26 reasons to run a marathon

Every marathon runner has a ‘why’. From scaling their own personal ‘Everest’ to honouring a lost loved one, from improving their mental or physical health to raising vital funds for charity, the many motivations are what make the distance so special. We spoke with 26 marathoners to discover what inspires them to take on 26.2 miles.

For Skye

‘I ran all the original six Abbott World Marathon Majors for an incredibly brave five-year-old boy called Skye,’ says Lisa Ruggles, 46. ‘I met him in 2014 after answering a shout-out from an acquaintance to deliver his hot tub wish. Skye had a metastatic brain tumour and, because of his treatment, was too poorly to go swimming. When we delivered his hot tub, it was like an episode of DIY SOS, as we had to lift it over three fences and install the base and electrics. I spent some time with Skye that day and he told me about the charity that he’d started to help other children like him. Two days after we installed his hot tub, he died.

‘Skye’s story touched my heart and, even though I was broke, I wanted to raise money for his charity. So I did the one thing that I hated: running. My first Marathon Major was in New York City in 2016 and my last was in Tokyo in 2023. I’m now also a coach and club director in Kathrine Switzer’s 261 Fearless charity, which aims to empower women through running. I have had the honour of watching women go from being afraid to get out of their car, to becoming fearless leaders in their community. Women have also come to the club with health conditions that they have felt out of control of, then, within a few months, felt much healthier. Skye – and marathon running – changed my life.’

For the camaraderie

‘For me, it will always be about the inclusivity of the run – I just love the taking part and the camaraderie of my fellow runners,’ says Nick Steward, 67, who’s run 75 marathons. ‘I started running to improve my fitness for hockey and joined my local running club, Reading Joggers. But I enjoyed the running so much that I’ve not played hockey since!

‘In 2019, aged 62, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and later that year was scheduled to have a radical prostatectomy. I’d managed to get a Good For Age entry into the Chicago Marathon, but it clashed with my operation. My consultant, a keen marathon runner, told me to go ahead and run Chicago – he’d sort me out when I got back! I’m forever in his debt, which is partly why I now volunteer at his hospital every week and once ran 100 miles round a track in 24 hours to raise funds for it. Without doubt, running marathons has helped me to a full recovery.’

To get more people like me running

‘My goal in taking part in the 2025 London Marathon with four of my club mates is to encourage other Asian women to enter races,’ says Jessica Milloy, 38. ‘Very few of us participate in running events, so this is a huge milestone for both me and Asian Girls Run. The saying, “You can’t be what you can’t see”, really is true. My club’s mission is to support Asian women to be more active, to build community and to challenge cultural norms. Happily, we’re starting to see more Asian women discover the joy of running.’

To cope with stress

‘I’m a very busy murder detective with the Met Police and marathon running is my medicine,’ says Nat Juchau, 53. ‘Dealing with victims’ grieving families, the unsociable hours and the horrific things that you can’t unsee certainly take their toll. Running 119 marathons has been my way of coping with the stress of this demanding, but very rewarding, work.’

To change my life

‘I run marathons because I can,’ says Merili Freear, 42. ‘I also run for my mental health. I started running in 2020, during the first lockdown – and five months later, I completed my first marathon. It was a virtual race, run solo, in brutal winds. That marathon changed my life. I used to believe that marathon runners were like superstars and never thought that I had it in me, but accomplishing that proved me wrong. I’ve since qualified as an England Athletics running coach and completed my first 100-miler. A short video of my finish went viral, with over 1.9 million views. None of this would have happened if I hadn’t run that first marathon, which also gave me the confidence to write a best-selling book called Just Run, which details my running journey and lifelong struggle with depression. Running hasn’t just changed my life – it’s saved it.’

To raise funds and honour my brother

‘I’m a Bipolar UK Ambassador and am running the Manchester Marathon this year to fundraise for them in honour of my much-loved, incredibly creative brother Anshu Asthana, who had bipolar disorder,’ says Anushka Asthana, 45. ‘Anshu wasn’t diagnosed until he was in his 30s and, sadly, died aged just 37 for reasons related to his illness – so I’m passionate about not only fundraising for Bipolar UK, but also raising awareness of the fact that it takes an average of nine-and-a-half years for people to get a diagnosis.

