SmartAss Facts
SmartAss Facts
Long-distance facts about the marathon — the 26.2-mile race with a fascinating history.
Marathon is a surprisingly rich topic with facts that challenge common assumptions. Marathon length is random thanks to a queen. The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon. The first woman to run the Boston Marathon was Kathrine Switzer in 1967. The marathon commemorates the run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides. On SmartAss Facts, every fact goes through a verification process and is labeled ✓ TRUE or ✗ FAKE, so you never have to wonder what's real. Browse the collection below — you might be amazed by what's verified science and what turns out to be a long-running myth about marathon that people still believe.
Marathon length is random thanks to a queen. The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon. The first woman to run the Boston Marathon was Kathrine Switzer in 1967.
Yes, this is verified. Marathon length is random thanks to a queen. Another confirmed fact: The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon.
Yes. One popular misconception is: "The first comedy marathon ended when everyone realized laughter is also cardio." This has been fact-checked and labeled FAKE on SmartAss Facts.