Running A Marathon: The Growing Popularity of the Ancient Sport
By
Will Brown
Contributor Updated: 17 March 2025
Will Brown Contributor
William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.
Popularity of Marathon Running
Have you recently considered running a marathon? Well according to the latest figures, you’re not alone. In recent years, marathons around the world have reported a surge in applications and participation rates, forcing some major races to expand their field sizes. But what is motivating this growing interest, and how has it impacted the finishing times of the world’s most prestigious races? In this guide, we’ve covered the birth and recent growth of the ancient sport of marathons.
Intro to the Rise of Marathon Running
As one of the most storied endurance sports, marathon running was inspired by a story that dates back thousands of years. To launch this guide, we’ve shared a brief history of the sport, before looking at the current statistics that indicate the sport’s growing popularity.
We’ve then discussed the societal trends that may be resulting in the surge of interest to answer the question: Why do people run marathons? From there, we’ve discussed the six biggest marathons in the world and how they have been impacted by the growing participation rates.
- History of Marathons
- Current Stats About Marathons
- Why Are Marathons Becoming Popular?
- The World’s Biggest Marathons
- Tips for Marathon Running
The History and Facts About Marathons
Marathon running has one of the most fascinating origin stories and is based on an ancient Greek legend. The story goes that Pheidippides, a messenger, ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to deliver the news that the Greeks had defeated the Persians. After this roughly 25-mile race, he died from exhaustion.
When the organizers of the modern Olympics wanted to create a landmark event to mark the games, the marathon race was conceptualized. First held in 1896 in Athens, the race was approximately 25 miles long to pay tribute to the ancient story. It remains the traditional closing event for the Games and is a highly popular market at betting apps with Summer Olympics odds.
Following the games, the Boston Marathon was established in 1897 and remains the world’s oldest annual race. In its early years, the race length fluctuated, until the 1908 London Games when organizers settled on a distance of 26 miles and 385 yards. In 1921, this became the official distance of a marathon and remains today.
Over the 20th century, marathons found widespread appeal as they evolved from events for elite athletes to large events for the public masses. As the percentage of people who run marathons has grown, so too have the number of events, and there are now more than 800 annual races each year.
The men’s marathon record stands at 2 hours and 35 seconds and was set by Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum in the 2023 Chicago Marathon. The women’s marathon world record is 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds, and was set by Ruth Chepng’etich of Kenya in the 2024 Chicago Marathon.
Current Stats and the Percentage of People Who Run Marathons
Recent statistics and facts about marathons have indicated that marathons are at the peak of their popularity. A recent study found that roughly 1.1 million people globally run marathons each year. Of these, roughly 510,000 are in the United States, a figure likely buoyed by the fact that the US has the largest marathons in the world.
One of the biggest reasons that the numbers continue to rise is that female participation has surged in the past decades. Currently, 45 percent of marathon finishers are female, a considerable jump from the roughly 11 percent reported in 1980. The median age of runners is around 40 years old.
However, while the speeds of the top runners continue to get faster, the average marathon finishing time has greatly reduced over the past century. While the US average finishing time is around 4 hours 32 minutes for men and 4 hours 56 minutes for women, the average finishing time for the Boston Marathon in 1924 was just under 3 hours.
This reduced time for running a marathon is indicative of the wider appeal of the activity, with the races attracting runners well into their 90s. Despite this, completion rates average around 90-95% depending on the race, with roughly 20% of participants being first-time runners.
Why is Marathon Running Becoming So Popular
So why do people run marathons? There are several reasons why participation has grown in recent years. One of the biggest drivers was the pandemic, which resulted in a surge in people taking up running as a form of exercise. Not only did the activity improve physical fitness, but its long, repetitive nature was highlighted for its mental health benefits.
As marathon running became more of a trend through social media exposure, the percentage of people who run marathons who were in their 20s increased. In the 2019 New York Marathon, 15 percent of finishers were in their 20s. In 2023, this increased to 19 percent. In Los Angeles, this jumped from 21 percent to 28 percent.
The growing inclusivity of women has helped boost the sport’s appeal, while those struggling with direction have reported that the rigorous training regimes have helped to bring structure to their lives. The growth of fitness-tracking apps and health technology has also provided real-time insights into fitness goals, empowering people to train more efficiently.
While running is often considered to be a solo activity, the rise of running clubs has inspired some to participate for social benefits. Not only are people able to form meaningful connections through the sport, but it’s also allowed for people to be held accountable by their communities.
Marathons are often the stepping stone towards more ambitions runs and other sporting challenges. The next step up are the regular biathlon and triathlon, while more ambitious types will train towards the Ironman triathlons. While most run for fun, others become completelt dedicated to the sport.
The Biggest Marathons and Their Growth
With more people running a marathon than ever before, it’s worthwhile looking at how this has impacted the biggest races in the world. Below, we’ve shared details about the Boston, New York, London, Berlin, and Chicago Marathons, which are often considered to be “The Big 5”.
The Boston Marathon
The answer to why and when did running become popular can be traced back to the Boston Marathon, which as the world’s oldest annual race, is the most prestigious. The race is famous for its challenging “Heartbreak Hill” incline and reaching its finish line is considered the holy grail of marathon runners. Because the Boston Marathon requires qualifying times and caps its field at 30,000 entrants, it has reached its limit in terms of growth until this cap is lifted.
The New York Marathon
The New York City Marathon was started in 1970 and remains the world’s largest marathon. The race crosses all five boroughs, starting in Staten Island and finishing in Central Park. Although the first race only included 127 runners, the 2024 Marathon broke the world record for finishers, with 55,646 people crossing the line. Entrance is earned through a lottery system, with the field attracting runners from all over the world.
The London Marathon
The London Marathon was launched in 1981 and has since grown to become one of the world’s largest fundraising events. The race attracts around 40,000 participants each year and is known for the wild costumes often worn by runners. In line with the reported facts about marathons we’ve covered, the 2024 event had the most finishers in its history, with 53,700 people crossing the line. The 2025 event saw a record 840,000 people apply for ballot places, too.
The Chicago Marathon
First held in 1977, the Chicago Marathon is known for its flat course and pleasant running conditions during October. This is likely why it has produced the two current world records for male and female finishing times. Recent years have seen participation grow, with a record 120,000 people applying for its 2024 event. The same year, more than 52,150 racers finished, beating the record set the previous year.
The Berlin Marathon
The Berlin Marathon is the largest in Europe. Established in 1974, its flat terrain has also helped runners to break consistent world records. The race courses through the East and Western blocs of the city, beginning at the Brandenburg Gate. A record 54,280 finishers were reported in the 2024 event, with participation benefiting from a steady growth in female runners each year.
Need to Know Tips Before Running a Marathon
Are you interested in running a marathon after reading this guide? If so, be aware that preparation for a marathon requires a steady systematic approach that takes several months. To get started, aim to run at least 20 miles a week before increasing the run distances over 16 to 20 weeks.
Include a long-distance run every weekend, while working on speed and incline training during the middle of the week. When you can complete a 20-mile run, you’ll be ready. Remember that warm-up and cool-down exercises are essential to prevent injuries, as are rest and recovery periods. Proper nutrition, hydration, and strength training are also instrumental to sustainable running.
