Etymology From French marathon, coined in 1894 by linguist Michel Bréal for the first modern time Olympic Games after Ancient Greek Μαραθών (Marathṓn), a town northeast of Athens. Phidippides the Greek ran the distance from Marathon to Athens to deliver a message regarding the Battle of Marathon. The modern sport of marathon running is based on a run approximately the same distance. The toponym itself comes from μάραθον (márathon, “fennel”) and refers to the prevalence of the plant in the area.
1
A 42.195-kilometre (26-mile-385-yard) road race.
2
Broadly, Figuratively Any extended or sustained activity.
He had a cleaning marathon the night before his girlfriend came over.
I learned from the marathon that to finish a race you simply keep running.2021, Lisa Miller, The Awakened Brain, Ch.2, at p.35
1 more example
After a marathon session that included more than 14 hours of mostly negative public comment, the council agreed 11 to 4 to fund the center, and then gaveled out just before 6 a.m.2023 June 10, Patricia Murphy, “OPINION: ‘Atlanta way’ long gone as city leaders face death threats over training center”, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Etymology From French marathon, coined in 1894 by linguist Michel Bréal for the first modern time Olympic Games after Ancient Greek Μαραθών (Marathṓn), a town northeast of Athens. Phidippides the Greek ran the distance from Marathon to Athens to deliver a message regarding the Battle of Marathon. The modern sport of marathon running is based on a run approximately the same distance. The toponym itself comes from μάραθον (márathon, “fennel”) and refers to the prevalence of the plant in the area.
1
To run a marathon.
In less than two years, they and their family and friends have skydived, marathoned, tray-baked and dinner-danced their way to £130,000 for Duchenne research through their help4harry campaign.2015 August 1, Mary Braid, “‘I was cross that my child had to beg the prime minister for a drug’”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2022:
2
Informal To watch or read a large number of instalments of (a film, book, TV series, etc.) in one sitting.
We're going to marathon Star Trek next weekend.
Marathon
noun
US /ˈmæɹəˌθɑn/
Etymology From Ancient Greek Μαραθών (Marathṓn). Doublet of marathon.