1st IRONMAN 70.3 Switzerland - June 3rd 2007

The Swiss Premiere of the IRONMAN 70.3 will take place on Sunday 3rd June 2007 in Rapperswil-Jona. IRONMAN 70.3 is a triathlon, which is held over half IRONMAN distances (1.9 km swim, 90 km bike, 21.1 km run; in total 113 kilometers = 70.3 miles).

Help-for-Hope (Charl and Stephan) will be at the start line in Rapperswil. An exciting event for the team!

www.ironman.ch

Interesting anecdote about marathon and its official distance

The 1896 Olympic marathon distance of 24.8 miles was based on the distance run, according to famous Greek legend, in which the Greek foot-soldier Pheidippides was sent from the plains of Marathon to Athens with the news of the astounding victory over a superior Persian army. Exhausted as he approached the leaders of the City of Athens, he staggered and gasped, "Rejoice! We Conquer!" and then collapsed.

The marathon distance was later changed as a result of the 1908 Olympic Games in London. That year, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria wanted the marathon race to begin at Windsor Castle outside the city so that the Royal family could view the start. The distance between the castle and the Olympic Stadium in London proved to be 26 miles. Organizers added extra yards to the finish around a track, 385 to be exact, so the runners would finish in front of the king and queen's royal box. Every Olympic marathon run since the 1908 Games has been a distance of 26 miles, 385 yard.