How many marathons is that?
The marathon is 42.195 km because of where the royal box was at the 1908 London Olympics. It has been that exact number ever since.
11.8 × a marathon
500 km ÷ 42.2 km = 11.85 marathons.
Reference figures are measurements and are rounded; the unit conversion behind them is exact.
| Reference | Size | Yours ÷ theirs | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5K | 5 km | 100× | |
| 10K | 10 km | 50× | |
| half marathon | 21.1 km | 23.7× | |
| marathon | 42.2 km | 11.8× | |
| ultramarathon | 100 km | 5× | A 100 km race |
Worth knowing
- The marathon was 40 km until 1908, when the London course was extended to 42.195 km so it could finish in front of the royal box.
- Running a marathon a day for a year would cover 15 401 km — a little over a third of the way round the world.
Frequently asked
Why is a marathon 26.2 miles?
Because the 1908 London Olympic course ran from Windsor Castle to the stadium at White City, and the finish was moved to sit in front of the royal box. The IAAF fixed that distance permanently in 1921.
How long does a marathon take?
The world record is 2:00:35. The median finisher worldwide takes about 4 hours 30 minutes.