'That man is little to be envied, whose patriotism would not gain force on the plain of Marathon.' Dr Johnson, quoted in Boswell's Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides.
Marathon (n.) Activity at which Britons seldom excel unless when referring to the Viewing of many televis'd Episodes. Tweeted by DrSamuelJohnson, 9:54 AM Apr 25th 2010
Soon it will be the 2500th anniversary of the battle of Marathon. How soon is a matter of a little controversy, but there are some interesting events planned. Oxford held some events for schools earlier this month, while, based in the US but open to all via a web and telephone link, Marathon2500 have organised a rich programme, starting with Paul Carteledge's lecture tonight. I shall attend them all, but perhaps the most interesting for readers of this blog will be The Battle of Marathon and Modern Sports, to be given by Dean Karnazes, a marathon runner who has run fifty marathons in fifty days in each of the fifty states that make up the USA, and Thomas Scanlon on War and Sports,
