Motivation and Psychosocial Factors in Endurance Running

Endurance running attracts a diverse population of recreational and competitive athletes driven by a complex interplay of motives. Core drivers range from intrinsic factors such as the pursuit of personal achievement, psychological coping and self-esteem to extrinsic incentives including social recognition and competition with others. Demographic variables—age, sex, years of experience and cultural context—modulate these motives, creating distinct profiles across 10 km, half-marathon, marathon and ultra-marathon participants. Psychosocial influences such as perceived social support, group identity and environmental preferences further shape adherence and enjoyment. Research has demonstrated that sustained engagement depends not only on physiological adaptations but also on self-determination, self-efficacy and the ability to derive meaning and mastery from the activity. As such, motivation in endurance running represents a dynamic process in which personal goals, affective responses and social contexts converge to influence both performance outcomes and long-term well-being.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have examined how prior racing history and distance preference relate to motivational profiles. Recreational runners training for 10 km, half-marathon, marathon and ultra-marathon events display distinct goals: shorter-distance participants often report recreational and social motives, whereas marathon and ultra-marathon runners emphasise performance orientation, mastery and personal challenge. Analysis of years of uninterrupted running highlights that longer continuous engagement correlates with stronger intrinsic motives, notably personal achievement and psychological coping. Additionally, variations in training background—such as weekly volume and periodisation patterns—coincide with shifts in motivational emphasis, suggesting that both experiential learning and accumulated mileage foster a transition from extrinsic to more self-regulated motives over time.

Motivation and Psychosocial Factors in Endurance Running publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in motivation and psychosocial factors in endurance running across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Self-determination theory: A framework positing that autonomy, competence and relatedness drive intrinsic motivation and psychological growth.

Intrinsic motivation: Engagement in running for inherent satisfaction, enjoyment or personal challenge rather than external rewards.

Extrinsic motivation: Behaviour driven by external outcomes such as recognition, competition or social approval.

Self-efficacy: An individual’s belief in their ability to successfully execute running-related tasks and achieve goals.

Social support: The perception or receipt of assistance and encouragement from peers, coaches or running communities.

References

1. Differences in race history by distance of recreational endurance runners from The NURMI Study (Step 2). Scientific Reports (2023).
2. Systematic Review of Psychological and Behavioral Correlates of Recreational Running. Frontiers in Psychology (2021).
3. Environmental Preferences and Concerns of Recreational Trail Runners. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2024).