Running the Distance Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hamilton

Beginning for the first time in 1894, Hamilton's 'Around the Bay' 30 kilometer race predates all other popular road races in North America, even the Boston Marathon. While 'Around the Bay' isn't a Boston qualifier due to its obscure, not-quite-a-marathon length, the race is a prominent stop in Ontario's road race schedule. Later named as a memorial for William Sherring, a Canadian gold medalist in the Olympic marathon, the race crosses most of this Canadian steel town and ends in Copps Coliseum.

Sherring went on to win Around the Bay twice in its second decade.

Answer: A variation of speeds in specific intervals

No, the word doesn't mean what it sounds like. Essentially, other than being a funny word, fartlek also refers to running in different speed intervals. For example, one could alternate between running at a slower pace for ten minutes, and then running fast for two, and repeating. In doing this, a runner can define themselves physically, ensuring that they can attune themselves in different running conditions.
Its not necessarily a must-do for less experienced runners, but road racers will find it beneficial if they want to reach a personal best.

Answer: None of these

The Great Wall Marathon held annually is comprised of 42.2 kilometers of the wall itself, complete with stairways, steep inclines and declines, and mountain ranges. Set in Tianjin Province, the race gives new meaning to the term 'hitting the wall'. Numerous different marathons are held in African Savannah regions as well. One such marathon in South Africa focuses on a safari theme, allowing racers to experience the diverse wildlife of Africa along the race course. Greenland is home to the Polar Circle Marathon Series, which takes racers around the Arctic Circle at a time of year where the Sun doesn't set.

This unique race is run in comparatively low temperatures compared to others, and its rough tundra and glacial terrain makes the run quite difficult than the regular road race. All these examples show that sometimes, runners are a bit crazy.

Answer: Terry Fox

Initially diagnosed with cancer at a young age, Fox lost his leg at the age of 18. Three years later in support of cancer, Fox planned a 'Marathon of Hope', in which he would run across Canada to raise money for his cause from the people he met along the way. Fox did this with a prosthetic leg, dipping it in the waters of Newfoundland and running approximately 37 kilometers every day (five short of marathon distance) for his goal.

Unfortunately, over the course of the run, Fox's cancer spread and he was forced to end his run outside Thunder Bay, Ontario, over five thousand kilometers from where he started (143 days later).

He passed away shortly after. Since the 'Marathon of Hope', Terry Fox runs are held simultaneously across Canada every year in order to raise money for cancer research.

Answer: Taking the dog out for a walk

Cross-training is used in tandem with running (as with other sports) in order to strengthen different body parts and muscles that don't get toned quite as well if one was just focusing on running. Ideally, one could run year-round and intermittently partake in various other strengthening tasks, but one may do these seasonally as well.
If you live in a particularly snowy region and decide not to run in that blizzard, then maybe weight training or yoga indoors might be the best solution.
The great thing is that if you're in the mood to keep running, you could run in a swimming pool for greater resistance in cross-training, or you could walk a distance on a treadmill. Although taking the dog for a walk is a necessary thing to do, a quick walk won't necessarily break out a sweat or push the body to enhance its muscle capabilities.

Answer: True

Ironman triathlons like many other traditional triathlons, will consist of swimming, biking, then running. Before running the distance of an entire marathon (a feat in itself), athletes must swim a distance of 2.4 miles, and then cycle 112 miles immediately after. One might say this is madness, and they'd probably be right.

However, that doesn't stop the fact that those completing such a race are exceptional athletes overall. A traditional Olympic triathlon consists of a swimming event of one and a half kilometers, a biking stage of 40 kilometers, and a 10-kilometer run to finish.

Although the triathlon wasn't initially an Olympic sport, it was inducted as an event in the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics.

Answer: Glycogen

'Hitting the wall' is not a good thing for any runner as it involves a lack of glycogen, a sugar storage unit found in the body that constitutes most of the energy held for a run of any length. By the time one 'hits the wall', they're pretty much done in a race or run.

A suggested method of restoring glycogen levels to a better range is by eating carbs before a race (pasta tends to be a popular favourite before a marathon) or taking proper supplemental foods or drinks during a race. The same concept of losing energy can work for pretty much any sport, but it is extremely prominent for long-distance runners. Part of the art of running is the sustaining of the body for such a prolonged period of exercise, and in ensuring that the body gets all essential nutrients and materials, a runner can find themselves better off at mile 21, or up a steep hill, than they would without.

Answer: Boston Marathon

As the oldest marathon annually completed in the Western Hemisphere, the Boston Marathon is prestigious as a sporting event. Due to the fact that all entrants in the race must qualify prior to the actual event, the playing field is usually at the top of their game.

In order to qualify, runners must reach and surpass a qualifying time for their age bracket in specific races (for example, the Toronto Marathon is a qualifying race, but the London Marathon is not). The Boston Marathon was also the first race to officially include a wheelchair division for those competing on such devices.

The first wheelchair finisher clocked in at just under three hours for the entire length of the course.

Answer: 3

Typically, the Olympic Decathlon will start with a day including a 100m Dash and a 400m Dash, but the final stage of all ten events will be a 1500m Dash. In-between this, one more track event (110m Hurdles) and six field events will round out the entire Decathlon. Typical Pentathlons will be comprised of either one or two running events as a contrast.

While the field events of these sports will involve the calculation of distance, all the track events will rely on the athlete's speed (and in the longest instance, endurance). One notable decathlete, Bruce Jenner, took home the gold in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games and held the World Record for the sport for five years.

He later appeared on the Wheaties cereal box.

Answer: True

In all fairness, an Ultramarathon can be any distance as long as it surpasses the traditional 42.2km (or 26 miles). The same concept applies to Ultracycling and biking.
Ultramarathons usually don't get as many participants as traditional races due to their length and difficulty, but those that do complete them are proven to be in great physical prowess. More popular Ultramarathon lengths are in intervals of 25km, but many Ultras tend to be based on time. 24-hour/48-hour marathon challenges are also classified as Ultras since a regular marathon can take anywhere between 2 to 10 hours to complete regularly at a moderate pace.
Ultramarathons have been held on every continent, including Antarctica.