That's a damn 13 mile run! That ain't a loser. That is a far higher level of endurance than most average people.Originally Posted by Kadmos
The thing about Greeks dropping dead isn't from the single 26 mile run either. It's kind of a mashup of two Greek sporting traditions.
One: You've got the Battle of Marathon, where Philippides was a courier. This poor shmoe ran back and forth from Marathon to Athens to deliver what in those days was as close to real-time comand and control as you could get (I guess they were short on horses and pigeons or something). He didn't just run one 26 mile wind-sprint and keel over. He'd been running between Athens, Sparta and Marathon for two days straight. Anyways, at the end of his last run he gets to Athens and with his dying breath anounces victory. "NIKE!"
Pictured: Just doing "it"?
The other part comes from an ancient enduro race ran by the crazy tough and stupid strong. The old school Greek sports scene being what appears to be some kind of sadistic blood feast featured a race where much like their Pugilism and Wresling, the game wasn't over until only one athlete remained able to continue. So the runners would litterally go until they dropped, last man standing wins. Naturally some of these guys pushed to hard and in fine Philippidian tradition didn't get back up. Hence, "ancient Greeks dying in the Marathon".
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