The Olympic Marathon: A Sport for the Truly Insane

The Olympic Marathon is the event that requires the most endurance. Literally. Because, have you seen the hills in Greece?

Run 42.195k, 10,000 feet of climbing, 10,000 feet of descending, 10,000 feet of flat ground. And don't forget the 1,000 feet of stairs at the end. For fun.

But wait, it gets better! You'll have to run past the Acropolis, past the Parthenon, past the Temple of Olympian Zeus (no, really, that's a thing), and past the gift shop that sells really expensive souvenirs.

Get tips from our Olympic Marathon experts: "How to not die on the course" Meet the athletes who have survived this ordeal