The Ultimate Test: A Guide to the Marathon
What Is the Marathon?
The marathon is one of the most famous and challenging long-distance running events in the world of sports. It is a race that covers exactly 26.2 miles, or 42.195 kilometers. While many people run for fun or for shorter distances like a 5K, the marathon is considered the ultimate test of a runner’s strength and spirit.
The story of the marathon began in Ancient Greece. Legend has it that a messenger named Pheidippides ran from a battlefield in a place called Marathon all the way to the city of Athens. He ran the entire way without stopping to deliver the news of a great victory. Today, marathons are held in almost every major city in the world, from New York and London to Tokyo and Boston, attracting thousands of participants each year.
How the Race Works
- Endurance:
- The ability to keep doing something difficult for a long period of time.
- Carbohydrates:
- Nutrients found in foods like bread and pasta that provide the body with energy.
- Hydrated:
- Having enough water or liquid in your body.
- Persistence:
- Continuing to try to do something even when it is hard or people try to stop you.
- Spectators:
- People who watch an event, like a race, without taking part in it.
- stamina:
- The physical or mental strength needed to keep doing a hard activity for a long period of time.
More sheets from this passage
Built from the text itself — answer key included where it counts.
vocabulary worksheet
Match the passage words to their meanings, then fill the missing words back into real sentences.
writing prompts
Two writing tasks that build on the passage, with plenty of lines to write on.
- All 3 sheets as one workbookPro
One PDF with a cover, contents page and every answer key at the back.
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“The Ultimate Test: A Guide to the Marathon” is a explanatory article reading passage about Marathon Running, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 5 minutes to read (705 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.