Bing Marathon Running Quiz – Races, Routes and Records
The Bing Marathon Running Quiz asks how much you know about 26.2 miles, from the legend of Pheidippides and the World Marathon Majors to Eliud Kipchoge, Kathrine Switzer and the fastest courses on Earth. Boston, Berlin and beyond: marathon history includes dramatic finishes and surprising records.
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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds
Distance
How long is a marathon?
Legend
According to legend, the marathon recalls a messenger who ran from Marathon to which city?
Boston
Which is the world's oldest annual marathon, first held in 1897?
Pioneers
Which runner became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entrant in 1967?
Records
Which runner ran a marathon in under two hours in a special 2019 event in Vienna?
Courses
Which marathon is famous for its flat, fast course and many world records?
Majors
How many races were in the World Marathon Majors series when Sydney joined in 2025?
New York
How many boroughs does the New York City Marathon pass through?
Body
What do runners call the moment late in a marathon when their energy suddenly drops?
Olympics
Which Ethiopian runner won the 1960 Olympic marathon in Rome running barefoot?
Your score
0/10
Scroll down to see the explanation for each question.
Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions
- Q1: How long is a marathon?
Answer: 42.195 kilometers
A marathon is 42.195 kilometers, or 26.2 miles. The exact distance was fixed after the 1908 London Olympics.
- Q2: According to legend, the marathon recalls a messenger who ran from Marathon to which city?
Answer: Athens
The messenger, often called Pheidippides, is said to have announced a Greek victory in 490 BC. The story inspired the first Olympic marathon in 1896.
- Q3: Which is the world's oldest annual marathon, first held in 1897?
Answer: The Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is held on Patriots' Day in April. Most runners must meet a qualifying time to enter.
- Q4: Which runner became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entrant in 1967?
Answer: Kathrine Switzer
An official tried to pull Kathrine Switzer off the course, and the photos became famous. Women were officially allowed in Boston from 1972.
- Q5: Which runner ran a marathon in under two hours in a special 2019 event in Vienna?
Answer: Eliud Kipchoge
Eliud Kipchoge ran 1:59:40, but the event used pacers and was not an official race. It still showed that two hours could be broken.
- Q6: Which marathon is famous for its flat, fast course and many world records?
Answer: The Berlin Marathon
Many men's and women's world records have been set in Berlin. Its course has few turns and gentle conditions in September.
- Q7: How many races were in the World Marathon Majors series when Sydney joined in 2025?
Answer: Seven
The series includes Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Sydney. Runners who finish all of them earn a special medal.
- Q8: How many boroughs does the New York City Marathon pass through?
Answer: Five
The race starts in Staten Island and passes through Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx before finishing in Manhattan's Central Park. It is the largest marathon in the world.
- Q9: What do runners call the moment late in a marathon when their energy suddenly drops?
Answer: Hitting the wall
It usually happens around 30 kilometers, when the body runs low on stored carbohydrate. Good fueling helps runners avoid it.
- Q10: Which Ethiopian runner won the 1960 Olympic marathon in Rome running barefoot?
Answer: Abebe Bikila
Abebe Bikila became the first Black African Olympic champion. He won again in Tokyo in 1964, this time wearing shoes.
Bing Marathon Running Quiz – Races, Routes and Records
The marathon is one of the most famous challenges in sport. Its name comes from the legend of a Greek messenger who ran from Marathon to Athens in 490 BC, and the race was part of the first modern Olympics in 1896. The official distance of 42.195 kilometers was fixed after the 1908 London Games.
Some marathons are legends in their own right. Boston, first held in 1897, is the oldest annual marathon. New York passes through all five boroughs, and Berlin's flat course has produced many world records. Together with Tokyo, London, Chicago and Sydney, they form the World Marathon Majors.
Runners have rewritten history. Abebe Bikila won the 1960 Olympic marathon barefoot, Kathrine Switzer broke barriers in Boston in 1967, and Eliud Kipchoge ran under two hours in a special event in 2019.
For everyday runners, the marathon is a personal test. Many talk about hitting the wall around 30 kilometers, and careful training and fueling make the difference between struggling and finishing strong.
Ten questions, three options each and 150 seconds on the clock: that is the challenge of the Bing Marathon Running Quiz. Read every question carefully, because some answers are designed to look right at first glance. The explanation after each answer shows the reasoning, and you can play again to improve your score. The score is just for fun, so there is no pressure. If a question surprises you, read the explanation and try a related quiz afterward to build on what you learned.
Lace up your knowledge and see how far you can run through this quiz.
What This Quiz Teaches
- The marathon distance and legend
- The Boston Marathon
- World Marathon Majors
- Record runs
- Pioneering athletes
- Hitting the wall
Quick Facts
- More than a million people finish marathons each year.
- Many races have time limits of six or seven hours.
- Elite runners average about 20 km/h.
- The London Marathon raises huge sums for charity.
- Marathon finishers often receive medals and foil blankets.
- Training plans usually last about four months.
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