About This Quiz
Of the handful of ultra-prestigious marathons around the world, the Boston Marathon definitely lands at the top of the list. Every competitive runner longs to be awarded a medal emblazoned with a unicorn, the event's official symbol, but many are turned away each year if they lack the incredible run times necessary to land a coveted number. Indeed, you can't just run any old 5K and expect to get into the Boston Marathon. Entrants have to submit results certified by one of the big governing bodies for the sport, with many qualifying thanks to times achieved at marathons in Chicago, New York City and Philadelphia, as well as the previous year's Boston event. Other marathons also count, as long as the race meets the 26.2 mile criteria.
The Boston Marathon was inspired right into existence by the first modern Olympic Games, held in 1896. The term "marathon†was used to honor the roughly 25-mile run of a soldier all the way from a battlefield to the town of Marathon, Greece. Legend has it that Pheidippides hauled all that way to let the Athenians know that the Persians had been defeated, but then collapsed and died. Sadly, the modern Boston Marathon was rocked by tragedy in 2013 when a pair of brothers planted bombs near the finish line, killing three and injuring hundreds more. The Marathon refused to fall victim to the terrorist attack, however, and has continued every year since with as much or more spirit and pride than ever before.
If you want to gorge on Boston's legendary lobster and clam chowder, first you have to earn it. How much do you know about the prestigious Boston Marathon? Take this quiz and prove if you have what it takes to go the distance!
It's the oldest annual marathon in the world.
Even in the marathon's earliest days, it had a reputation for drawing the speediest runners.
It wasn't quite the full marathon distance of 26.2 miles.
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The race is now held on the third Monday of April and is essentially a holiday in Boston.
In that era, women were often considered incapable of enduring the 26.2 miles of a marathon.
In 1996, the race set a world record for number of participants. The record lasted for seven years.
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John "Jack" Caffery won the previous year, too, but he was 10 minutes slower.
His name was Jock Semple, and he had a reputation for attacking runners who weren't serious enough for his tastes.
He not only reversed his position but became an advocate for female runners.
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More than half a million people line the route to watch each year, creating a festival-like atmosphere.
Antti Viskari ran the race in 2:14 in 1956.
Since then, African runners have dominated Boston and set running records all over the world.
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Robert Cheruiyot alone won four times for the Kenyans; in recent years the Ethiopians have dominated.
Set in 2011 by Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai, it was a world record until 2014.
Only a tiny percentage of the human population has the genetics and determination to run at this speed for 26.2 miles.
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Keflezighi ended a long drought and brought catharsis following the previous year's bomb attack at the finish line.
The Boston Marathon is considered one of the fastest fields in the world.
The most recent was in in 1972; no Finnish woman has ever won.
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Women from the college scream their support and also frequently kiss passing runners.
It's not much, really, but coming at mile 20 makes it difficult for runners who are trying to run as fast as possible.
It's a low number considering the scads of people who've run the race. The most recent death was in 2002.
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They were all women; their last victory came in 2003.
On race day, you have to be at least 18 years old.
Following the game, baseball fans join the crowds to cheer (and contribute to the clogged traffic).
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Joshua Cassidy set this one in 2012.
She handily beat most men who were running the event.
Banditry is a tradition of sorts and race officials publicly (but gently) scold these runners.
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He actually started 61 times but "only" finished the race 58 times.
He set the record for second-place finishes and finished in the top five 15 times.
For women in that same age group, the time is 3:35. Boston is one of the only races that requires runners to qualify, and competition is fierce.
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