Marathon vs. Race — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 29, 2023
A "marathon" is a specific long-distance running event of 26.2 miles, while a "race" is a general term for any competition to see who is fastest.
Difference Between Marathon and Race
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Key Differences
A "marathon" is a distinct type of race, specifically referring to a running event that covers a distance of 26.2 miles. In contrast, the term "race" is a broader concept, encompassing any form of competition where participants strive to reach a finish line first or in the shortest amount of time.
Historically, the term "marathon" originates from the ancient Greek story of Pheidippides, a messenger who ran from the city of Marathon to Athens to deliver news of a military victory. The "race" is a universal term, spanning across cultures and times, denoting any contest of speed.
While every marathon can be considered a race due to its competitive nature, not every race is a marathon. Races can be of varying distances and can involve different modes of transportation, like cycling, swimming, or even driving.
It's also worth noting that marathons are exclusively endurance events, emphasizing stamina and persistence. On the other hand, races might prioritize other skills or attributes depending on their nature, such as sprint races valuing explosive speed.
In popular culture, "marathon" has also been used metaphorically to describe prolonged activities or events, such as a "movie marathon." The term "race," meanwhile, maintains its foundational meaning of competition, but can be applied broadly, from footraces to technological races.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A long-distance running event of 26.2 miles.
A competition of speed to reach a finish line.
Origin
From the historical run from Marathon to Athens in Greece.
Universal concept across cultures and times.
Scope
Specific to 26.2-mile running events.
Broad, includes any contest of speed.
Emphasis
Endurance and stamina.
Can vary: speed, endurance, strategy, etc.
Alternative Meanings
Extended activities (e.g., movie marathon).
Can apply to technology, development, etc.
Compare with Definitions
Marathon
A 26.2-mile long-distance running event.
She completed her first marathon in under 4 hours.
Race
A competition of speed to reach an endpoint.
The annual bike race attracts participants worldwide.
Marathon
An endurance challenge, especially a long-distance race.
The ultramarathon is even longer than a standard marathon.
Race
A contest to achieve an objective before others.
The two companies are in a race to patent the technology.
Marathon
An event or activity characterized by its extended length or duration.
We're hosting a Harry Potter movie marathon this weekend.
Race
A fast-paced journey or rush to a location.
It was a race against time to finish the project.
Marathon
A task or activity that requires prolonged effort and endurance.
Final exams felt like an academic marathon.
Race
A lineage or breed of people or animals.
The horse is of a renowned race known for speed.
Marathon
A footrace of 26 miles 385 yards.
Race
(obsolete) Peculiar flavour, taste, or strength, as of wine; that quality, or assemblage of qualities, which indicates origin or kind, as in wine; hence, characteristic flavour.
Marathon
A cross-country footrace of 26 miles, 385 yards (42.195 kilometers).
Race
(intransitive) To take part in a race (in the sense of a contest).
The drivers were racing around the track.
Marathon
An event or activity that requires prolonged effort, endurance, or attention.
Race
To run rapidly when not engaged to a transmission.
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance race with a distance of 42.195 km or 26.2 miles usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The event was instituted in commemoration of the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens, who reported the victory.
Race
To run too fast at times, as a marine engine or screw, when the screw is lifted out of water by the action of a heavy sea.
Marathon
A long-distance race other than a footrace
A swimming marathon.
Race
To run a race with.
Marathon
A contest of endurance
A dance marathon.
Race
People who are believed to belong to the same genetic stock;
Some biologists doubt that there are important genetic differences between races of human beings
Marathon
A 42.195 kilometre (26 mile 385 yard) road race.
Race
A contest of speed;
The race is to the swift
Marathon
Any extended or sustained activity.
He had a cleaning marathon the night before his girlfriend came over.
Race
A competition between runners, horses, vehicles, etc. to see which is the fastest in covering a set course
Hill started from pole position and won the race
Marathon
To run a marathon.
Race
A water channel, especially one built to lead water to or from a point where its energy is utilized, as in a mill or mine.
Marathon
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.
Race
(zoology) Subspecies.
Marathon
Any long and arduous undertaking, straining the endurance of the participants.
Race
An infraspecific rank, a pathotype, pathovar, etc.
