1. A footrace of 26 miles 385 yards.
2. Any long and arduous undertaking; SYN. endurance contest.
The marathon derives its name from the story of Pheidippides, a Greek soldier who ran the distance of approximately 39 km/24 mi from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens with the news of a Greek victory over the Persians in 490 BC.
The current marathon distance was first used at the 1908 Olympic Games in London when the race was increased by an extra 385 yards so the race would finish in front of the royal box. The best known US marathons are run annually in Boston, New York City, and Los Angeles.

1. A battle in 490 BC in which the Athenians and their allies defeated the Persians; Also called: battle of Marathon.
2. City in Iowa (USA); zip code 50565.
3. Unincorporated community in Florida (USA).
4. Village in New York (USA); zip code 13803.
Athletics endurance race over 42.195 km/26 mi 385 yd. It was first included in the Olympic Games in Athens 1896. The distance varied until it was standardized 1924. More recently, races have been opened to wider participation, including social runners as well as those competing at senior level.