Distance Running – The Marathon and Its History

Marathon
Image: athensmarathon.com

Experienced media executive Richard J. Graziano leads WPIX PIX 11, a New York Tribune Media television station, as president and general manager. For recreation, Richard Graziano stays active by running, having participated in the ING Hartford Marathon.

When runners like Rich Graziano compete in a marathon, it means they join numerous others in an effort to complete a 26.2 mile race. Marathons are exceptionally popular. For example, the New York City Marathon draws tens of thousands of competitors per year.

But why 26.2 miles? It is, after all, an eccentric number. The answer lies partially in ancient history, where the marathon originates.

During its war with the Persian Empire, Ancient Greece fought and won a major battle at Marathon. To get news of the victory back to Athens, a solider named Pheidippides succeeded in running the roughly 25 mile distance. Legend has it that he delivered the news to his fellow citizens and then promptly died from the excursion.

The modern form of the marathon began with the revival of the Olympic Games during the late 19th century. Early on, the length of the race varied, though it always hovered around 25 miles. The extra 1.6 miles was added to accommodate the desires of the British royal family during the 1908 Olympics to begin the race at Windsor Castle.

Carroll School of Management

Carroll School of Management
Image: bc.edu

Prior to taking on the position of president and general manager of WPIX TV in New York, New York, Richard Graziano attended Boston College in Massachusetts, where he received a BS in business management in 1990. As a business major, Richard Graziano studied at Boston College’s Carroll School of Management.

The Carroll School of Management includes a Summer Management Catalyst Program designed to provide non-management students with a 10-week program that helps build a solid foundation in the management training program. Students participate in five mini-courses and three full courses with a wide range of topics including strategy, law, ethics, and operations.

The Carroll School of Management is rated number three in “Best Undergraduate Business School 2016” by Bloomberg Businessweek along with a teaching quality ranking of A+. Completion of the program qualifies students to participate in higher-level management courses, helping to give these students an advantage in the competitive job market.