The Guy Who Ran a Marathon… Backward?!

Fin flips our brains upside down in today's episode. He tells us about an amazing human who ran a very very long race, a marathon, backwards.

That's right! He rans backwards for over 40 kilometers.

Isn't that crazy?

Transcription:

Welcome to Brain Pop! — where your brain goes boom with one mind-blowing fact every day!

I’m your host, Fin — the curious kid who’s always looking for the world’s weirdest, wildest, and most what-did-you-just-say?! kind of facts. And today, we’re flipping things around. Literally.

Let’s get that brain popping and take a step back — or maybe a few thousand steps back!

Okay, picture this: You’re watching a marathon. Thousands of people are running… forward, right?

Well, get this — someone once ran the entire marathon BACKWARD… and they finished it! No joke. His name is Xu Zhenjun, and he ran the Beijing Marathon entirely in reverse. Step by step. No turning around. No peeking. Just pure backwards power!

Now, before we get too far, let’s talk about what a marathon is. A marathon is a long-distance running race that’s 26.2 miles — or 42.2 kilometers — long.
That’s like running from one side of a whole city to the other. Or from your house to your friend’s house… 200 times!

For most runners, finishing a marathon takes 4 to 5 hours. That’s like watching two movies, going out for lunch, then coming back and still running!
But when Xu Zhenjun ran it backward, it took him over 5 hours — and yes, he trained for months to do it safely without bumping into things or hurting himself. Some people even call it “retro running.” It’s a thing!

You might be wondering — why on Earth would someone run a marathon backward? Well, some people love challenges. Others want to break world records, raise money for charity, or just stand out and make people smile. And Xu? He became famous for it.

Even more amazing? Backward running actually works different muscles and can improve your balance. Some athletes use it as part of their training!

So the next time you’re running around at recess… try taking a few steps backward (safely!) and imagine doing that for 42 kilometers. My mind is blown. There are some crazy talented humans on earth!

Wow — that fact really had me running in reverse!
Thanks for popping your brain with me on today’s backward bonkers episode of Brain Pop!

Be sure to come back tomorrow for another fact that flips your brain upside down. And here’s something to think about:
If you had to do something backward, what would it be? Eating dinner? Reading a book? Remember, if you’re going to do something backwards check with an adult to make sure its safe.

See you next time on Brain Pop! — where curiosity is cool, facts are fun, and every day your brain goes BOOM!