because nobody knows the year, not because the drawing is imprecise.

0500100015002000Battle of Marathon — 490 BCEValerios Stais excavates the Tumulus of the Athenians — 1891The first modern Olympic marathon, Marathon to Athens — 1896-04-10The first Boston Marathon — 1897-04-19The 1908 Olympic marathon fixes 26 miles 385 yards — 1908-07-24The international federation is founded — 1912–1913The 1908 distance becomes the world standard — 1921Boston lengthens its course and moves the start to Hopkinton — 1924Women run Boston, unofficially and then officially — 1966–1972The first New York City Marathon, in Central Park — 1970-09-13The first Berlin Marathon, in the Grunewald — 1974New York goes to five boroughs — 1976The first Chicago Marathon, as the Mayor Daley Marathon — 1977-09-25New York is remeasured and two world bests are voided — 1981–1985The first London Marathon — 1981-03-29Berlin moves its marathon into the city — 1981-09-27The Berlin Marathon runs through the Brandenburg Gate — 1990-09-30The World Marathon Majors series is announced — 2006-01-23The first Tokyo Marathon — 2007-02-18Tokyo becomes the sixth Major — 2013-02-24Bombings at the Boston Marathon finish line — 2013-04-15Tokyo redesigns its course for speed — 2017World Athletics regulates the racing shoe — 2020-01-31Kelvin Kiptum runs 2:00:35 in Chicago — 2023-10-08Ruth Chepngetich runs 2:09:56 in Chicago — 2024-10-13Tigst Assefa sets a women-only world record in London — 2025Sydney runs its first race as the seventh Major — 2025-08-31The first sub-two-hour marathon in a record-eligible race — 2026-04-26Cape Town is confirmed as the eighth Major — 2026-06Cape Town scheduled to run as a Major — 2027-05-23 (scheduled)
30 shown · 30 dated · 0 cannot be placed on an axis · Approximate or contested. Draw a band and do not sharpen its edges.
In order30
  1. 490 BCEBattle of Marathon

    Sources disagree, or the dating is contested. Stated, not resolved.

  2. 1891Valerios Stais excavates the Tumulus of the Athenians

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  3. 1896-04-10The first modern Olympic marathon, Marathon to Athens

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  4. 1897-04-19The first Boston Marathon

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  5. 1908-07-24The 1908 Olympic marathon fixes 26 miles 385 yards

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  6. 1912–1913The international federation is founded

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  7. 1921The 1908 distance becomes the world standard

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  8. 1924Boston lengthens its course and moves the start to Hopkinton

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  9. 1966–1972Women run Boston, unofficially and then officially

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  10. 1970-09-13The first New York City Marathon, in Central Park

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  11. 1974The first Berlin Marathon, in the Grunewald

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  12. 1976New York goes to five boroughs

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  13. 1977-09-25The first Chicago Marathon, as the Mayor Daley Marathon

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  14. 1981–1985New York is remeasured and two world bests are voided

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  15. 1981-03-29The first London Marathon

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  16. 1981-09-27Berlin moves its marathon into the city

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  17. 1990-09-30The Berlin Marathon runs through the Brandenburg Gate

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  18. 2006-01-23The World Marathon Majors series is announced

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  19. 2007-02-18The first Tokyo Marathon

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  20. 2013-02-24Tokyo becomes the sixth Major

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  21. 2013-04-15Bombings at the Boston Marathon finish line

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  22. 2017Tokyo redesigns its course for speed

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  23. 2020-01-31World Athletics regulates the racing shoe

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  24. 2023-10-08Kelvin Kiptum runs 2:00:35 in Chicago

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  25. 2024-10-13Ruth Chepngetich runs 2:09:56 in Chicago

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  26. 2025Tigst Assefa sets a women-only world record in London

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  27. 2025-08-31Sydney runs its first race as the seventh Major

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  28. 2026-04-26The first sub-two-hour marathon in a record-eligible race

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  29. 2026-06Cape Town is confirmed as the eighth Major

    It happened, and the record is settled.

  30. 2027-05-23 (scheduled)Cape Town scheduled to run as a Majora declared target, not a prediction

    A programme target or declared plan. NEVER a prediction.