marathoning

Marathoning refers to running a marathon, a long-distance road race with a standardized distance of 42.195 kilometers (26.219 miles). The event is named after the ancient Greek city of Marathon, in reference to the legendary run of a messenger to Athens to announce a victory.

Modern marathon distance was standardized by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (now World Athletics) in 1921, though early Olympic and other races varied in distance. The event debuted in the modern Olympic Games in 1896; the 1908 London Olympic route established the 26 miles 385 yards length later adopted as the standard distance.

Training for a marathon typically involves several months of gradually increasing weekly mileage, long runs, and various workouts. Most runners use a mix of easy, tempo, and interval training, with periodic cutbacks and a taper before race day. Nutrition, hydration, and shoe selection are important, as is reducing injury risk and planning pacing and fueling strategies for the course.

Marathons are organized as mass-participation events, often with charity fundraising and public application processes. In addition to city races such as the World Marathon Majors—the Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City Marathons—there are countless regional races and charity events worldwide. Eligibility may involve entry lotteries, qualifying times, or sponsorship.

Records: The official men's world record for the marathon is Eliud Kipchoge's 2:01:09, set at the Berlin Marathon in 2022. The women's world record is Brigid Kosgei's 2:14:04, set at Chicago in 2019.

Marathoning emphasizes endurance, consistent training, and safe race-day practices. Participants range from elite competitors to recreational runners, and the activity is widely used for personal achievement, fitness, and fundraising goals. Health considerations include medical assessment for high-mileage training and awareness of heat, dehydration, and injury risk.