Over the past decade or so, marathon running has become popular among the more common athlete. In the early days of marathoning, the 26.2 mile distance was reserved for the more serious athlete but over recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of marathon finishers. This increase in overall numbers has also included a shift in the gender and ages of participants. In fact, the gender division shifted from about 10% women and 90% men in 1980 to almost equally split in 2013. There has also been an increase in the median age over the years. More surprising though is the increase in number of finishers. In my lifetime, the growth has been exponential and now there are more than half a million marathon finishers each year. Obviously, all of these athletes are not competing for the win or even qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Many are running marathons to cross the finish line. If you watch a big city marathon, youโll see a variety of people of all shapes and sizes, ages, and backgrounds. And each of these people has different goals and different reasons for taking on this distance. Regardless of your reason for running a marathon, training for and finishing a marathon is a life-changing experience.
Gender and Age Group Breakdown | ||||||||
1980 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
Women | 10% | 26% | 38% | 41% | 41% | 41% | 42% | 43% |
Men | 90% | 74% | 62% | 59% | 59% | 59% | 58% | 57% |
Masters (40 yrs+) | 26% | 41% | 44% | 44% | 46% | 46% | 46% | 47% |
Open (20 โ 39 yrs) | 69% | 57% | 54% | 54% | 52% | 52% | 52% | 50% |
Juniors (under 20) | 5% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Median Age | ||||||||
1980 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
Males | 34 | 38 | 38 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
Females | 31 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 |
Median Age Overall | 37 | 38 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 36 | ||
Year | Estimated U.S. Marathon Finisher Total | |||||||
1976 | 25,000 | |||||||
1980 | 143,000 | |||||||
1990 | 224,000 | |||||||
1995 | 293,000 | |||||||
2000 | 353,000 | |||||||
2004 | 386,000 | |||||||
2005 | 395,000 | |||||||
2006 | 410,000 | |||||||
2007 | 412,000 | |||||||
2008 | 425,000 | |||||||
2009 | 467,000 | |||||||
2010 | 507,000 | |||||||
2011 | 518,000 | |||||||
2012 | 487,000 | * | ||||||
2013 | 541,000 | |||||||
*NOTE: ING New York City Marathon cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy (47,000-plus likely finishers if held). |
Maybe youโre considering running a marathon. If that thought has crossed your mind, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself before committing. Although many people sign up for a marathon with little to no running experience, I donโt recommend this at all. Running a marathon is tough, no matter how well-prepared you are so I would advise carefully considering these questions and evaluating your reasons. This list is not all-inclusive but will at least get you thinking about what is involved in training for a marathon.
- How long have I been running? It is generally advised that you should have a minimum of one year of consistent running experience and have a solid mileage base. Most training plans are somewhere around 4 months long and start with at least 20 miles a week and go up quickly. A good guideline would be the ability to run at least 10 miles for a long run. Many training plans have several long runs of 18-22 miles at the peak training time along with mid-distance runs during the week. If you donโt have a solid base prior to beginning training, you risk injury that could derail your training.
- Why do I want to run a marathon? It is a good idea to know your โwhyโ for running a marathon. There will be ups and downs throughout training. Without a personally meaningful reason for running a marathon, it can be easy to give up and quit when the going gets tough. If your reason is youโve been running for 10 years and all your friends say you should run a marathon, it may not be your time to sign up. But if you are looking for a challenge and have a burning desire to become a marathoner, youโre probably ready to explore it a little further. Your โwhyโ should be strong enough to keep you going throughout the months of training.
- Have I run a half marathon before? If you haven’t run a long distance before, it can be hard to understand why this is important. While crossing the finish line of your first marathon is truly a momentous and happy occasion, there are many, many ups and downs along the way. You will not only deal with physical fatigue, but emotional highs and lows as well. These can be the highest of highs and the lowest of lows but are perfectly normal and to be expected. I recommend running at least one or two half marathons to get a good idea if your body and mind can handle the distance. Running a full marathon is far more than simply running two half marathons back-to-back. Training for a marathon will involve many long runs of half marathon distance or more. Before I decided to run a marathon, I had already completed 10 half marathons.
- Do I have time? I’m going to be perfectly honest about this one. Marathon training takes time – lots of time. You can plan on 5 days a week for varying lengths of time. Although you may not be running this much, there will be cross training, core work and rest that you will need to fit in. As training progresses, your mileage will build and your runs will take more time. Many long runs will go up to 18 to 20 miles and that takes time. And you’ll probably want to take a nap after that. Intense training like this will also require more rest throughout the week so you’ll need to get to bed early to ensure your body gets enough rest to recover properly.
- Do I have a support system in place? Every runner needs a good support system. I can’t emphasize this one enough….you can’t do this alone! If you have a family, you will want to have their support. Since there is such a big time commitment involved, having help with your children and household responsibilities may be necessary. Having a supportive spouse or partner is helpful to make sure that you are able to get out the door and train without feeling guilty or like you should be doing something else. I also recommend having a training partner. As with the marathon itself, training has many ups and downs. You may experience doubts and low points during training and having a training partner that understands and has been through the same thing can be a great source of support. Having a buddy to run with can make the miles fly by and keep you accountable in your training. There is probably a local running club in your community that you could connect with and there are many online forums to share thoughts and ask for advice. You’re even welcome to reach out to me for support!
Is running a marathon on your bucket list? For all of you experienced marathoners, what advice would you offer someone considering running a marathon?
kristin says
August 29, 2014 at 12:43 amI started running a few years ago lost 67 pounds and changed my life. I’m running my first half because when I started this journey I told myself I would. I will cry passing the finish line too. Great post!!!
