Why Everyone Suddenly Wants to Run a Marathon
The 26.2-mile challenge has become more than a race. Run clubs, destination events and a new generation of runners are turning the marathon into a lifestyle.
Athletes World
• Marathon running is attracting a new generation of athletes, as run clubs, destination races and the challenge of 26.2 miles turn endurance running into a growing social and fitness movement.
More than 1.3 million people applied for the 2027 London Marathon. Even more telling: 35% of UK applicants were ages 18 to 29, and women in their 20s were the largest single group. (London Marathon Events, 2026)
The marathon hasn't become any easier. But the culture around 26.2 miles has changed. For a growing number of recreational runners, training is now part fitness goal, part social life and part travel plan.
The marathon hasn't become any easier. But the culture around 26.2 miles has changed. For a growing number of recreational runners, training is now part fitness goal, part social life and part travel plan.
