Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate how family life and marital status influence the motivations of ultramarathoners. Two-hundred-sixty-seven Polish athletes participated in the diagnostic survey during the Karkonosze Winter Ultramarathon. The Polish version of the Motivation of Marathoner Scale was used. The motivations of ultra-runners were investigated among the following groups of respondents: people in a relationship/marriage; singles; people with children vs. childless people; people who run alone and with a partner; people who parted with a partner because of lack of support for running. Research results can be useful for sport managers–e.g., findings show the relative importance of modern sport for singles in the second half of life. Research has also shown how people in relationships and people with children can be realized through demanding long-distance running. We also found that running ultramarathons can pose a threat to a relationship.
Highlights
Ultramarathon running has become increasingly popular among runners’ societies
The decision to participate in an ultramarathon usually means entering the subculture of runners and adopting a new social identity, which is very important for ultra-marathoners [2]
We investigated ultramarathoners because mass running events are increasingly popular and stimulate the development of running tourism, and other demanding sports disciplines should be investigated in the field of marital status and family life of athletes
Summary
Ultramarathon running has become increasingly popular among runners’ societies. The number of people who finished an ultra-marathon race in 2016 was 276,535 an amount that has doubled since2011. Ultramarathon running has become increasingly popular among runners’ societies. The number of people who finished an ultra-marathon race in 2016 was 276,535 an amount that has doubled since. For long-distance runners, completing an ultramarathon means participation in a running event, but above all, a long-lasting physical and mental preparation process. The decision to participate in an ultramarathon usually means entering the subculture of runners and adopting a new social identity, which is very important for ultra-marathoners [2]. Long-distance runners spend a lot of time learning the required running techniques, taking care of their own health (training, sleep, nutrition), traveling to sporting events, and consulting with more experienced runners (while using sports jargon that is often incomprehensible to people who do not run) [4].
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