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A "marathon" is not just any foot race, but specifically a 26.2 mile race.
It has to be that distance because the name of the race comes from a place in ancient Greece, and when a battle took place there a guy named Phidippedes (spelling?) ran 26.2 miles to the nearest city to report the results of the battle.
Supposedly, he dropped dead right after delivering the news.
Anyhow, he ran 26.2 miles to or from the Battle of Marathon, so that's where the name came from.
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