Endurance runners often encounter critics who question why people choose to put themselves through the agony of running a marathon. In all fairness though it’s a reasonable question. Why do people run marathons? Why do people run to the point of physical and mental exhaustion? Why do some do it over and over again?
During my journeys as a runner both in the United States and abroad I’ve had the fortune of picking the minds and hearts of dedicated runners and asked them why they run. The variety of answers I got were as diverse as a box of Jelly Bellys!
Personally, I run marathons for a variety of reasons. I run because I want to see what I’m capable of doing. Sitting in an office 50 hours a week doesn’t necessarily give me the opportunity to find out what I’m capable of (physically at least). Nor does sitting in an office all week allow me to see the world, which is another reason why I love to run. I can’t think of a better way to see the world and interact with it than to do so by foot. One such experience was the 2007 Florence Italy Marathon. I also run marathons because I have an intrinsic drive to explore and compete. It’s in my nature to take risks and push the limits. That’s why I run marathons. But enough with my reasons. What are the other reasons I’ve heard from marathon runners around the world?
Here are some of the answers I’ve been given to the question
why do people run marathons?
1. “I was brought up as a runner and have run my whole life”
2. “My friends and/or family are runners and I did it to join them”
3. “I was bored with how things were going in my life and I needed a change”
4. “Over the past few years I’ve managed to really put on some weight and needed to get back in shape”
5. “I read about a cause such as breast cancer or HIV/AIDS that I could raise money and awareness for by running a marathon”
6. “I believe that people were made to run”
7. “I’m not the religious type, but there’s something spiritual about running in the outdoors and interacting with our world in a very simple yet inspiring way. To me, running is my religion since it brings me peace and happiness”
8. “Running marathons makes me happy and gives me a sense of accomplishment”
9. “I would love to be a swimmer but I suck at it”
10. “It’s a challenge”
11. “I’m addicted to collecting the finisher’s medals” (My personal favorite!)
12. “I ran a half marathon and felt great about it, so I figured I have it in me to run a full marathon”
13. “There’s a certain sense of honor I get by participating in an event with such deep roots in world history”
14. “It’s one of those things I promised myself I would do before I die”
15. “I’m an adrenaline junkie and crossing the finish line is a thrill”
16. “My friends pressured me into it”
17. “Running seemed like a healthy hobby to pick up and over time I got better at it”
18. “I had an injury and my doctor told me that structured exercise would help me recover. As I got stronger I become more addicted to running and staying fit and it all ballooned from there”
19. “I lost a loved one and wanted to dedicate a marathon in their memory”
20. “Growing up I never played sports. When I became an adult I decided to change that and got into running”
21. “In my professional life I’ve noticed that I automatically get more respect because I’m an endurance runner. Running marathons is my way of maintaining a professional edge”
22. “I want to be a positive role model in my kids life”
In just a few years of running marathons I’ve come across the above reasons. Undoubtedly I’ve probably left off a few. Do you know of any other reasons why people run marathons? If so, please comment on this post and tell us what it is!
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I ran a marathon to see how far I could push myself mentally and physically.