The following is a list of some of the commonest reasons which motivate the runners.
1. Run a Marathon for the Challenge it Brings
There are no born talents in this particular sport. Even the most robust athlete will have to give his best to finish a marathon. Most people run a marathon because it sounds like an almost impossible thing to do, at least to them, at the moment they were deciding to do it. Long before the race tests one's fitness and endurance, the training itself will be taxing enough to both the body and the will. Going through this challenge brings satisfaction and feeling of achievement beyond imagination.
2. Run a Marathon to Get Healthy
While many critics might think it's not healthy or safe to engage in such a demanding sport, the training for the marathon almost always elevates the runner's health and fitness to a level he has never been at before. The training, which lasts three to nine months for most people, calls constantly for upholding of healthy habits. The diet, the rest, the exercise, weight control, staying away from smoking and drinking and a dozen other health issues all matter. For many runners, the training year after year helps them to hold on to a life-long healthy life style.
3. Run a Marathon to Understand Oneself
The race and the preceding training helps many runners to realize what they are capable of doing, as well as their limitations. It also brings out some of the runner's buried traits unknown to herself: persistence, perseverance, consistency, robustness, etc. For the others, it helps them to realize that they are lacking some of these characteristics, at that particular time.
4. Run a Marathon to Build up One's Self-esteem
Running and finishing a marathon has helped many runners to believe in themselves again, especially for those who were doubting their self-worth, or had low self-esteem at that particular moment of their life.
5. Run a Marathon to Lose Weight
Of the many different sports, long distance running is amongst the best fat-burners. As running also helps in building muscle mass, the resting metabolic rate also increases, hence metabolic activity continues for several hours after a bout of running. When combined with a healthy diet, most people will certainly feel the inches coming off on a training program.
6. Run a Marathon to Eat the Food One Craves for
It sounds a little strange but many runners run a marathon to burn off enough calories which they have picked up from eating the food they enjoy, sometimes a little too much. When a runner is in the high mileage phase of her training program, she actually needs to consume a large amount of food. This is quite a substantial bonus for food-lovers.
7. Run a Marathon to Combat Depression
Running causes release of neurotransmitters called endorphins, which are known as pleasure chemicals of the brain. Endorphins result in a feeling of relaxation and happiness. In fact, it is well known that regular runners enjoy getting the runner's high, which is a calm, clear, and euphoric state they get into after running. Thus, running can help to reduce stress and even be useful for relieving mild forms of depression.
8. Run a Marathon to Live Longer
Running strengthens the respiratory muscles, thus facilitating the air flow into the lungs. It also enlarges and strengthens the heart muscle, thus improving its pumping efficiency as well as reducing the resting heart rate. It also tones the muscles in the body, which results in improving blood circulation and reducing blood pressure. Also, there is an increase of red blood cells in the body, which helps in facilitating the oxygenation of the body. Improved cardiovascular and respiratory systems allow one to live longer and stronger.
9. Run a Marathon to Quit Substance Abuse
Many stop smoking programs and detoxification programs have incorporated a running program to help combat the anxiety and even the withdrawal symptoms the individuals often encounter in the process. Marathon training programs have been used found useful.
10. Run a Marathon to Help the Charity
More and more marathons are run with a collateral charity fund-raising program. The fund-raising program provides further incentive for the runner to train and finish the race.
Although there are so many good reasons to run a marathon, one has to be very careful when getting started. For individuals who don't exercise regularly, they should be prepared for a slow build-up. For those with known illnesses and the elderly, they should consult their medical practitioners before they start the training program.
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