‘Bipolar UK is aiming to change that and fund research into this illness, which affects over one million people in the UK. Although I’ve been running for 20 years and have completed several half marathons and 10Ks (the PolarNight 10K in Tromsø, Norway, which I did with four friends in 2024, is my favourite), Manchester will be my first full marathon. I’m doing it with my friend Hanna Bain, although she’s a little faster than me – so I’ll see her at the finish line! I’m the deputy political editor of ITV News and co-present Peston, which are roles that sometimes involve working until 11pm. Running is just so hassle free – it fits into my hectic life and gives me the chance to listen to the political podcasts that I need to keep abreast of.’

To get even faster

‘I’m officially an OAP now, but that won’t ever stop me running marathons,’ says Kate Custis, 61. ‘I’ll only give up when something vital drops off or fails irretrievably! I did my first marathon in London and after completing it in 5:40ish and, being a competitive person, I then joined a running club and trained properly. I knocked about 80 minutes off my time in my second marathon and after that was determined to get even faster. My marathon PB is now 3:21 and I’ve run 92. This year is mostly a ‘B’ year, as I’m running marathons in Bognor Regis, Boston, Berlin, Beachy Head and London. I qualified for Boston in 2019, but then Covid hit and I couldn’t race, so it’s unfinished business. I had to run a qualifying time again, so I tackled Manchester last year and managed a time of 4:03. This allowed me slots at the three Abbott World Marathon Majors this year.’

To encourage others to challenge themselves

‘I ran my first marathon as a bet back in 1993,’ says Nicky Chrascina, 62. ‘I was a complete non-runner and started from scratch, with no coaching or training plan. Runner’s World became my Bible and I entered the London Marathon with its tear-out form. The magazine suggested joining a club, so I rang one local to me and they said that they only accepted men or elite females – that was the 1980s for you! However, this did not deter me from running at all. In fact, it made me more determined – but it did put me off joining a club for over 15 years. I did my first marathon without any help and had an incredible time. Since then, I’ve run over 145 marathons and ultras.

‘Marathon running also led to a new career: I founded Flanci Activewear, which sells colourful kit in zany designs that runners say always put a smile on their face. For me, marathons are all about having fun, meeting people and encouraging others – especially older women like me – to challenge themselves, whether it’s doing a 5K, 10K or further.’

To change my life

‘I was already in my 40s when I took up running,’ says Matt Wright, 44. ‘I was working away from home during the pandemic and that’s when I made my best life decision. Do I continue eating unhealthy takeaways and drinking whisky, or do I give running a go? Two years later, I got a London Marathon charity place and ran it in memory of my father, Alan, who sadly died of a brain tumour aged just 66. A team of us raised over £850,000 for Brain Research UK and I’m returning this year with a £1 million fundraising target. Having conquered my first 50K trail ultra in 2024, I expanded Urban Peaks, my outdoor adventure company, to focus on trail running. It now offers luxury runner retreats in the Peak District and events that raise money for charity. My only regret is that I didn’t start running sooner.’

To prove them wrong

‘I run marathons to prove my ex wrong!’ says Sarah-Jane Denham. ‘I started running in the gym, but could only manage five minutes. My partner at the time said that I wasn’t built like a runner, as they’re slim and flat chested. I was so determined to prove him wrong that I kept pushing past the pain and ended up doing the 2021 Brighton Marathon. This year, I’ll be doing three more!’

To break barriers

‘My marathon ‘why’ is to break barriers and make races more inclusive for the deaf community,’ says Thomas Eller, 44. ‘Growing up in a society that often overlooks the potential of deaf individuals, I discovered running as a way to express my resilience and determination. In 2023, I became the first deaf-born athlete to earn the prestigious Six Star Finisher medal, having completed the original six Abbott World Marathon Majors. This milestone wasn’t just a personal achievement – it was a victory for every deaf person who dares to dream, showing the world that we can achieve greatness despite the challenges we face. I’m committed to making races more inclusive for everyone, from advocating for sign-language interpreters and closed captions at major marathons, to ensuring that deaf runners have bibs marked for safety.’

To ease the stress of caring

‘Marathon training helped me to deal with the stress of being a carer for my dear late mum, Hazel, who had vascular dementia,’ says Christina Collison, 57. ‘So far, I’ve done two marathons – Brighton in 2011 and London in 2015. The London Marathon was after knee surgery, when my surgeon told me that I’d never run again. A friend’s encouragement, along with the help of a physiotherapist, proved him wrong! I’m aiming to do three half marathons this year, with a view to a marathon next year, all being well with the knee.’

