Legend has it that a runner called Pheidippides was the original Marathoner. After the Greeks' victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490BC, the messenger was sent into Athens to deliver the message Nenikhkamen ('We've won'). Unfortunately for Pheidippides, writes Barney Spender, it was all too much for him as, moments after passing on the joyful news, he dropped dead.

It is this ancient route that the runners followed in 1896 and will again this year. It is one of the toughest of courses with rugged hills in the third quarter as the runners approach Athens. It is one of only four Olympic courses with a net uphill gradient, the others being Mexico City (1968), Los Angeles (1984) and Barcelona (1992).

Starting from the plains of Marathon, the first 10 kilometres are relatively flat as the runners head down to the coastal town of Mati and Rafina (15kms). There is then a gentle rise to Pikerni (20kms) before the hard work begins.