Marathon
A battle in 490 BC in which the Athenians and their allies defeated the Persians.
Race
Ancestry.
Marathon
Any long and arduous undertaking
Race
A rhizome or root, especially of ginger.
Marathon
A battle in 490 BC in which the Athenians and their allies defeated the Persians
Race
(transitive) To compete against in a race (contest).
I raced him to the car, but he was there first, so he got to ride shotgun.
Marathon
Originating from the historical run from Marathon to Athens.
The original marathon commemorated Pheidippides' legendary run.
Race
(intransitive) To move or drive at high speed; to hurry or speed.
As soon as it was time to go home, he raced for the door.
Her heart was racing as she peered into the dimly lit room.
Marathon
A footrace of 26 miles 385 yards
Race
To assign a race to; to perceive as having a (usually specified) race.
Race
To raze.
Race
To run swiftly; to contend in a race; as, the animals raced over the ground; the ships raced from port to port.
Race
To cause to contend in a race; to drive at high speed; as, to race horses.
Race
A root.
Race
The descendants of a common ancestor; a family, tribe, people, or nation, believed or presumed to belong to the same stock; a lineage; a breed.
The whole race of mankind.
Whence the long race of Alban fathers come.
Race
Company; herd; breed.
For do but note a wild and wanton herd,Or race of youthful and unhandled colts,Fetching mad bounds.
Race
A variety of such fixed character that it may be propagated by seed.
Race
Peculiar flavor, taste, or strength, as of wine; that quality, or assemblage of qualities, which indicates origin or kind, as in wine; hence, characteristic flavor; smack.
Is it [the wine] of the right race ?
Race
Hence, characteristic quality or disposition.
And now I give my sensual race the rein.
Some . . . great race of fancy or judgment.
Race
A progress; a course; a movement or progression.
Race
Esp., swift progress; rapid course; a running.
The flight of many birds is swifter than the race of any beasts.
Race
Hence: The act or process of running in competition; a contest of speed in any way, as in running, riding, driving, skating, rowing, sailing; in the plural, usually, a meeting for contests in the running of horses; as, he attended the races.
The race is not to the swift.
I wield the gauntlet, and I run the race.
Race
Competitive action of any kind, especially when prolonged; hence, career; course of life.
My race of glory run, and race of shame.
Race
A strong or rapid current of water, or the channel or passage for such a current; a powerful current or heavy sea, sometimes produced by the meeting of two tides; as, the Portland Race; the Race of Alderney.
Race
The current of water that turns a water wheel, or the channel in which it flows; a mill race.
Race
A channel or guide along which a shuttle is driven back and forth, as in a loom, sewing machine, etc.
Race
The flow of air that is driven backwards by an aircraft propeller
Race
(biology) a taxonomic group that is a division of a species; usually arises as a consequence of geographical isolation within a species
Race
A canal for a current of water
Race
Step on it;
He rushed down the hall to receive his guests
The cars raced down the street
Race
Compete in a race;
He is running the Marathon this year
Let's race and see who gets there first
Race
To work as fast as possible towards a goal, sometimes in competition with others;
We are racing to find a cure for AIDS
Race
Cause to move fast or to rush or race;
The psychologist raced the rats through a long maze
Race
A grouping of humans based on shared physical or social attributes.
The conference addressed issues related to race and equality.
Race
A strong or rapid current flowing through a narrow channel in the sea or a river
Angling for tuna in turbulent tidal races
Race
A smooth ring-shaped groove or guide in which a ball bearing or roller bearing runs.
Race
A fenced passageway in a stockyard through which animals pass singly for branding, loading, washing, etc.
Race
(in weaving) the channel along which the shuttle moves.
Race
Each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics
People of all races, colours, and creeds
Race
A ginger root.
Race
Compete with another or others to see who is fastest at covering a set course or achieving an objective
The vet took blood samples from the horses before they raced
Two drivers raced each other through a housing estate
Race
Move or progress swiftly or at full speed
I raced into the house
She spoke automatically, while her mind raced ahead
Race
A group of people identified as distinct from other groups because of supposed physical or genetic traits shared by the group. Most biologists and anthropologists do not recognize race as a biologically valid classification, in part because there is more genetic variation within groups than between them.