For respite from my churning mind

‘I often find myself in tears with anticipatory grief for when my mum dies,’ says Claire Carroll, 63. ‘Sometimes, it’s overwhelming. Mum and I have been a unit for so long – my dad died when I was 20 months old and I’m an only child. Marathon training helps me to block out stress and worry – it’s like my version of a mental detox. I tend not to think of anything other than running when I’m doing it, so it’s a respite from my constantly churning mind. I’ve run six marathons so far and can’t wait to run three more this year.’

For my son

‘My son, who’s now 27, was born with a cleft palate, epilepsy and learning disabilities and he was my reason to run the London Marathon,’ says Helen Olney, 60. ‘I ran for the Cleft Lip & Palate Association and raised £1,000, which was a lot of money in those days. I trained hard for the marathon and loved running it. I finished it in 5:29, which felt like a very long time, but I couldn’t run any quicker!’

To show my children that you can do anything

‘I started running to lose weight so that I could start IVF,’ says Sarah Webb, 46. ‘After having three miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy, I ran to cope with the emotional trauma. Then, after I had my two miracle boys, I ran to lose the baby weight that I’d gained. I ran when my sons both got their autism diagnoses and I ran to deal with my marriage breakdown. These days, I run marathons to show my children that it doesn’t matter how difficult or different their lives are compared with others’ – you can still do anything that you want to do. In my case, that’s running marathons in Brighton, Boston, London and Chicago this year.’

To make my grandad proud

‘My running journey started during the pandemic, when I was furloughed,’ says Jordayne Frizzell, 31. ‘A housemate suggested that I go for a jog and, before I knew it, I went from learning to run 5K to completing the 2022 London Marathon just two years later. Since then, I’ve run the New York City Marathon and will be doing the Chicago Marathon in October. My first marathon was deeply personal – I was going through a tough time after my grandad, who used to run as a youngster, was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away shortly after. His final words to me were: “Go out, make me proud and keep running.” My grandad lived a colourful and fulfilling life, which brought me comfort – but this didn’t necessarily make his loss any easier.

‘Running became my sanctuary, helping me through my grief and connecting me to amazing running communities. I’m now part of Run Dem Crew and Black Girls Do Run UK. Both groups unite people, particularly from underrepresented and racially diverse communities, through a shared love of running. Joining these groups has helped my marathon training, as being encouraged by such passionate runners has made me believe that I can do anything I put my mind to.’

For the magic of getting others over the line

‘I have one goal when running 26.2 miles: to get the runner I’m supporting across the finish line,’ says Nina Tully, 46. ‘The Richard Whitehead Foundation was set up by the Paralympic gold medallist in 2021 to help disabled people gain increased mental wellbeing and self-esteem through sport. I ran the 2024 London Marathon with Heather, one of their hearing-impaired runners. I helped her with race nutrition and walk/run pacing and we had a fair few giggles, as well as some dig-deep moments. Seeing Heather’s face light up as we crossed the finish line was simply magical.’

So that cancer doesn’t beat me

‘I run/walk marathons now to let my cancer know that it’s not going to stop me getting to my 600th marathon by the summer,’ says Brenda O’Keefe, 46. ‘I know that I’m getting really slow, but with 18 marathons to go and with the help of my amazing running family, I’m getting out there and making this dream come true. I was told that I had multiple myeloma, a rare incurable cancer, in August 2024. Chemo has made me much slower, but it hasn’t robbed me of my mental strength. Sometimes, I get so tired that I don’t know myself how I keep going, but I can’t – and won’t – let cancer beat me. Run/walking’s my little ‘happy pill’ that no oncologist can give me.’

To do something remarkable

‘By the time I reached the final stretch of my first marathon, the event crew was packing up the course,’ says Jessica Nelson-Jones, 43. ‘At first, I felt heartbroken and disappointed. How could I have trained so hard, only to come last? The next few days were tough, as I couldn’t shake off the sadness and frustration. But when the race statistics came out, everything changed. Out of the 900 runners who started, only 720 finished. I was one of them. That realisation brought tears to my eyes. Despite all the challenges, I’d done something remarkable. My reason to run was to finish – and I did!’

