Marathon

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/marathon

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the official marathon distance?42.195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards)
2. What is the historical inspiration?The legend of Pheidippides' run from Marathon to Athens
3. What is a marathon and why does it have that name?A marathon is a very long running race, named after Pheidippides, the messenger who ran from Marathon to Athens to announce a Greek victory.
4. How long is a marathon and where did that distance come from?A marathon is 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 kilometers). That exact length was set at the 1908 London Olympics so the royal family could watch the start, and it became the official distance in 1921.

Glycogen: The stored form of glucose in the body, serving as a primary energy source for muscles.
Pacing Strategy: A plan for maintaining a consistent or varied speed throughout a race to optimize performance.
Hitting the Wall: A phenomenon in endurance running where the body's glycogen stores are depleted, leading to extreme fatigue.
Physiology: The study of how living organisms function and the processes within them.