What percentage of the population runs a marathon?

According to a 2012 study by Runners World, Everyday Health, approximately half of one percent of the US population have run a marathon before. This equates to about one out of every 200 people.

The marathon is a gruelling event that takes place over 26.2 miles or 42.2 kilometers. For most people just making it to the start line involves a lot of preparation and hard work. The total number of people who took part in a marathon in the US for 2011 was a little more than half a million. While some people are ultra competitive when it comes to marathon running, for the vast majority just being able to cross the finish line is a great achievement.