Race to Discover: 9 Fascinating Facts about Marathons You'll Love to Know

1. British Royals & the Marathon

To boldly jog where no ancient Greek has jogged before: The tale of Pheidippides and the first marathon is actually a mix-up of his epic 150-mile sprint from Athens to Sparta for backup, while the modern 26.2 mile run owes its existence to some whimsical British royals wanting a great view at the 1908 Olympic Games.
Source => britannica.com

2. Johnny Hayes' 1908 Victory

When marathons pulled a fast one on the hare and the tortoise: At the 1908 London Olympics, Johnny Hayes emerged victorious, despite running four minutes behind the collapsing leader, Italian Dorando Pietri, who was subsequently disqualified after receiving assistance from officials.
Source => athleticsweekly.com

Did you know the ancient Greek "stadion" in track and field ranged between 150-210 meters? Discover how this unit still influences our understanding of historical distances today! 🏃‍♂️📏

=> Fun Facts about Track-And-Field

3. Marathon Matrimony

Talk about "running" to the altar: Stephanie Reinhart and Mark Jockel combined their love for marathons and each other by getting married during the 2015 Chicago Marathon. The duo met while training for marathons in 2013 and decided to tie the knot at mile 8 of the race in an unorthodox ceremony that perfectly balanced their divergent preferences – a small ceremony for Reinhart and a big one for Jockel. Their wedding invitations even included race bibs and wristbands, while guests enjoyed a carb-loading pasta dinner rehearsal.
Source => nbcchicago.com

4. Great Wall Marathon

Talk about a Great Wall-k (and run) in the park: The Great Wall Marathon in China draws in 2,500 runners, taking them through picturesque local villages and along the awe-inspiring Great Wall, offering breathtaking views and challenging terrains that make it one of the world's most formidable marathons.
Source => great-wall-marathon.com

5. Antarctic Ice Marathon

For those who think "ice, ice, baby" is just a catchy song lyric and fancy bringing a whole new meaning to a "slippery slope", allow us to present the Antarctic Ice Marathon: an intense 42.2km race on snow and ice, featuring snowmobile support, average windchill temperatures of -20C, and the thrilling prospect of strong Katabatic winds. Run your way into the elite 7 Continents Marathon Club, as long as you don't catch a cold first!
Source => icemarathon.com

6. Chicago Beer Mile

For runners with a penchant for pints, behold the Chicago Beer Mile: a sudsy sprint that requires athletes to down four beers and tackle four laps around a 400m track, with each boozy beverage consumed before starting their next loop. But beware, vomiters! You'll be slapped with a penalty lap—and the brew must pack a punch of at least 5% ABV and be 12 ounces or larger. Fear not, teetotalers, you can get your fix with a Chocolate Milk or Non-Alcoholic Beer Mile, too!
Source => runsignup.com

7. Marble Magic in Greece

What do you get when you combine ancient Grecian craftsmanship and an "a-maze-ing" building material? Penteli marble-made magic: The Panathenaic Stadium in Greece is the only stadium worldwide constructed entirely of Pentelic marble, a stunning stone sourced from Mount Penteli in Attica.
Source => realgreekexperiences.com

8. Sahara's Marathon des Sables

Running on sand may sound like an unlucky day at the beach, but daredevils turn it up a notch and tackle the Sahara in style: The Marathon des Sables is a treacherous, week-long race covering over 250 kilometers through dunes and rocky terrain while enduring scorching temperatures, and participants must carry their own supplies, depending on shared Berber tents and water rations to survive the ordeal.
Source => marathondessables.co.uk

9. Boozy Bordeaux Marathon

Run, sip, repeat: the Marathon du Médoc in Bordeaux, France offers runners a 26.2-mile long buffet of 23 wine varieties, cheese, ice cream, and oysters as they trot through vineyards and past chateaux. Despite the unusual combination of alcohol and exercise, this costumed marathon remains death-free, as runners must submit medical certifications beforehand, and are encouraged to take their sweet time, resulting in a vomit-strewn but safe race.
Source => travelandleisure.com