Bob Phillips takes us on an exhilarating journey across the formative years of marathon running – from 1896 through to the Olympic marathons of the 1950s that revolutionised the event. Through a compelling blend of personal memoirs, anecdotes, runner biographies, torrid tales and extraordinary facts and figures, the book shines a light on Britain' s role in the development of marathon running and how its courageous competitors have invariably captured the public imagination. Learn about the brilliant generational talents who have cemented the event at the pinnacle of popular athletics, from the days when naive amateurs ran for tin medals towards the era of highly trained professionals. 26 Miles 385 Yards is a must-have book for every marathon enthusiast.