Here are a few questions I've been asked frequently. How long is a marathon? Marathon is always 42.195 km long. In imperial units it is equal to 26.2 miles. Wherever you see the term Marathon, it refers to this distance. However, some Ultramarathon events might use "Marathon" in their title (Like the famous Comrades Marathon) Do you run all that? Usually asked right after you answer the first question Yes, pretty much you run all the course. Can you stop or walk? Of course you can. Nobody is going to blame you if you walk for a while. Most races though have specific time limit. And you need to cross the finish line before then to be recognised as an official finisher. What was your ranking? This is pretty much the least important figure for a runner. Here I am obviously not talking about elite runners. I mean for the average marathon runners it doesn't matter how many people have crossed the finish line before them. You only compete with yourself. What