Why Run a Marathon?
The London Marathon Effect
Did you get caught up in the London Marathon buzz earlier in the year? Were you completely immersed in the emotional drama that played out on social media, choking back tears as story after story flaunted the success, the battles and the dragon’s that were slayed that day with a medal to prove that the battle had been won. Were you inspired to be part of this tribe, if they can do it, so can I, where do I sign up?
At last, after 25 years of running, I finally got the message that I’d secretly been waiting for from my adult children:
Daughter 2: “Can’t stop crying at London Mara posts.”
Daughter 1: “I’m up for the challenge.”
YES!
I’d always hoped that I’d be an inspirational running role model to them, so I held onto this moment tightly, alhough, truthfully, I suspect social media had done a lot more of the convincing than I ever had. We exchanged “how to start running” WhatsApp messages but I fear their motivation was more external (extrinsic) than internal (intrinsic) and as much as I would love them to find as much joy as I have in running, I would be doint them, and you a diservice if I wasn’t brutally honest about the realities vs social media of running a marathon.
Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation → it’s mainly derived from the beliefs and values at the very core of who you are, this type of motivation comes from something that you feel is your purpose or your calling, it’s a deep-rooted drive that can keep you going when things get tough.
Extrinsic motivation → comes in the form of seeking external rewards which can take many forms; the “likes or kudos” on social media, understandable really, we are sociable creatures who love it when others pay us attention; attention can validate that we matter to others.
And regardless of how you feel about social media, it holds a powerful currency.
But here’s the catch: when the weather is dark, wet and windy, and your motivation is still fast asleep in bed, external rewards alone won’t get you out the door.
The Golden Ticket Myth
In 2010 there were 36,553 London Marathon finishers. In 2024, over 53,000. Getting a marathon place is now like winning Charlie’s Golden Ticket — life-changing, coveted, and rare.
But unlike a trip to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, a marathon ticket doesn’t take you to a land of unicorns and rainbows. It takes you to months of early morning runs, sore legs, tears, and grit. This is where the real marathon happens — far from Instagram filters and medal shots.
The Raw Reality
To understand what the marathon really is, don’t just watch the elites at mile 5 or your friends sprinting down The Mall. Stay at the course until the crowds thin, the barriers come down, and the aid stations are being packed away.
Here you’ll see:
Runners weeping as they hear their name from the last few supporters.
Huge hugs with families that say more than words.
Walkers stumbling, shoes in hand, determined to reach the line.
No filters, no glamour; just raw, unfiltered humanity.
Why It’s Worth It
It’s brutal. It’s emotional. It will test you in ways you never imagined. But just like Charlie’s Golden Ticket, running a marathon will change your life.
You may not realise it straight away, but at some point, whether it’s in the pride of finishing, in the resilience you’ve built, or in the community you discover, you’ll see it: the marathon will leave you different from the person who started.
And that’s why we run it. Now let’s start training!