10 The Marathon
Twenty-six miles， 385 yards is rather odd distance for a foot
race．Most other running races are measured in lengths of even
numbers． The marathon，however，has an ancient history， going
back to the early Greek Olympics．
The Greeks started the Olympics in 776 B．C． to honour the god
Zeus． Every four years， they brought together athletes from
all the Greek cities． A nationwide truce was called for the
five days of competition held in Olympia．The first day was
devoted to ceremonies， banquets，and sacrifices．Early events
included running，boxing，wrestling，pentathlon，and various horse
and chariot races．
After 490 B．C．， a special long-distance race， the marathon，
was added to commemorate the legendary feat of a Greek
soldier． It was said that he ran from the Plain of Marathon to
Athens， a distance of 22 miles， 1470 yards， to bring the news
of the Greek victory over the Persian army． Upon exclaiming，
“Rejoice! We have won!” he collapsed and died．
marathon 马拉松
athlete 运动员
nationwide ? 全国的
truce 休战
devote ? 奉献
ceremony ? 典礼
banquet ? 宴会
sacrifice 祭祀
wrestling ? 摔跤
pentathlon ? 五项全能
chariot race 战车比赛
commemorate 纪念
legendary feat 传奇性的壮举
exclaim 大喊
rejoice 欣喜，高兴
collapse ? 倒塌，崩溃，虚脱
马拉松
26英里285码对于跑步项目来说是个奇怪的距离。其他跑步项目大多是以偶数计算长度的。然而，马拉松有着悠久的历史，可以追溯到早期希腊奥林匹克运动会。
希腊人于公元前776年开始举办奥林匹克运动会以纪念宙斯。希腊各城市的运动员每四年聚集一次，在奥林匹亚举行竞赛，在这竞赛的五天内全国休战。第一天有典礼、宴会和祭祀。早期的项目包括跑步、拳击、摔跤、五项全能及各种马术和战车比赛。
公元前490年以后，奥林匹克运动会中又加设了一项特殊的长跑项目——马拉松，以纪念一位希腊士兵传奇性的壮举。据说他从马拉松平原跑到雅典，一共跑了22英里，1
470码，为了带回希腊战胜波斯军队的胜利消息，在高喊出“欢呼吧！我们胜利了！”后，他倒在地上死了。
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