I'm gonna tell your mom!

Day 72

The name Marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon (in which he had just fought), which took place in August or September, 490 BC. It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming "Νενικήκαμεν" (Nenikékamen, 'We have won.') before collapsing and dying. The account of the run from Marathon to Athens first appears in Plutarch's On the Glory of Athens in the 1st century AD which quotes from Heraclides Ponticus's lost work, giving the runner's name as either Thersipus of Erchius or Eucles. Lucian of Samosata (2nd century AD) also gives the story but names the runner Philippides (not Pheidippides).

When the idea of a modern Olympics became a reality at the end of the 19th century, the initiators and organizers were looking for a great popularizing event, recalling the ancient glory of Greece. The idea of organizing a marathon race came from Michel Bréal who wanted the event to feature in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. This idea was heavily supported by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, as well as the Greeks. The Greeks staged a selection race for the Olympic marathon on March 10, 1896 that was won by Charilaos Vasilakos in 3 hours and 18 minutes. The winner of the first Olympic Marathon, on April 10, 1896 (a male-only race), was "Spiros" Louis, a Greek water-carrier. He won at the Olympics in 2 hours 58 minutes and 50 seconds.

The women's marathon was introduced at the 1984 Summer Olympics (Los Angeles, USA) and was won by Joan Benoit of the United States with a time of 2 hours 24 minutes and 52 seconds.

Since the modern games were founded, it has become a tradition for the men's Olympic marathon to be the last event of the athletics calendar, with a finish inside the Olympic stadium, often within hours of, or even incorporated into, the closing ceremonies. The marathon of the 2004 Summer Olympics revived the traditional route from Marathon to Athens, ending at Panathinaiko Stadium, the venue for the 1896 Summer Olympics.

The marathon has also, usually been considered the most boring of Olympic events. In the upcoming 2012 Olympics, an element of danger is to be...carried, by each runner. If this indeed does spark more interest in the event, organizers plan to add other dangerous elements to future games.

Care and Feeding of Your Zombie

Day 71

(Whew, been a while....now, back to the show!)

There are a number of methods available for training your pet. Do not attempt these techniques on your own. Always consult with a zombie professional.

If you leave your zombies alone in the house all day, they can get into trouble if not properly trained. You'll come home to an abattoir of headless stuffed animals and all the unpleasant moldy things in the fridge will have been eaten. It's important to remember that your zombie needs three things: exercise, discipline, and brains.

A treadmill is a great way to burn off your zombie's excess energy. But this is important: never set the treadmill above the lowest setting. You want to maintain the rate at a consistent shamble. Breaking into a run is no good. It only causes ankle injuries and additional flesh decomposition. It's also important to remember that since your zombie feels no fatigue, you'll need to turn the treadmill off. But the treadmill can focus the groaning and mindless shambling of a typical zombie into a purpose. Plus, working out on the treadmill will give your zombies the edge in mob situations. They'll be the first ones to the brains. Which is always good if you want to keep your own brain right where it is.