Graduate Program

Kinesiology and Sports Studies

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2008

Thesis Director

Phyllis Croisant

Thesis Committee Member

Jake Emmett

Thesis Committee Member

Jill Owen

Abstract

This study was created to identify the motivations of marathon runners, that is, why they choose to participate in marathons. It is hypothesized that motives for running a marathon differ depending on experience, age, and gender.

Participants were eligible to complete the questionnaire if they had run at least one full marathon. Age, gender, and amount of experience were not restricted. Volunteers for the study were found at the Health and Fitness Expo for the Chicago Marathon and through various online running groups. The data was collected through an online survey • located at www.myg3.com. The Motivation of Marathoners Scales, or MOMS, (Masters & Ogles, 1993) was used to determine the motivations of the respondents. The subjects rated each reason from 1 =Not a Reason to 7=A Most Important Reason. The 56 questions on the MOMS are grouped into nine motivational factors. A score for each factor was obtained by summing each respondent's ratings for the individual questions included in that factor. A mean rating for that motivational factor was then obtained by dividing by the number of questions included in that factor.

The subjects were 677 marathon runners (324 male, 353 female). Their ages ranged from 14 to 74 years, with an average age of 29.2 ±9.5. The average age of the men was 29.2 ± 9.5. The average age of the women was 27.9 ±__7.8E. xperience level ranged from 1 to 70 marathons. The average number of marathons run for men was 4.5 ±._6.6 . The average number of marathons run for women was 2.8 ±._2.8.

A MANOVA test was conducted to determine the highest ranking of categories between survey respondents collectively. The main reason to run a marathon was for Self Esteem (M=4.72), followed by Personal Goal Achievement (M=4.69) and Health Orientation (M=4.26).

There was a significant difference between genders in six out of the nine motivational categories. Self Esteem, Personal Goal Achievement, and Health Orientation were the most important motivations for both genders. However, Self Esteem as a motivation was significantly higher in the female respondents, while Personal Goal Achievement was rated significantly higher by the male respondents. Weight, Life Meaning, and Affiliation were more important motivations for the female subjects. Competition as a motivator was rated significantly higher by the male subjects.

There was a significant difference between age groups in eight out of the nine motivational categories. The highest rated motivational factors for all three age groups were Self Esteem, Personal Goal Achievement, and Health Orientation, but the 50-74 year olds rated Health Orientation as significantly more important than the younger participants,while the youngest participants gave Self Esteem and Personal Goal Achievement significantly higher ratings than the oldest group.

There was a significant difference between experience groups in six out of the nine motivational categories. While all three experience groups gave Self Esteem as an important motivational factor, one surprising finding was that the first-time marathoners rated Recognition as a more important factor than the more experienced participants did. Competition as a motivational factor was not very important for the less experienced marathoners, but became more important for respondents who had completed four or more marathons. Health Orientation and Weight were also more important motivations for the most experienced group of marathoners than for the other participants.

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