"A record number of people have taken part in the Athens marathon to mark the 2,500th anniversary of the run which inspired the modern event.

"In 490BC, the Athenian army defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon. According to legend, a messenger called Pheidippides ran the 42km (26 miles) to Athens to announce the victory.

"More than 12,500 people ran the same route as Pheidippides on Sunday."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/11660600

(Pheidippides dropped dead after reporting the Greek victory.)