Marathon Trivia
The Belfast marathon is run in May, but where is Belfast?
Northern Ireland
Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland.
Who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean?
Amelia Earhart
Which hockey player holds the record for most goals scored in his career?
Wayne Gretzky
Which nut is used to make marzipan?
Almonds
Which former actress and Duchess launched a podcast called "Archetypes" in 2022, in which she has inspiring conversations with women about overcoming gender stereotypes?
Meghan Markle
Held annually since 1897, which American city's world renowned marathon was the target of a terrorist bombing in 2013?
Boston
The Boston Marathon was first run in 1897, making it one of the longest running sporting events in history, and is one of the six marathons in the World Marathon Majors. It has always been run on Patriots' Day, a public holiday in the state of Massachusetts; since 1969, Patriots' Day has been the third Monday in April.
In 2013, the marathon made headlines across the world when two bombs went off at the finish line of the marathon, injuring over 200 people and killing three. Many participants had not had a chance to complete course, though the winners had crossed the finish line about three hours earlier.
Which woman served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the 1980s?
Margaret Thatcher
Who invented basketball?
James Naismith
What is the base ingredient of gummy bears?
Gelatin
What can inhibit the absorption of iron?
Nuts
Coffee
Meat
Coffee
You shouldn't drink coffee 30 minutes before or after eating. This is because coffee, as well as green tea or black tea, inhibit iron absorption as they bind to the iron ions in our bodies. This separates out the iron and it does not reach our blood.
Which Canadian figure proposed to complete his Marathon of Hope in 1980?
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.
Who is the founder of modern nursing?
Florence Nightingale
How many black pentagons are on a standard classic soccer ball?
12
Which country is the biggest exporter of coffee beans worldwide?
Brazil
True or False: Berlin has more bridges than Venice?
True
There are more than 1,700 bridges in Berlin. Which means not only does Berlin have more bridges than Venice. It has more bridges than Venice, Amsterdam, and Stockholm combined.
Approximately how many runners officially entered the 2010 Los Angeles Marathon?
25,000
The largest marathon field was the New York City Marathon with nearly 44,000 participants.
Which woman is known as the “Mother of Modern Physics” for her work on radioactivity?
Marie Curie
What woman holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles in the Open Era?
Serena Williams
True or false: Nutmeg is a hallucinogen.
True
What breed of dog was one of the first therapy dogs?
Yorkshire Terriers
A US soldier fighting in the Pacific theater during World War II came upon a Yorkie puppy hiding in a foxhole. The dog was named Smoky, and she went on to visit injured American soldiers, and later worked stringing communication lines between military outposts in the Philippines.
North America's oldest road race is held in which Canadian city?
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.
Who is known for her pioneering work in the field of primatology and her study of wild chimpanzees?
Jane Goodall
What NFL player has the most Super Bowl rings with seven?
Tom Brady
Which cake with a slightly misleading name is the official state dessert of Massachusetts?
Boston cream pie
Which company bought Converse in 2003?
Nike