Surprisingly popular endurance race of 26.2 miles (42.195 km). Alongside the professionals, who can run it in about 2 hours, 10 minutes, there are always thousands of amateurs just doing it for fun. Well known marathon cities include New York, London, Paris, Boston and Chicago.

My advice for anyone doing a marathon is:
Give yourself 4 months to prepare (longer if you are not already a regular runner.)
Run at a steady pace throughout the race.
Drink water/energy drink at every opportunity (Not just when you feel thirsty.)
Train with a friend to help keep your motivation up.

A marathon is named after the Greek town which was being invaded. One of the town's militia ran the 26.2 miles from the town to Athens to warn of the impending invasion. Then he died. (I've no idea how quickly he ran it in - Any ideas?)

Particularly enthusiastic types go for ultra-marathons.