{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T03:02:28Z","timestamp":1787022148480,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":15,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,8]],"date-time":"2024-05-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1715126400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The defining achievement of a multi-marathoner is completing 100 marathons. This study aimed to comprehensively document the phenomenon of multi-marathoning, addressing its demographics, culture and participatory nature, filling a gap in peer-reviewed research on the topic. Additionally, it aimed to provide recommendations for multi-marathon governing bodies, event organisers, health professionals and participants to address identified issues.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A global survey was distributed to participants and individuals interested in multi-marathoning. It was distributed with support from major national and international multi-marathon clubs through their social media channels, email groups and newsletters. The survey was conducted anonymously and online.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The survey garnered responses from 830 participants across 40 countries, with an average marathon completion count of 146.54 (SD 201.83) per respondent. Gender distribution showed 60.69% men, 39.3% women and 0.1% gender variant\/non-conforming. Respondents\u2019 average ages were 51.6 (SD 9.96) years for men, 48.83 (SD 9.15) years for women and 35.00 (SD 8.76) years for gender variant\/non-conforming. As participants age, social and travel motivations surpass competitiveness. A majority (57%) of respondents had at least one contravention to the pre-participation screening questionnaire PARQ-+ and 67% reported taking pain relief medication around events. Notably, 93% of respondents reported multi-marathoning as beneficial for their mental health.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Multi-marathoning accommodates older athletes, but a significant gender imbalance exists in participation levels. Long-term health implications warrant attention from governing bodies, event organisers, health professionals and participants alike. Multi-marathoners should seek medical advice before participation, utilise modern equipment for health monitoring and optimise training accordingly.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec005\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Recommendations include encouraging diversity at events, ensuring event directors have well-resourced health plans and promoting participants\u2019 proactive health management before and during their involvement in the sport. This study not only advances our understanding of multi-marathoning as a sport but also contributes to theoretical frameworks such as SDT and HBM.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0302602","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,8]],"date-time":"2024-05-08T13:21:07Z","timestamp":1715174467000},"page":"e0302602","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Demographics, culture and participatory nature of multi-marathoning\u2014An observational study highlighting issues with recommendations"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-8145-7046","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Leo","family":"Lundy","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8578-1245","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Richard B.","family":"Reilly","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,8]]},"reference":[{"issue":"44","key":"pone.0302602.ref001","first-page":"35","article-title":"Thousands of Solitary Runners Come Together: Individualism and Communitarianism in the 1970s Running Boom","volume":"2017","author":"A.L. 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