Prefix With Marathon For A Race Over 26.2 Miles Crossword Clue
By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: May 02, 2025
Need help with the "Prefix with marathon for a race over 26.2 miles" clue from the May 02, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword? We've solved this endurance-racing terminology question and identified the exact 5-letter answer. Our page offers an interactive experience to enhance your puzzle-solving skills. You can reveal the solution one letter at a time using our revealing tool, or explore our comprehensive explanations about long-distance racing terminology, the significance of this prefix in endurance sports, and connections to related terms. We've also simplified navigation to other clues from this puzzle for a seamless solving experience. Ready to conquer this athletic vocabulary challenge? Let's explore the answer together!
Crossword Answer:
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About This Clue
The May 2, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "Prefix with marathon for a race over 26.2 miles" with the answer ULTRA. This clue is asking for the prefix that, when combined with "marathon," creates a term for races that exceed the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles. The clue directly hints at the definition of an ultramarathon, making it a relatively straightforward vocabulary-based clue for those familiar with running terminology.
Context for "ULTRA"
"ULTRA" is a prefix derived from Latin meaning "beyond" or "extreme." When combined with "marathon" to form "ultramarathon," it refers to any footrace longer than the traditional marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers). Ultramarathons come in various formats and distances. The most common are: - Fixed distance races: These include 50K (31.07 miles), 100K (62.14 miles), 50 miles, and 100 miles. - Timed events: Participants run as far as possible within a set time frame, typically 24 hours, 48 hours, or even 6 days. - Multi-stage races: These span several days, with participants covering a designated distance each day. - Trail ultramarathons: These take place on hiking trails and often include significant elevation changes, adding to their difficulty. Some of the world's most famous ultramarathons include the Western States 100 (100 miles through California's Sierra Nevada mountains), the Badwater 135 (135 miles through Death Valley in extreme heat), and the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (a 106-mile circuit of the Mont Blanc massif through France, Italy, and Switzerland). Ultramarathon running has grown significantly in popularity over the past few decades. What was once considered an extreme fringe activity now attracts thousands of participants worldwide. The sport appeals to those seeking to test their physical and mental limits beyond what a traditional marathon demands. The prefix "ultra" is used in many other contexts to signify something that exceeds normal limits or is extreme, such as "ultrasound" (sound waves beyond human hearing range) or "ultraviolet" (light beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum).
NYT Mini Crossword Tips
When solving clues about prefixes like "Prefix with marathon for a race over 26.2 miles" in the NYT Mini Crossword, consider these tips: Look for context clues within the clue itself. In this case, the phrase "for a race over 26.2 miles" is defining what the prefix plus "marathon" means, which points directly to "ultramarathon." Remember that the NYT Mini Crossword often features terms related to popular culture, sports, and everyday vocabulary. While ultramarathon running might seem specialized, it has become mainstream enough to appear in a Mini puzzle. When you see clues asking for prefixes or suffixes, think about common word parts that might fit the definition provided. Common prefixes in crosswords include PRE-, RE-, UN-, CO-, ULTRA-, and many others. Consider the length requirement. Here, the answer needed to be a 5-letter word, which helps narrow down the possibilities to ULTRA. If you're stuck on a prefix clue, try mentally completing the word and seeing if it matches the definition. In this case, "ultramarathon" is indeed a race over 26.2 miles. Use crossing clues to your advantage. If you have a few letters filled in from intersecting words (like U_T_A), it can significantly narrow down the possible answers. Don't be intimidated by sports or specialized terms in crosswords. The NYT Mini typically uses terms that have entered general knowledge, even if they originate from specific fields like distance running.
Related Crossword Answers
MARATHON
Clue: "26.2-mile race"
ULTRA
Clue: "Extreme or beyond: Prefix"
ENDURE
Clue: "Withstand, as a long race"
RUNNER
Clue: "Marathon participant"
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