The Atlantic dubbed it the new quarter-life crisis, and rightly so. If you spend any amount of time doom scrolling through social media, you are bound to find a 20-something-year-old who has recently gotten into running or has just completed a run that is categorised as long-distance. This isn't just limited to the algorithm throwing more posts similar to the ones you've interacted with (although that does play a significant role). It is now a substantiated fact that more people are running, and you ought to be one of them.
The marathon is a very unique category of running. Often, a road race that spans 42.2 kilometres, an oddly specific distance for a race, owes its length and name to the Greek legend of Pheidippides, a soldier who ran from the frontlines in the city of Marathon to the capital city of Athens to announce Greek victory against the Persians. Myth or not, the feat of endurance was one that was transformed from folklore to sport, being added as an Olympic event in the late 19th century.
A few centuries later and millions of people have annually signed up to run the 26 mile distance. However, there has been a growing trend lately particularly amongst younger demographics, mostly in their 20s, to take on the marathon.
But what is it about the Greek soldier killing distance that attracts so many young people?
Well, there are many reasons for the recent spike in runners worldwide, and it is no coincidence that it followed the pandemic. Since most of the world was under a lockdown mandate, the return to normalcy has been followed by many people trying out things that were considered peripheral or niche. The low barrier to entry of running makes it one of the easiest ones to go for since one only really needs a pair of running shoes, and that too is negotiable (I have recently run a five kilometres road race in basketball shoes, and I wasn't the only one).
But it's not just a matter of young caged birds spreading their wings post-pandemic that has been the reason.
As stated previously the marathon has a seemingly low barrier to entry, materialistically at least. Yes, major apparel companies charge a medium to high cost for running shoes and other accessories but they are not important to run. The real barrier is one's own commitment to conquering the distance.
So, this becomes the gateway for most people. But why young people?
During the 2024 New York Marathon, a member of the cheering public sarcastically held up a sign that read, “Therapy was also an option.” The underlying joke was that most of the runners were using the distance as their therapy, which is in part true.
The quarter life (a period between your early twenties and thirties) is a daunting one. Most people will have recently graduated school or just left home, very structured lives, and will for the first time, be navigating adulthood on their own accord.
In our current socio-political and economic climate, discontent with the realities of life has become all too common.
Enter the marathon. Nobody wakes up capable of running a marathon. Even amongst the most elite athletes, it takes a lot of dedication, effort, and structure to train for one. Ironically, the demands of the marathon are what make the event a haven for troubled youth.
They demand, or rather provide, structure and a clear path to a clear goal. One that is easy enough to get started on but difficult enough, in fact very difficult, that it's always rewarding. In addition to the general pleasure that one feels after a particularly challenging workout, running becomes a supplement for a purpose amongst a generation of individuals striving to find theirs.
But you do not have to be a lost soul to sign up to run a marathon or take up running as a hobby. Running has so many benefits to one's health that the creation of run clubs has made it a third place, creating communities in a world where we've started to strive for and appreciate them more. So, if you have been considering signing up for a marathon or any other road race, consider this article your sign to put those trainers on and go for a run.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. If you have burning thoughts or opinions to express, please feel free to reach out to us at larra@globalindiannetwork.com.
