1 %
or
3 million
Source(s):
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_of_people_ever_run_a_marathon

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This is hard to gauge because there are many marathons every year and people can also run in multiple marathons. I have heard a lot of people saying 1% so that is probably very close. Even less than that complete the marathon.
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Well, it has been reported that 500,000 people ran a marathon last year. The math is easy.

Overall it may be as high as 5- 8%

The top 3 largest races were London, NY and Chicago. The order is unclear, it depends on if you go by number registered or finished.


Many Americans enjoy the experience of running a forty-two kilometer race. Three hundred fourteen marathons were held in the United States last year. An estimated three hundred eighty-two thousand runners completed these marathons. And that number is expected to increase this year.

The biggest marathon in the nation is the New York City marathon. The runners pass famous landmarks in America's most famous city. It also is a major sporting event with at least one hundred thousand dollars going to each winner.

On November fifth, almost thirty-eight thousand people finished the race. Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil was the men's champion in just under two hours and ten minutes. Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia was the women's champion for the second straight year. She finished in just over two hours and twenty-five minutes.
Source(s):
http://www.doitsports.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000WDQ

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