The Half Marathon Distance

A Distance Born from Practice, Not Legend

Unlike its big brother, the marathon, whose origin dates back to a historical episode of ancient Greece 🇬🇷, the half marathon was not born from a grand mythical tale or a foundational moment in history. It gradually emerged, carried by the evolution of 20th-century sports practices and the desires of runners 🏃.

From the 1950s, as road racing gained popularity in Europe 🌍, numerous 20 to 25-kilometer races appeared. Nothing was standardized yet: distances varied from city to city 🏘️, depending on the courses, logistical means, or local habits. But a form of consensus gradually emerged 🤝.

Pioneers of the “21.097 km” Distance

In 1962, the Route du Vin in Luxembourg 🇱🇺, established for the first time the 21.097 kilometers distance. Two years later, Elche, in Spain 🇪🇸, organized a race over the same distance, today considered the oldest half marathon still run ⏳.

At the same time, across the Atlantic 🌊, a movement was taking shape. The jogging craze, launched in the United States 🇺🇸, began to attract a broader audience. Amateur runners, often without competition experience, sought a motivating goal 🎯, without committing directly to a marathon. The need for a “midway” distance became evident: a significant effort, but more accessible and compatible with daily life 🕒.

In Europe as well, the idea was gaining ground. In 1979, the first edition of the 20 kilometers of Paris already gathered 8,000 participants 🎽. Other iconic events were born at the same time: Paris-Versailles in 1976, Marseille-Cassis in 1979… Iconic races that helped anchor this “half-distance” in the landscape, though not always aligning exactly with the 21.097 km but preparing the ground for the recognition of the half marathon as a distinct format 📍.

The Half Marathon: A Popular and Accessible Distance

In the 1980s, the perception of running continued to evolve. The sport was no longer reserved only for elite athletes 🏅. It became a leisure activity, a pursuit of well-being, a personal quest ✨. The half marathon fit perfectly with this mindset. It requires endurance, structured training, but remains accessible with a balanced lifestyle ⚖️. It can be prepared in a few months 📆, easily fits into a busy schedule, and can be run multiple times a year without the risk of injury 🩼. An ideal balance, which largely explains its lasting success 🌟.

This balance between effort and accessibility makes it such a popular distance today. The half marathon does not rely on an ancient legend. It was born directly on the roads, in clubs, and from the shared desire to push one's limits 🏁.

A Precise Distance, Inherited from the Marathon 📏

Why 21.0975 kilometers, and not 20, 22, or 25? The answer lies in the very history of the marathon. In 1921, the 42.195-kilometer distance was officially established ✅, becoming the standard. It was then natural for runners and organizers to imagine a “half” format aligned with precision 📐.

Dividing a marathon in half results in 21.0975 km. This number, at first glance somewhat technical, may seem excessive. Yet, in the world of running, every meter counts 📊. Standardizing this distance allows for performance comparison, record certification, and ensures fairness during international competitions 🌍. To support this requirement, World Athletics has implemented a system of labels, encouraging organizers to professionalize 🛠️. Labeled events must meet strict criteria, including ultra-precise course measurement 🎯.

It wasn't until the 1990s that the half marathon was fully recognized by the international athletics federation 🏆. World championships were organized from 1992, and records began to be sanctioned with the same rigor as marathon records 📜.

The Half Today: Between Global Popularity and Sporting Challenge 🌍🏃

The half marathon is no longer just a step toward the marathon. It has become a destination in its own right 🗺️, a race with its own identity, one of the most popular distances in the world. From the cobbled streets of Paris 🗼 to the wide avenues of New York 🗽, through Berlin 🇩🇪 or Valencia 🇪🇸, tens of thousands of runners embark each year to cross that famous 21.0975-kilometer line 🎉.

This success is explained by an almost perfect balance ⚖️. It requires true preparation, much more than a 10 km, but remains accessible to a wide audience. It attracts all kinds: from beginner runners seeking a challenge to seasoned competitors looking for performance 🏁.

On the elite side, the half marathon has become a field of excellence 🌟. The times are dizzying: 56'42 for Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo 🇺🇬, 1h02'52 for Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey 🇪🇹.

But beyond performances, the half marathon is also a collective experience 🥳. It's often a festive event, where individual effort mingles with a popular atmosphere 🎺. For some, it's an opportunity to discover a city differently 🧭. For others, a chance to reach a symbolic milestone or experience a moment of personal achievement 🔥. The Paris Half welcomes nearly 50,000 runners every year, while the Göteborgsvarvet, half marathon in Gothenburg, Sweden 🇸🇪, gathers around 64,000, making it the largest half marathon in the world 🌍.

The popularity of this distance also reflects the evolution of modern sporting expectations 📈. Today we seek a balance between performance, pleasure, and well-being 🌿. The half ticks all these boxes. It demands rigor, but remains within reach for many. It pushes one to excel without tipping into the extreme. And above all, it brings people together: on the same starting line, you find those aiming for 1h ⏱️, as well as those dreaming of crossing the line in 2h30 ⏳.

Derived from the marathon but shaped by modern times, the half marathon has asserted itself as a distance in its own right. Its precision, 21.0975 km, reflects its marathon heritage and its rigor 📐, while adapting to the realities of contemporary practice. Neither a simple test nor a watered-down version of the marathon, it is today synonymous with progression, achievement, and intense emotions at the finish line ❤️. It continues to evolve, at the pace of those who, every weekend, don a bib to challenge themselves over 21.0975 km 🎽.