[ˈmarəθ(ə)n], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a long-distance running race, strictly one of 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km)
(e.g: I was due to run the marathon the next day)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 19th century: from Marathōn in Greece, the scene of a victory over the Persians in 490 BC; the modern race is based on the tradition that a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens (22 miles) with the news. The original account by Herodotus told of the messenger Pheidippides running 150 miles from Athens to Sparta before the battle, seeking help