Sweat. Tears. An overwhelming sense of pride. These can be just a few of the emotional and physical effects of running a marathon, a 26.2-mile foot race that often takes participants through vibrant metropolises, like New York City, Boston, and others. In 2025, Denver’s Colfax Marathon saw 25,000 participants, marking the largest crowd to date. So, why are more people signing up for these increasingly popular events?
Kevin Masters, PhD, professor of clinical health psychology at CU Denver, first set out to answer that question with a series of research studies in the 1990s and early 2000s. Masters, who has run five marathons himself, noticed that—like today—many people were running marathons back then. He was curious about what drives individuals to participate in such a challenging endurance sport. “There are relatively few other things in life that people voluntarily do that require so much commitment from them,” Masters said. “That was of interest to us.”
And while a lot has changed in 30 years, Masters’ findings continue to shed light on the different motivations for who he calls “marathoners.” Today, his methodology is used by people around the globe who are researching endurance athletes. In general, his findings revealed that training for and running a marathon are generally positive things. But incorporating any type of cardio into a weekly route can make a difference for someone’s health and well-being, he pointed out. “Cardio is good for you, and it’s good for your mental well-being as well,” Masters said, adding, “You don’t need to do a marathon to be healthy.”
Motivation of Marathoners Scale
When Masters began his research, he hypothesized that people ran marathons for different reasons. “These reasons might cluster together, older peoples’ reasons might differ than younger peoples’ reasons,” he said. He used that approach as a framework for his study, which ultimately led to the creation of the Motivation of Marathoners Scale (MOMS).
Published in 1993, the MOMS measures the motivations of marathoners based on four main categories—psychological, achievement, social, and physical—and nine subscales that explore areas like health orientation, weight concern, psychological coping, affiliation, and others. Ultimately, the tool looks at how experiences, behaviors, and backgrounds contribute to the “why” for running marathons.
In his research, Masters found that the primary drivers for individuals participating in their first marathon were self-esteem and a sense of achievement. “They wanted to prove they could do it,” he said. For individuals who had participated in multiple marathons, the motivation was often tied to their identity. “They found meaning,” Masters said. “They found a social motivation and sense of community.” Health and weight were motivation for all participants.
While many of the findings were positive, Masters pointed out that running a marathon can be strenuous on the body. It can also impact an individual’s routines and interpersonal relationships. “It takes over your life in a way—you have to start planning your days and weeks around training,” he said. “That takes time and energy. It affects how hungry you are, your time with friends and family.”
Adherence Is Key
For Masters, any amount of exercise is beneficial. In another study, he and a research team from across the U.S. studied the impact of lifestyle factors, like physical activity, on a number of variables, including mood, for a group of people who have metabolic syndrome, which increases an individual’s risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions. They found that just 20 minutes of walking a day could have a deep impact on a person’s well-being. “A better mood was one of the things that was such a consistent benefit,” Masters said. “If there was a pill that gave you the same consistent benefit with no bad side effects, you could sell it and make a fortune. Exercise gives that for just about everybody, every time.”
Oftentimes, a challenge with exercise is adhering to a consistent schedule. For well-being, Masters recommends 15 to 20 minutes of daily cardio, which could be walking, running, biking, or another activity. For cardiovascular benefits, he recommends 30 minutes of physical activity four to five days a week. “It should be moderate to vigorous, where you can talk but it’s a little difficult,” Masters said.
Any Amount of Exercise Is Good
Whether someone is seeking a sense of achievement from their first marathon or getting ready for their 10th race with a community they’ve built, marathons are generally a good thing. But so is a 5K (a 3.2-mile foot race) or a 30-minute walk. “You don’t need to do any kind of organized race or event to be healthy, but if it helps you sustain interest in exercising, that’s a positive thing,” Masters said.
As the U.S. enters one of the peak seasons for marathons (which are typically spring and fall), remember that everyone has their own motivations for participating in the trending foot races—and that there are many other ways to get the benefits of movement. “As far as I can tell, as long as you exercise, it works,” Masters said. “Make it a lifelong practice to be active.”