Race
A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution
The Celtic race.
Race
A genealogical line; a lineage.
Race
Humans considered as a group.
Race
A usually geographically isolated population of organisms that differs from other populations of the same species in certain heritable traits
An island race of birds.
Race
A breed or strain, as of domestic animals.
Race
A distinguishing or characteristic quality, such as the flavor of a wine.
Race
A competition of speed, as in running or riding.
Race
Races A series of such competitions held at a specified time on a regular course
A fan of the dog races.
Race
An extended competition in which participants struggle like runners to be the winner
The presidential race.
Race
Steady or rapid onward movement
The race of time.
Race
A strong or swift current of water.
Race
The channel of such a current.
Race
An artificial channel built to transport water and use its energy. Also called raceway.
Race
A groovelike part of a machine in which a moving part slides or rolls.
Race
See slipstream.
Race
Of or relating to race; racial
Race relations.
Race quotas.
Race
Of or relating to forms of popular entertainment made by and largely marketed to African Americans in the early 1900s
Race literature.
Race records.
Race
(Sports) To compete in a contest of speed.
Race
To move rapidly or at top speed
We raced home. My heart was racing with fear.
Race
To run too rapidly due to decreased resistance or unnecessary provision of fuel
Adjusted the idle to keep the engine from racing.
Race
To compete against in a race.
Race
To cause to compete in a race
She races horses for a living.
Race
To transport rapidly or at top speed; rush
Raced the injured motorist to the hospital.
Race
To cause (an engine with the gears disengaged, for example) to run swiftly or too swiftly.
Race
A contest between people, animals, vehicles, etc. where the goal is to be the first to reach some objective. Example: Several horses run in a horse race, and the first one to reach the finishing post wins
The race around the park was won by Johnny, who ran faster than the others.
We had a race to see who could finish the book the quickest.
Race
Swift progress; rapid motion; an instance of moving or driving at high speed.
Race
(computing) A race condition.
Race
A progressive movement toward a goal.
The race to cure cancer
Race
A fast-moving current of water, such as that which powers a mill wheel.
Race
A water channel, esp. one built to lead water to or from a point where it is utilised.
Race
Competitive action of any kind, especially when prolonged; hence, career; course of life.
Race
The bushings of a rolling element bearing which contacts the rolling elements.
Race
A group of sentient beings, particularly people, distinguished by common ancestry, heritage or characteristics:
Race
A large group of people distinguished from others on the basis of a common heritage compare ethnic group. See Wikipedia's article on historical definitions of race.
Race
A large group of people distinguished from others on the basis of common physical characteristics, such as skin color or hair type.
Race was a significant issue during apartheid in South Africa.
The Native Americans colonized the New World in several waves from Asia, and thus they are considered part of the same Mongoloid race.
Race
A large group of sentient beings distinguished from others on the basis of a common heritage compare species, subspecies.
A treaty was concluded between the race of elves and the race of men.
Race
A group or category distinguished from others on the basis of shared characteristics or qualities, for example social qualities.
The advent of the Internet has brought about a new race of entrepreneur.
Recent developments in artificial intelligence have brought about a new race of robots that can perform household chores without supervision.
Race
(biology) A population geographically separated from others of its species that develops significantly different characteristics; a mating group.
Race
(animal husbandry) A breed or strain of domesticated animal.
Race
(obsolete) Characteristic quality or disposition.
Race
Any competition;
The race for the presidency
Common Curiosities
Can a cycling event be called a marathon?
Traditionally, "marathon" refers to running. However, long cycling events might be colloquially termed "bike marathons."
Is every marathon a race?
Yes, every marathon involves competitors aiming to complete the distance, making it a race.
How did the marathon get its name?
From the legendary run of Pheidippides from Marathon to Athens in ancient Greece.
Can "race" refer to animals?
Yes, "race" can refer to specific breeds or strains of animals.
Is a 5K a marathon?
No, a marathon is specifically 26.2 miles. A 5K is only 3.1 miles.
Is a marathon always on roads?
While many marathons are road races, there are trail marathons on off-road paths.
Do all races have winners?
Most races aim to determine a winner, but some might emphasize participation or completion.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
