Here’s how readers scored on Boston.com’s Marathon history quiz
Hint: You likely didn't pass.
As the oldest marathon in America, the Boston Marathon has a long history of unforgettable moments.
A week before the marathon, we asked Boston.com readers to test their knowledge of the most memorable events and people from the race, and 434 people responded.
Despite the marathon being one of Boston’s biggest sports events, not everyone is an expert on the race’s history. The average reader answered 6.5 questions out of 11 correctly (59%), and just eight readers got every question right.
The question that stumped most readers about the history behind the marathon’s mythical logo, the unicorn. While most readers thought the unicorn was chosen as the Boston Athletic Association’s logo by a popular vote of Bostonians, the unicorn was actually chosen because of its symbolism and because it was the family crest of one of the association’s founding members.
Readers also commonly missed a question about Spencer, the local therapy dog who’s gone viral for cheering on marathon runners. Spencer the golden retriever was named the official dog of the Boston Marathon last week.
The Boston Marathon facts that did stick with readers were those that had to do with controversy. Most readers knew the name of Rosie Ruiz, the woman who faked her 1980 Boston Marathon win and was stripped of her title just days later. A large share of readers also correctly answered the question about Russia and Belarus runners being banned from the marathon.
Ahead, see how readers answered all eleven of our questions on the Boston Marathon.
The first Boston Marathon was held in 1897. What was the original name of the race?
Correct answer: American Marathon
The unicorn has been a symbol of the Boston Athletic Association since 1887. Which of these is NOT a reason for the unicorn symbol.
Correct answer: The unicorn was picked by a vote of Bostonians at the time of the BAA’s founding.
During which year was the half-mile incline in Newton first referred to as “Heartbreak Hill”?
Correct answer: 1936
What is the name of the first woman to finish the Boston Marathon, before women were officially allowed to compete?
Correct answer: Bobbi Gibb
What is the name of the woman who fraudulently claimed to be the first woman to cross the finish line in 1980?
Correct answer: Rosie Ruiz
In 2014, this runner was the first American to win the Boston Marathon in 33 years, one year after the events of the Boston Marathon bombing. What was his name?
Correct answer: Meb Keflezighi
Before 2018, an American woman hadn’t won the marathon in over three decades. What runner changed that?
Correct answer: Desiree Linden
What is the name of the local therapy dog who’s gone viral for cheering on Boston Marathon runners?
Correct answer: Spencer
Father-and-son duo of Dick and Rick Hoyt ran 30 Boston Marathons with Dick pushing Rick in his wheelchair. When was their last race together?
Correct answer: 2014
Who won the 2021 Boston Marathon?
Correct answer: Benson Kipruto (men’s) and Diana Kipyogei (women’s).
The BAA said it won’t allow runners residing in these two countries to compete in the 2022 Boston Marathon:
Correct answer: Russia and Belarus
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