Smithsonian Magazine

Check out this Smithsonian Magazine story about the 1904 Olympic marathon which may well have been the strangest ever.

Far cry from the men’s marathon results from this year’s Olympics with the top three runners turning in times of 2:08:01, 2:08:27 and 2:09:37.   America’s Meb Keflezighi gave them a run for their money though, coming in 4th with a 2:11:06.

Speaking of worst marathons ever….

American Olympic marathon contenders Ryan Hall and Abdi Abdirahman would both probably agree that Sunday was their worst (or, at least, most disappointing) marathon ever. Both walked off the course shortly after the 10-mile mark with injuries. Hall, who had never quit a race before, suffered a right hamstring muscle strain, and Abdi suffered an injury to his right knee.