To save lives

‘I ran a marathon every other day in January this year for the suicide-prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably,’ says Jack Faulds, 33. ‘Over the past 16 years, I’ve had several close friends take their own lives and have also often felt lost and not known how to deal with all the pain and anger inside me. Instead of speaking about these feelings, I used drink and drugs as coping mechanisms.

‘When a friend took his own life in 2022, I realised that I couldn’t fall back into the self-destructive mindset that I knew only too well, so I embarked on the challenge of running 106km over two days to raise sponsorship for and awareness of the mental health charity Mind. While doing it, it felt like the worst and hardest thing that I’d ever done. But after a few days, I sat back and looked at what I’d achieved, the money raised and the focus it gave me – and I wanted more. That’s when I dreamt up the 419.2-mile, multi-marathon challenge that I did in January. The hardest part was not having proper recovery time after each marathon, while still working full time and raising two young children. It was tough, but for a great cause.’

To hit 100

‘My reason? To hit 100 marathons before turning 55!’ says Michael Ngo, 36. ‘I’ve done eight so far and have scheduled both the Boston (UK) Marathon and Amsterdam Marathon for 2025, as well as the 51km Eiger Ultra Trail.’

To prove that anything is possible

‘I went from being a non-runner to doing a 3:45 marathon after a cancer diagnosis,’ says Alicja Bunio, 39. ‘I was mum to a three-month-old and a six-year-old when I was told the devastating news that I had breast cancer in 2020. I started running after finishing chemo and surgery and ran a half marathon three months later. My first marathon in London in 2024 for the charity Breast Cancer Now was one of the best days of my life. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d become a 3:45 marathoner after such a tough illness. I don’t have to run, I get to run – and I do it to show that anything is possible. Never lose hope!’

To take me further

‘Marathons were my ‘gateway drug’ into running ultras,’ says Cleo Ottley, 37. ‘I moved to England in 2015 after growing up on St Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. As a child, I never ran in trainers – in fact, most of my childhood was spent barefoot. Shoes never felt as comfortable as feeling the earth beneath my feet. I ran and rode donkeys – without saddles – from my home near Nevis Peak volcano, all the way to the Atlantic coast. The journey, two to three miles of mostly rugged trails and pitted roads, was a normal part of my day.

‘Aged 32, three years after emigrating, I decided to revisit running, so I entered the Gloucester Marathon. Then, after running 13 marathons, I realised that they weren’t enough and ventured into running ultras. I quickly realised that ultras were where I truly belonged and have completed five so far, all while wearing colourful, funky-looking gear.’

In honour of my friend

‘I’m running this year’s London Marathon to raise funds for the Samaritans, in honour of my friend Oliver ‘Juice’ Rothwell, who tragically took his own life without any signs or calls for help,’ says Keiron O’Neill, 35. ‘Oliver brought joy and laughter everywhere he went and his loss was devastating to all who knew him. To prepare, I ran 10K every day throughout January. I’m far from a natural runner – at 6ft 9in and previously weighing over 155kg, I’m likely to be one of the tallest and heaviest participants. Through hard work, I’ve managed to slim down to 138kg and hope to be even lighter by race day.’

To help others achieve their dreams

‘I enjoy enabling my friends to achieve their dreams of finishing their first marathon or achieving a faster time,’ says Simon Clayton, 56. ‘One of my friends, who has two artificial hip joints, asked if I’d run the 2022 London Marathon with her, as I had the pace that she needed and, more importantly, the patience to slow down when necessary. Kerry’s emotion as she crossed the finish line was worth more than any PB.’

To feel free

‘I’ve had many different reasons to run marathons over the past 12 years,’ says Semeena Khan, 37. ‘I’ve run nine so far and am just about to do my next one. There was a time when partying was my outlet, but everything changed when I signed up for my first marathon. I had no idea what running 26.2 miles entailed, but I was determined to do it. I crawled to the finish line and my family was so proud of me that they threw me a surprise party. I was the first runner in my family – and I’m still the only one! By the time my second marathon came around four years later, I was going through a lot in my personal life, because a close family member went to prison. I tend to bottle things up, so I didn’t know how to deal with it all until I rediscovered running. Marathon training became my therapy by giving me a purpose and making me feel free and alive.

‘At that time, I also trained to become a run leader and coach and later became the Community Lead for Muslim Runners – a global community that inspires Muslims to run. When I ran my first marathon, I was one of the very few women of colour at the start line, so I wanted to encourage more women like me to enjoy the sport that I love so much.’