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TIL during the 1904 summer Olympics marathon one runner hitched a ride, another was given rat poison and brandy as a stimulus, fourth place winner took a nap during the run, and two other runners were chased a mile by angry dogs

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5Yjy8 TIL That tap water is the most controlled "food" in germany and that it is so good that it beats mineral water in safety and even taste in many occasions.
4XoyR TIL Japanese Doctor Fukushi Masaichi (1878-1956) was the worlds leading collector of body torn tattoos. He would offer prisoners money to be able to remove their skin after death. He had an immense collection.
v160x TIL President Ronald Reagan revealed he wore hearing aids in 1983, leading to greater acceptance and increased sales of the devices among seniors. At age 72, he said that his hearing loss dated to his early Hollywood days when a .38-caliber blank was fired close to his right ear on a film set
Wk61A TIL that the Colombian army once made a song with Morse code in it and aired it in rebel-controlled territory to lift the morale of hostages held there. The message read '19 rescued, you're next. Don't lose hope.'
D1Pr TIL that many marathons have a limit finishing time, after which a sweeper bus will come and pick up those who are still running.