There are many reasons why people decide to participate in marathon races. These sporting events have become very widespread and are located all over the world. Some reasons are given below.

Competition

Competition is one of the main reasons for running in marathons. Runners receive an emotional charge when trying to beat out the other runners to win the race. It is a personal enjoyment during the act and a thrill to know that he or she was capable of winning or even just finishing the marathon.

Recognition

To many runners, participating in a marathon gives them validation and therefore, recognition that they were capable of doing something as well or better than other runners. Also, the audience on the sidelines watching the race gives the runners recognition for running a race that they could not participate in or just did not want to. The runners are praised by everyone.

Health

Many people participate in marathon running because they want to better their health. They might want to loose weight, strengthen certain areas of their bodies such as their cardiovascular systems or their muscle masses. Also, they might want to continue to run so that their bodies will remain as healthy as possible for as long as possible.