Here's the story:
* The Battle: The Greeks, led by Miltiades, defeated the invading Persian army at the Battle of Marathon.
* The Messenger: A soldier named Pheidippides was tasked with running from Marathon to Athens, a distance of approximately 26 miles, to announce the victory.
* The News: Pheidippides delivered the news, "Nike! (Victory!)" and then collapsed and died.
The Legend: The story of Pheidippides became legendary, and in 1896, the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens. The race from Marathon to Athens was chosen as the distance for the marathon event, in honor of Pheidippides.
Important Note: While the story of Pheidippides is widely accepted, there is some historical debate about its accuracy. However, it's clear that the word "marathon" became associated with the long distance race due to its connection to the Battle of Marathon.