Sidney Hatch of the United States was the only runner from 1904 (14th then) to return; Frederick Lorz, who had finished first but was disqualified because he had ridden most of the way, was entered but did not start.

The United States, Canada, and Great Britain each entered full teams of twelve runners, though five Americans and one Briton withdrew before the start.

[3] Australasia, Austria, Belgium, Bohemia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Russia each made their first appearance in the event.

In late 1907, an offer was made by Jack M Andrew, honorary secretary of the Polytechnic Harriers, to take over the task.

The full Olympic route was thus from Windsor, via Eton, Slough, Langley, Uxbridge, Ickenham, Ruislip, Harrow, Sudbury, Wembley, Willesden, and Wormwood Scrubs, to White City Stadium.

A special path was made from Du Cane Road running due south just east of the Franco British Exhibition ground so that the distance from Windsor to the stadium remained "about 26 miles".

The finishing line was left unchanged, but in order that more of the spectators would have a good view of the final yards, the direction of running was changed to "right-hand inside" (i.e. clockwise).

[7] A modified version of the Polytechnic Harriers' April 1908 map was issued in June 1908 incorporating the changed ending and omitting the "Long Walk" start used for the Trial Marathon.

On the 24 July 2024, the 116th anniversary of the race, The Guardian newspaper reported the re-measuring of the opening 700 yards of the reconstructed marathon course [11] by Hugh Jones, assisted by Joe Neanor.

The results of this exercise, along with contemporary photographic evidence, and information in the official report [12] strongly indicated that the marathon course had been accurately measured in 1908, the full distance run, with the race starting on the path beside the East Lawn, within the grounds of Windsor Castle.

Dorando Pietri of Italy caught Hefferon and sped up between Old Oak Common Lane and Wormwood Scrubs.

Since Pietri was not responsible for his disqualification, Queen Alexandra awarded him the gilded silver cup the next day in recognition of his heroics.

"[14] Since Pietri himself had not been responsible for his disqualification, Queen Alexandra the next day awarded him a gold- (or perhaps silver-) gilt cup in recognition of his achievement.