mar·a·thon / ˈmarəˌ[unvoicedth]än/ • n. a long-distance running race, strictly one of 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 km). ∎  a long-lasting or difficult task or operation of a specified kind: the last leg of an interview marathon that began this summer. ∎  [as adj.] of great duration or distance; very long: marathon workdays.DERIVATIVES: mar·a·thon·er n.

Marathon in ancient Greece, the scene of a victory over the Persians in 490 bc; the modern marathon race (strictly one of 26 miles 38 yards or 42.195 km.) is based on the tradition that a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens (22 miles) with the news, dying with the words ‘Greetings, we win!’ on his arrival. The original account by Herodotus told of the messenger Pheidippides running 150 miles from Athens to Sparta before the battle, seeking help.

Marathon name of the place at which the Athenians defeated the Persians in 490 B.C., applied to a long-distance foot-race introduced at the revived Olympic Games at Athens (1896) in allusion to the feat of the Gr. runner who brought the news of the battle to Athens.

Marathon Long-distance race. The standard marathon is 42.2km (26.2mi) long, which was the distance run by the ancient Greek soldier who brought news to Athens of the victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon (490 bc).

Marathon ★★ 1980

When a middle-aged jogger's ego gets a boost through the attention of a beautiful young woman, he takes up marathon running. Light comedy. 100m/C VHS, DVD . Bob Newhart, Leigh Taylor-Young, Herb Edelman, Dick Gautier, Anita Gillette, John Hillerman; D: Jackie Cooper. TV