Thanks to the findings of a study into people’s motivations to run a marathon, presented at this weekend’s British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference, I now know the reason we run our first marathon is much simpler.

While at Temple University, Philadelphia, USA, Elizabeth Loughren from the University of Birmingham, UK recruited 507 women and 399 men first time marathoners (aged 18 to 72), who completed an on-line questionnaire.

The researchers found that men are more likely to run a marathon for personal goal achievement and competition reasons than women. Overall, the most frequently cited reasons for running a marathon were achievement of personal goals, such as ‘to finish the race in a certain time’, self esteem, such as ‘to feel proud of myself’ and health orientations, such as ‘to improve my health.’ All valid reasons which I think would apply to most first timers.

In looking at the women’s answers I found it interesting that this study was carried out in the USA, in answer to the question ‘How important were each of these areas in training for and running your last marathon?’. Women were more likely to run for reasons around psychological coping – ‘to improve my mood’, or life meaning – ‘to feel at peace with the world’ – or weight concern.

I understand the weight concern as I imagine that is a universal response from women. An extra 1lb in weight is apparently the equivalent of 5 seconds extra per mile, so just 6lbs can make the difference of over 13 minutes to a full marathon race, without any change in aerobic fitness. Even elite athletes would be conscious of maintaining an optimum weight, not just those who are hoping to lose a significant amount of weight through the marathon training.

I was however, amused by the other responses. During my time living in New York I would go for a run in Central Park being motivated by trying to overtake the men who think they are fit because can lift big weights but have no stamina or speed. Or I would run by the Hudson River when there was a pretty sunset. I wouldn’t know quite how to describe this motivation, but American’s I spoke to would often speak of how they run to ‘improve their psychological wellbeing’. This statement would support Loughren’s findings that the US respondents run to improve my mood’ or ‘to feel at peace with the world’.



I imagine if the study was repeated in the UK raising money for charity would be a higher priority for a first time marathoner. If people in the UK intend to run one marathon in their life they aim to complete in the London Marathon, which has become the largest annual one day fundraising event in the world. ¾ of competitors now run for charity and UK runners often speak of how raising money for a charity close to their heart motivates them.

Elizabeth Loughren commented: “We also asked the participants whether they planned on doing another marathon; approximately 70% of women and 79% of men told us they intended to run another marathon within the next six months or year.” I also found this very surprising, whilst people, including myself, do find running marathons addictive most people say never again, as it’s a once in a life time achievement. Or they say maybe when I’m 40. For 80% of men wanting to do another within 12 months is interesting, although unsurprisingly 85% want to run another ‘to lower my finish time’.

Another interesting finding was that a reason 74% would run another marathon would be ‘to include the race as part of a vacation weekend.’ Does that mean they would they book a holiday especially at the location of a marathon, or do they mean they would maintain their fitness and if they happen to holiday at a location holding a marathon at the same time then they would compete. Or does it mean that they had to sacrifice so much of their family life during this marathon’s training then the only way that their partner would accept them doing another one would be if the family got something out of it too, such as a weekend away.

With the Virgin London Marathon next weekend, it would be interesting to know what motivates the many UK based first time runners, and if after 26.2miles they would be so eager to run another.

The studies finding make great headlines, but I wouldn’t consider them typical of the British youth. Over 1000 school children aged 8-15 were questioned in an online survey, restricting the demographic of the study to those who have access to the computer and internet and also the time and inclination to fill in an online survey (which from my experience you have to be referred to by an adult who is signed up to an online survey company). Taking into account this selected group of respondents it’s not too surprising that 55% of the children said that they spent 60 minutes or more a day texting, talking on the phone or using instant messaging and social networking sites. Apparently in this selective group of children, one in three did less than an hour a week of physical activity, surprising considering compulsory sports lessons at school.

If the same survey was taken of the children who visit the park from my house the results may be very different. Large groups of children hang around from the end of school till dusk, kicking a football on the astro-turfed pitch, cycling round the surrounding paths or just running and chasing each other. Although I doubt if you asked this group if they did regular exercise they would think that they did. Also the secondary schools in my area are over a mile away and each day you see the constant stream of children walking to and from school. If brisk walking is classified as moderate exercise then most of these are getting at least 60 minutess exercise a day without even trying or being aware of it.

One statistic that was interesting is that 20% said they thought they did not need to exercise because they were not overweight. Most health advertising is about watching watch you eat and being active to reduce obesity. Those in a healthy weight range probably don’t think it applies to them, so it is good that this year’s campaign is to encourage the importance of physical activity for all through an Ultimate Dodgeball event.

I teach both private and school swimming lessons and yes there are some obese children and those who try to get out of the lesson, but at the junior school age group I would estimate only 10% of those I teach are overweight. I have noticed however, that increasingly religion is becoming an excuse, the girls can’t swim because the costumes clings to their body when it gets wet, they are weak from fasting or the pool water can’t touch their lips. Perhaps these excuses should be addressed by the relevant bodies so children are freely able to participate in exercise classes and learn valuable live saving skills though swimming, without restrictions through their religion.

The BHF’s Food4Thought is a valid campaign and to make it into the tabloids it needed its shock statistics about the downfall of modern Britain, for papers like the Daily Mail to publish and promote the scheme. But can we have too many surveys like this putting down today’s youth and will children pay attention to a campaign that is already so critical of them? Maybe to be more active children need more freedom and fewer restrictions and they will happily ride their bikes to their friends’ house, choose to go to the swimming pool after school, or kick about the football in the park, without seeing exercise as a chore.