Q 01/05

What is the standardized distance of a modern marathon in kilometers?

A) 10 km

B) 21.0975 km

C) 42.195 km

D) 100 km

Answer · why

C) 42.195 km

42.195 km dates from the 1908 Olympics, when the course ran from Windsor Castle to a finish in front of the royal box in the stadium; that odd length ...

Q 02/05

Who was the first person to officially break the four-minute mile barrier?

A) Hicham El Guerrouj

B) Jim Ryun

C) Paavo Nurmi

D) Roger Bannister

Answer · why

D) Roger Bannister

Roger Bannister ran 3:59.4 on 6 May 1954, paced by Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway; John Landy beat the mark 46 days later.

Q 03/05

The training method known as 'Fartlek' originates from which country?

A) Germany

B) Sweden

C) Finland

D) Norway

Answer · why

B) Sweden

Sweden's coach Gösta Holmér devised fartlek, Swedish for 'speed play', in the 1930s for Swedish distance runners tired of losing to Paavo Nurmi's Finn...

Q 04/05

What physiological event is commonly referred to as 'hitting the wall' during a marathon?

A) Running out of stored glycogen

B) Severe cramping in the calf muscles

C) Sudden dehydration

D) Extreme mental fatigue

Answer · why

A) Running out of stored glycogen

Running out of stored glycogen typically strikes around 30 km, because the liver and muscles can bank only a limited supply; cyclists know the same su...

Q 05/05

Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman used which kitchen appliance to mould the grippy sole of an early running shoe?

A) A waffle iron

B) A pressure cooker

C) A sandwich press

D) A meat grinder

Answer · why

A) A waffle iron

A waffle iron gave Bill Bowerman the grid pattern for the sole of Nike's Waffle Trainer; he had started the company on a handshake with Phil Knight, a...