The 'Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner' No More: Marathons and Social Worlds

Article

Robinson, Richard, