Diaulos
Doesn’t it feel good to run long distances and finally catching your breath and taking a well-deserved rest? The feeling you experience actually has a history. The history of running dates way way back in the 6th century. The activity that is supposed to be 
an exercise was first thought as a sporting event during the birth of the Olympics.
Running is one of the most exciting and thrilling sports in the world. It is very popular in every corner of the world. A few can imagine how this wonderful sport was back in the days of the ancient Greeks. The events that existed in the ancient Olympics partially consisted of foot races. Unlike modern running sports, the foot races back then were actually distinct. Some races required the participants to carry wooden shields that were covered with bronze, as well as helmets and gleaves. These races also served as military training for the Greeks against Persian invaders. You might even be surprised, but some races involved running without any clothing at all!
The Stadion is actually a 200-yard sprint that is popular in the ancient Olympics. Instead of runners wearing comfortable running shoes, tanks, and shorts, the participants were required to run in the nude. Also, another distinguishing feature of the Stadion is the starting positions of the participants. Instead of crouching, the participants stand and wait for the cue. The Diaulos simply consisted of two Stadions. The other Stadion was actually the return leg of the race. Until today, however, it remains a mystery as to whether or nut the participants had individual or common turning posts for the return leg. No matter what the answer is, the Diaulos is an extreme version of the Stadion, which required the participants to have sheer endurance and strength. The Greeks thought Diaulos was the more popular race among the two.