Since 1896 at the Olympic Games in Athens, the tradition of marathons has spread globally to cities such as Tokyo, Boston, London, Chicago, Berlin, and New York. About 1.1 million people worldwide participate in marathons yearly (Sayer, 2022). Marathon running has increased from 25,000 runners in 1976 to 2 million in 2010 (Burkule, 2016). Boston is known as one of the hardest marathons to run because it is so hilly, but it is very remarkable. Boston is a popular marathon because of the community it brings together.

Why Put Your Body Through 26.2 Miles?

Runners participate in marathons because it allows them to realize what they are capable of doing while simultaneously challenging themselves physically and mentally. Marathons help increase people’s beliefs about the possibility of future achievements (McCarthy, 2022). You have to be a little crazy, self-disciplined, tenacious, and goal-oriented to run a marathon because it is a hard task to complete (Serravallo, 2000, p. 102). Once a person crosses the finish line, though, it is quite possibly one of the best feelings in the world, letting you realize that you are capable of doing hard tasks. While the training might be exhausting and unbearable at times, you get a sense of accomplishment, relief, and runner’s high when you finally cross the finish line after several months of training and dedication.

How Do Marathons Foster Community?

The best way to train for a marathon is to participate in group runs because everyone has the same goal; therefore, one feels more connected to people where a community is formed. As people become so fixed on achieving their goal, they eventually become more aware of what their peers are doing, and so their emotions grow stronger, and those feelings dominate their awareness (Collins, 2004). Interaction ritual starts when human bodies move in the same place, thus creating excitement as a whole because everyone is doing the same thing as each other, where positive outcomes are created (Collins, 2004). The four primary effects of interaction ritual chains are group solidarity, emotional energy, symbols representing the group, and feelings of morality (Collins, 2004).

RunTogether was created to allow non-marathon runners to feel like they could join a group to train and gain confidence in their running abilities, where everyone can be pushed. RunTogether and other training groups let you be part of a positive group with the same goal in mind. Marathons let people build their identities because they boost an individual’s confidence. Group assemblies, rigid boundaries to outsiders, high levels of shared emotional states, and a common focus of attention all contribute to the interaction ritual chain (Dial, 2011). Thus, individuals who experience an excellent marathon through the long months of training get wrapped into the interaction ritual chain and are more willing to run again. Group training is the main factor contributing to these interaction ritual chains because all runners are motivated to do it.

The Boston Marathon helps foster community and is special to many individuals, including me because it is one of the oldest marathons. While Boston is extremely hard to run because of Heartbreak Hill, some individuals have to qualify to run if they do not run for charity. Therefore, you must have run a previous marathon to qualify for Boston. The high standards that Boston sets encourage people to sign up. The Boston Marathon is highly regarded because it takes place on Patriot’s Day every year, where most students and people who have jobs get the day off to support the runners; therefore, the day is more enjoyable and memorable for the runners when the spectators are cheering everyone on. Since the course goes through Wellesley and Newton, students at Wellesley College and Boston College help push the runners with their fun costumes and cheering. Marathon Monday brings the greater Boston community together because everyone supports each other (English, 2016).

The main reason why the Boston Marathon is highly popular to this day is because it is a marathon of remembrance. Ever since the Boston bombings in 2013, Boston has come together to be more unified and patriotic on this day. Henry Richard, the brother of Martin Richard, who died in the bombings at the age of 8, ran the 126th marathon in honor of Martin and his sister, Jane, who lost her left leg due to the bombings. Henry ran wearing a yellow Team MR8 jersey, where he had the names of his siblings on his arms during the race. After completing the 126th Boston Marathon, he was asked whether or not he would run it again; he responded with, “Oh I think 100%, there is not a doubt in my mind” (WCVB, 2023). Many people feel this way after running their first marathon, including myself, because it is such a surreal feeling that can not be beaten. The marathon is so much more than just running for yourself, as seen through Henry’s experience. Last year during the 126th Boston Marathon, over 200 non-profit organizations raised $35.6 million. It is seen through these numbers that marathons contribute so much to the world where individuals are eager to run 26.2.

So What Is The Point Of Running And Why Do People Run More Than Once?

Marathons let people push themselves because you are challenged to a whole new level where you have to be mentally tough throughout all the months of training. Running enables you to become part of a community filled with individuals trying to achieve the same thing and take care of their physical health. One can create memories and run with individuals who they would never have met if they did not run marathons. Marathons have become so much more than a footrace; they unite society to support each other and those struggling with illnesses like cancer. Running through a street filled with people cheering your name is a joyful experience where one realizes with the community’s support that they can do this and anything. Marathons are much bigger than the individual and all the training. Every 26.2 miles is worth it in the final race.

References

Admin. (2014, April 23). The Marathon and Gender Equality. Sociology Lens Insights. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.sociologylens.net/topics/collective-behaviour-and-social-movements/the-marathon-and-gender-equality/13203.

Alfonseca, K. (2022, November 5). Why run a marathon? Pro-athletes and psychologists explain. ABC News. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/marathon-meaning-people-running/story?id=92682350.

Burfoot, A. (2007, April). “The History of the marathon: 1976-present.” Sports Medicine, 37 (4).

Burkule, N. (2016, October). “Marathon running for amateurs: Benefits and risks.” Journal of Clinical and Preventive Cardiology, 5 (4).

Collins, R. (2004). “Interaction Ritual Chains.”

Dial, J. (2011). “Running Identities and Interaction Ritual Chains.” eGrove.

Marathon Handbook 2022. “ How Many People Have Run A Marathon? World Statistics.” Retrieved April 27, 2023, from https://marathonhandbook.com/how-many-people-have-run-a-marathon/#:~:text=What%20is%20this%3F,-Report%20Ad&text=Therefore%2C%20we%20can%20safely%20say,run%20a%20marathon%20per%20year.

McCarthy, A. (2022, February 24). Why do people run marathons? BBC Future. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210929-why-do-people-run-marathons.

Patxi et. al. (2021). “Motivation behind running among older adult runners.” BMC Sports Science, Medicine, and Rehabilitation.

Serravallo, V. (2000). “Class and Gender in Recreational Marathon Running.” Race, Gender & Class, 7 (5):96-121.

U.S. News 2016. “5 Reasons Why the Boston Marathon Really Is a Big Deal.” Retrieved April 16, 2023, from (https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2016-04-14/5-reasons-why-the-boston-marathon-really-is-a-big-deal).

WCVB 2013. “Henry Richard, brother of bombing victim Martin Richard, to lead team running 127th Boston Marathon.” Retrieved April 16, 2023, from (https://www.wcvb.com/article/henry-richard-brother-of-bombing-victim-martin-richard-to-lead-team-running-127th-boston-marathon/41926628#).