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Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
August 29, 2014 at 4:28 amI am still working on my first 5K, so I don’t think a marathon will ever be in the cards for me. I truly dislike running ๐
Cassie @ Southeast by Midwest says
August 29, 2014 at 6:01 amThose are some great questions to ask if you’re interested in participating in a marathon. I would not have thought of having a base of 10-20 miles a week before signing up.
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Melinda says
August 29, 2014 at 7:59 amthats a great motivation to run. I need to get working on my runnng
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Stacie @ The Divine Miss Mommy says
August 29, 2014 at 9:25 amI’m not ready for a marathon, and I never will be. My life is a marathon. =D These are really good things to consider, though.
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Jaime says
August 29, 2014 at 9:42 amI’ve run five marathons since 2007 (and 2012 was my last one.) I’m currently training for another half marathon. My full marathon days are over. The last one took a toll on me mentally.
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aimee fauci says
August 29, 2014 at 9:53 amI’ve never thought to run a marathon. I would walk one but I first need to get off my booty and walk my hilly neighborhood.
Everyday Living with Chrys says
August 29, 2014 at 10:44 amI would love to get in to running again. I have a lot of weight and some arthritis and joint issues to work through before I can think about a marathon.
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Brett says
August 29, 2014 at 12:26 pmi don’t aspire to run a full marathon. a half? maybe. a 10k? perhaps. 5k? yes. my cousin does marathons (inc boston and NY) and i see how much it takes to do it. i’m ok with smaller goals ๐
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Janel (A Mom's Take) says
August 29, 2014 at 12:48 pmSuch great information. I used to run with my mom when I was about 7, 8. and 9. I remember running a 5K with her. I wish I would have stuck with it.
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Dawn says
August 29, 2014 at 2:35 pmNo marathon for me! But I have mad respect for others who do it!
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Pam says
August 29, 2014 at 2:55 pmI usually walk instead of running, but I have often wondered how people know they’re ready to run a marathon. There’s so much training involved, I really respect my friends who have run marathons!
Jenn @TheRebelChick says
August 29, 2014 at 3:24 pmIt’s sad to admit, but I am not a runner AT ALL. But I have so much respect and admiration for those that do!
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Debra says
August 29, 2014 at 3:27 pmI’ve got great respect for anyone who does a marathon or half marathon. It’s a lot of training and self discipline.
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Amber C. says
August 29, 2014 at 6:00 pmI would love to be able to run a marathon! It is definitely on my bucket list!
Felicia says
August 29, 2014 at 8:04 pmI am definitely not ready! I’m so proud of those who do.
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Anne (@notasupermom) says
August 29, 2014 at 8:30 pmI think the answer for me is a resounding “nope!” Still, I really admire people who train, run, and finish a marathon.
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Janell Poulette says
August 29, 2014 at 8:45 pmIm just not cut out for running that far. Maybe one day I will run a 5k.
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Beth@FrugalFroggie says
August 29, 2014 at 9:06 pmI can safely say that I am not ready to run a marathon. And although it would be cool, I doubt that will be on my to do list. But I think it is awesome for those who do.
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Susanna @Zealous Mom says
August 30, 2014 at 5:07 amThose stats are very interesting. I really do want to run a marathon one day, but I’m not sure I’m quite ready yet. Maybe start with 1/2 first.
Shasta Walton says
August 30, 2014 at 5:15 amI really hate running. There was a time when I had started to love it, but it takes a long time for me to get to that point.
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Racquel says
August 30, 2014 at 6:43 amI’m not a good runner. I’d love to run and am hoping to start small and work up to longer distances but like not a marathon. My daughter at 10 is a natural runner and has completed several 5k runs in incredible time. This was great to read!
Rosey says
August 30, 2014 at 8:42 amI’m not surprised about the increase in age. I’ve seen so many of my friends taking up marathons. I think it’s awesome. ๐
Brandy says
August 30, 2014 at 9:18 amI so will never run, ever. I don’t like running as my large chest is too much to carry, however, I love to walk A LOT. This is great for those who will run a marathon someday ๐
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Debbie Denny says
August 30, 2014 at 11:06 amThese are fantastic things to think about. Pat on the back to anyone who does this.
Krystal's Kitsch says
August 30, 2014 at 11:34 amI know that I am definitely NOT ready to do one! I wish, maybe one day!
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Marina @ Mommy Snippets says
August 30, 2014 at 1:33 pmNope! I’m definitely not ready to run one. I’d fall out and die.
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Jessica (Savory Experiments) says
August 30, 2014 at 1:58 pmI don’t think I’m cut out to be a marathon runner. I just don’t enjoy it that much. I try, but my max is about 4 miles. Not bad, but also not marathon level. Keep up the good work!
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Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
August 30, 2014 at 9:05 pmNo, I’m not ready yet but I’d like to be! It’s a goal of mine!
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cam | bibs and baubles says
August 31, 2014 at 9:49 pmI’ve never considered running a marathon for some reason. I have friends who have done it and also friends who do triathlons. Sounds like an awesome experience.
Christie says
September 1, 2014 at 9:20 amGreat to assess your goals before committing! I think you will do great! I am aiming for a half marathon goal
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Tracey says
September 1, 2014 at 2:43 pmThis is a great post. I would love to run a marathon some day but right now I’m just trying to be able to do a 5km
Mary says
September 3, 2014 at 12:01 pmI’ve done a 5k, but I did not run it. I’m nowhere near ready to run it yet, but more power to anyone who can! This is a great post, thank you for sharing it.
David Ryan says
October 6, 2014 at 12:41 pmNot quite but getting there.
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