Marathon was originally the name of a place, not a measurement. Marathon is a town in Greece, and the race takes its name from the ancient story of a messenger who ran from Marathon to Athens after a battle.
That means the word first referred to where the run began, not how far it was. Over time, people began using marathon as the name of a long distance race.
The exact modern distance, 42.195 kilometers or 26.2 miles, was not part of the original legend. That standard was established much later in the history of organized racing.
- Place name: Marathon, a town in Greece
- Race name: a marathon
- Modern distance: 42.195 km, or 26.2 miles
So when someone says they are running a marathon, the word connects a modern sporting event to an older place name and story.