Marathon History
1 / 15How much do you know about the history and legends of marathon running?
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The marathon race commemorates the legendary run from Marathon to which ancient Greek city?
About Marathon History
Marathon History is a free general knowledge quiz with 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 6 easy, 6 medium, 3 hard questions. How much do you know about the history and legends of marathon running? A typical run takes about 7 minutes, hints are always one tap away, and your streak ticks up the first time you finish a game on a given day.
A few sample questions
1. The marathon race commemorates the legendary run from Marathon to which ancient Greek city?
Answer: Athens
The marathon commemorates the legendary run of Pheidippides from the Battle of Marathon to Athens in 490 BC to announce the Greek victory over the Persians.
2. What is the official distance of a modern marathon?
Answer: 26.2 miles (42.195 km)
The official marathon distance is 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 km). This distance was standardized after the 1908 London Olympics.
3. Why was the marathon distance set at 26 miles 385 yards at the 1908 London Olympics?
Answer: So the race could finish in front of the Royal Box
At the 1908 London Olympics, the course was extended so the race would finish in front of the Royal Box at the Olympic stadium, making the total distance 26 miles 385 yards.
4. Who was the first person to run a marathon in under two hours in an unofficial event?
Answer: Eliud Kipchoge
Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya broke the two-hour barrier in the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna in October 2019, running 1:59:40, though it was not an official world record.
5. Which marathon is the oldest annual marathon in the world?
Answer: Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon, first held in 1897, is the oldest annual marathon in the world. It was inspired by the marathon event at the 1896 Athens Olympics.
Things you'll learn along the way
- Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila won the 1960 Rome Olympic marathon running barefoot through the streets of Rome, setting a new world record of 2:15:16.
- The six World Marathon Majors are Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. These are considered the most prestigious marathon races in the world.
- Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an officially registered entrant in 1967. Race officials tried to physically remove her from the course.
Frequently asked questions
What's a good follow-up after Marathon History?
If you enjoyed this general knowledge quiz, try the Daily Challenge — five rotating questions, refreshed every 24 hours, that count toward your streak. You can also use the Surprise Me button on the homepage to land on a different game type for variety.
Can I print Marathon History?
Yes — use the Print button at the top of the page for a clean question sheet, or "Print with Answers" to make an answer key. Printed sheets work well for group play at home, in a classroom, or at a senior center.
Will I lose my progress if I close the page?
Your overall progress — XP, streaks, and badges — is saved in your browser automatically. A quiz that's underway restarts if you leave mid-game, but at about 7 minutes, Marathon History fits comfortably in one sitting.
How many questions are in Marathon History?
Marathon History has 15 multiple-choice questions. Each one has four answer options and an explanation that appears after you answer, so you learn something even when you miss.
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