The marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers) has historical roots and was not determined as a round number in the metric system. The race's origin can be traced back to the Battle of Marathon in ancient Greece in 490 BCE. Legend has it that a Greek soldier named Pheidippides ran from the city of Marathon to Athens, a distance of approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers), to deliver the news of a Greek victory over the Persians. He supposedly exclaimed "We have won!" before collapsing and dying from exhaustion.

However, the modern marathon distance of 26.2 miles was determined in a somewhat arbitrary manner. The first organized marathon race took place during the 1896 Olympics, with a distance of approximately 40 kilometers (24.85 miles), roughly matching the legend's distance. In the 1908 London Olympics, the marathon course was extended to 26 miles (41.84 kilometers) to accommodate the preferences of the British royal family. The race started at Windsor Castle, and an additional 385 yards (0.21875 miles or 0.352 kilometers) was added so the race could finish in front of the royal box at the Olympic Stadium.

In 1921, the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) standardized the marathon distance at 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers), based on the 1908 London Olympic course. Since then, this distance has been used for marathon races worldwide.
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