The Roma-Ostia Half-Marathon sparked my curiosity about the race distance's history, which traces its origins back to the marathon, rooted in the legend of Pheidippides. The modern marathon debuted in the 1896 Olympics, with the official distance set at 42,195 meters during the 1908 Olympics. The half-marathon's history is less clear, beginning in the 1960s, gaining popularity after being included in the 1992 World Athletics Road Running Championships. With over 2 million participants in 2019, the half-marathon's appeal continues to grow.