37 Speedy Facts about Running

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published January 26, 2018Updated March 31, 2025

The most powerful computers on earth cannot generate the number of computations it takes to run on two legs._[5]
In the late 19th century, running was called "pedestrianism."_[5]
A woman's breasts move the same amount whether she runs fast or slowly._[4]

Treadmills were used to torture prisoners (Lennon001 / Creative Commons)

The treadmill was originally designed for English prisons as a tool for punishment._[5]
The youngest marathoner in the world is Budhia Singh, who completed 48 marathons before his fifth birthday._[12]
Runners report having a better sex life than their slower-paced counterparts._[16]
The fastest marathon runner in the world is Kenyan Dennis Kimetto. He ran a marathon in 2 hours, 2 minutes, 57 seconds in the 2014 Berlin Marathon._[7]
In 1967, Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon with an official bib. She entered under the name K. V. Switzer so officials would not automatically identify her as a female._[17]

If you are losing faith in humanity, go out and watch a marathon.

- Kathrine Switzer

The most common running injury is "runner's knee," or patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), which is irritation of the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap._[2]

Fauja Singh's nickname is the Running Baba

The world's oldest marathoner is Baba Fauja Singh from India. He was 100 years old when he completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in Canada in 8 hours, 25 minutes, 16 seconds. He says the key to his longevity is that he has "no ego and no greed."_[14]
Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain holds the record for the fastest female marathoner._[15]
Nicknamed the "world's coolest marathon," the North Pole Marathon is the northernmost marathon in the world._[15]
The most southern marathon in the world is in Antarctica, where the average windchill temperature is -4 degrees Fahrenheit._[15]
Famous people who have finished marathons include Oprah Winfrey, Sean Combs, President George W. Bush, Will Ferrell, and Katie Holmes._[15]
Dubbed the "Marathon Man," Belgian runner Stefaan Engels ran the marathon distance every day for a year, totalling 9,569 miles (1,5401 km)._[15]
In 1972, the Boston Marathon became the first marathon competition to allow women to enter. Previously, marathons were thought to be too grueling for females._[15]
In 1978, Nike introduced the first women-specific running shoe, the Nike Waffle Racer._[13]
When women run, their breasts don't just move up and down; they move in a complex figure-eight pattern, with about 6 inches of motion with each stride._[4]

They move more than you think

In 1987, Jackie Joyner-Kersee became the first female runner to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The caption next to her photo read: "Super Woman."_[13]
Recreational running didn't become mainstream until the late 1960s. In 1958, the Chicago Tribune announced a strange new fitness fad: jogging._[9]
Author Oscar Wilde was forced to run on a treadmill during his two-year prison sentence._[9]
In the 1960s, running for exercise was so unusual that some people were stopped by police. People would try to run in the morning because police became suspicious if they saw a grown man running at night._[8]
Ethiopian Abebe Bikila ran barefoot when he won the 1960 Rome Summer Olympic marathon race in record time._[10]
Distance runners are prone to "dead butt syndrome"—inflammation of the tendons in a person's rear end._[6]
According to legend, when the Greeks defeated the Persians in battle in 490 BC, soldier Pheidippides ran approximately 25 miles (40 km) from Marathon, Greece, to Athens to deliver the news. Once he arrived he shouted, "Rejoice, we are victorious," and then promptly died. The distance he ran became the distance of the modern marathon, 26.2 miles (42 km)._[15]

Pheidippides is the central figure in the story that inspired the marathon race

Many runners suffer from black toenails, which is caused by bleeding under the toenails. Poor-fitting shoes are usually the culprit._[6]
Approximately 56% of people who run outdoors get a runny nose. Both cold and dry air have been shown to increase nasal mucous production._[6]
University of Oregon running coach and Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman helped introduce recreational running to the United States. He said he discovered the benefits of recreational running on a trip to New Zealand in 1962._[8]
The average cost of quality running shoes in the United States is between $115 and $120._[1]
Runners replace their running shoes every 300–500 miles (483–805 km). If a person wears their running shoes for every-day use, the shoes will last only around 200 miles._[1]
On average, men are faster runners than women at all distances. This is because testosterone stimulates muscle mass development and increases the concentration of red blood cells and hemoglobin._[3]

There are certain gender differences in running

The first place a running shoe breaks down is in the midsole. If the ball of the sole is flexible, it is a key sign that the midsole is wearing out._[1]

An early sports bra was called "Free Swing Tennis Bra"

The sports bra was invented in 1977, which helped improve women's running apparel._[13]
Research shows that running stimulates the immune system to help fight off colds._[11]
Running is the most basic form of exercise because it uses a person's own body, weight, and two legs._[11]
People who run an average of 5 miles (8 km) or more per day have a 41% lower risk of developing cataracts, which is the leading cause of age-related vision loss and blindness._[11]
In 1980, it initially seemed like Rosa Ruiz won the Boston Marathon. However, officials discovered she joined the race near the finish line. They also discovered that she had ridden the subway to the finish line in the 1979 New York City Marathon._[15]