Wisconsin Activities: Minions Rule at the Fox Cities Marathon
Posted on Sep 23, 2014
Posted in: Wisconsin Activities
Chillax! You’re Halfway There
I think it’s safe to say that we went out all out for the Fox Cities Marathon last Sunday. We invited staff, family and friends to dress as minions from Despicable Me. We played upbeat music, handed out gel packs and cheered until our voices went hoarse. It was a great day!
In honor of this year’s Fox Cities Marathon here are 10 fascinating facts, brought to you by Everyday Health
- Upon the Greek victory over the Persians in 490 B.C., legend says that soldier Pheidippides ran 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news. After he arrived, Pheidippides yelled out, “Rejoice, we are victorious,” then collapsed and died.
- A 140-pound woman running 10-minute miles will burn 2,777 calories during a marathon. That’s about twice the recommended daily caloric intake of 1,200 to 1,500 calories.
- Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain holds the world record for fastest marathon, which she set at the London Marathon in 2003 with a final time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 25 seconds.
- Patrick Makau Musyoki of Kenya set the world record for men in 2011 at the Berlin Marathon when he ran the course in 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 38 seconds.
- Oprah finished the Marine Corps Marathon in 1994 in 4 hours, 29 minutes. After finishing, Winfrey said, although making it through was “better than winning an Emmy,” she had no desire to ever run another marathon.
- In 2003, Sean Combs set out to “beat Oprah” in the New York City Marathon. He finished in 4 hours, 14 minutes, 54 seconds.
- More famous faces who have footed their way through 26.2 miles including: President George W. Bush who ran the Houston marathon in 1993 in 3 hours, 44 minutes; Will Ferrell who completed the Boston marathon in 2003 in 3 hours, 56 minutes, 12 seconds; and Katie Holmes who finished the 2007 New York City marathon in 5 hours, 29 minutes, 58 seconds.
- In 2011, Belgian runner Stefan Engels ran a marathon every day for a year, covering a total distance of 9,569 miles. “I don’t regard my marathon year as torture. It is more like a regular job. I am running just as Joe Average goes to work on Monday morning, whether or not he feels like it,” he wrote on his website via CNN.
- In 1972, the Boston marathon became the first marathon competition to allow women to enter; the distance was previously considered too grueling. In 1984, the Olympics opened the marathon competition to women.
- But even before the Boston marathon officially allowed women to race, there were a few daring females who snuck in. In 1966, Roberta Gibb cleverly hid in the bushes until about half of the racers had passed her by. Then she quickly jumped in, ran the course, and finished in 3 hours, 21 minutes, 40 seconds. Inspired By Gibb, the following year Katherine Switzer applied under her initials, K.V. Switzer, and was accepted. About four miles into the race, officials noticed “K. Switzer” was actually a girl and tried to boot her from the run. Switzer’s boyfriend shoved the official away, allowing her to finish the course in about 4 hours, 20 minutes.
Click here to see the race results.