He ran a marathon and died.
Today, millions run marathons and are fine.
Some do it while wearing T-Rex costumes.
this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2024
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Pheidippides didn't run a marathon. He ran 260 km over two days and died. A modern marathon is "only" 42.195 km.
You'd probably die as well without training for said marathon, which that poor man didn't have the luxury of doing.
Oh man, are you selling it short. He was a professional running-courier, so we can assume he was well-seasoned for the activity, BUT
The traditional story relates that Pheidippides (530–490 BC), an Athenian herald, or hemerodrome[3] (translated as 'day-runner',[4] 'courier',[5][6] 'professional-running courier'[3] or 'day-long runner'[7]), was sent to Sparta to request help when the Persians landed at Marathon, Greece. He ran about 240 km (150 mi) in two days, and then ran back. He then ran the 40 km (25 mi) to the battlefield near Marathon and back to Athens to announce the Greek victory over Persia in the Battle of Marathon (490 BC) with the word νικῶμεν (nikomen[8] 'We win!'), as stated by Lucian chairete, nikomen ('hail, we are the winners')[9] and then collapsed and died.
If I'm reading this correctly, he ran 350 miles in around a week or less? That's insane.
Ok, yeah that's insane. No wonder the poor guy dropped from exhaustion
Probably kidney failure
Happy Cakeday! 🍰🎂
Kidney failure? Was he chugging wine and mead the whole way, or is that just a result of extreme dehydration?
Muscles break down kidneys get overwhelmed and go into failure. Sometimes (rarely) ultra marathoners will need dialysis and they are running a much shorter distance.
Ahh! Gotcha. Fair enough. I suppose that's actually useful for me to know, thanks!
Rhabdo?
I dunno basically basing this off a bit of running knowledge and something I sorta remembered, probably from an episode of house or some other medical show. I also did a bit of quick googling to validate its a real thing.
No have horse?
Humans can actually outrun a horse under certain conditions, notably hot temperatures and extreme distances.
But like if he could have ridden a horse and then ran and found a new horse ya know? Maybe he could have lived
Funnily enough, a pony train has been the solution many times throughout history. A messenger would ride one horse to exhaustion, jump on another at a depot, and continue.
Now we're cookin with grease
Very expensive, like owning a Rolls Royce as a modern day gig worker delivering pizzas...
Famously ancient historians never embellished anything especially when it comes to a story with national significance
he ran 350 miles in around a week or less? That's insane.
You may not like it but this is what peak performance looks like
spoiler
Is that the nutsack mascot from the Postal games?
Is that available at any Spirit Halloween?
Dude died afterwards, no? Not something I aspire to
But think of the IMMORTAL GLORY you'll win!
... yeah, I ain't too big on it either, I'll take the train.
What was this person's name?
Funny question! The stories can't seem to agree. Pheidippides is the most common one, but there are at least a few other names claimed in Classical stories as the REAL name of the runner.
It was SpruceBringsteen I'm pretty sure
Heard his name was Rick, actually
I think he walked in, said the message, and died right there just like in a movie.
How did they know the message was done? Did he say over before dying?
That's a 10-4 good buddy. Over.
Did he say over before dying?
I always think of that every time I read about someone dying while running a marathon
This is silly. Those muscles are no good for running. Those are lifting muscles. A runner should be lean and efficient. Those muscles are too heavy.
This photo is how he is on the inside. Man started a trend of suffering humans continue honoring till this day.
Also not great for fighting. Gassed out in 1-2 minutes.
Aesthetic muscles.
Explanation: According to Classical-era stories (believed to be just a legend nowadays, due to contemporary accounts of the battle not recording it), after the Greeks defeated the Persians in the Battle of Marathon, a Greek courier, who had just ran 150 miles over the previous 2 days, sprinted another 25 miles to deliver news of the victory to Athens, bursting into the assembly and crying out "We have won!" before collapsing, dead.
Good one to keep in mind on long jogs, huh?
He had previously ran to ask the Spartans for help on the battle but they wouldn't leave until after some festival or something.
So, he then ran to the battle, fought, then ran back to Athens to tell everyone because a ship had slipped past the battle on its way to Athens and if it got back before their army the enemy would just say they won and sack Athens.
The Guy is a machine.
His full adventure inspired the ultramarathon The spartathalon
The Spartans had to wait until the full moon before making a decision.
Fella should of just walked.
They must not have invented horses yet.
Greece before good roads was less-than-horse-friendly, very mountainous, some cross-country shit the poor fellow probably had to do.
Arnold is/was definitely not an actual marathon runner, even if he was the Marathon Man.
Arnold is/was definitely not an actual marathon runner
What about Robert Patrick? 😏
He was Hercules though