The sun slid down behind the hills. Pheidippides thought that he couldn’t have far to go. He was very weak, and the side of his tunic was covered in blood. He had run so far that his body felt numb. But he kept running because now he could see Athens.
People saw the runner coming and crowded around the walls of Athens to welcome him. They shouted and cheered. Pheidippides ran through the gate into the city. People carrying torches of fire rushed to meet him. They could see how tired he was. They helped him up the marble steps to the forum, a place where people met and talked. The leaders of Athens were waiting to hear his message.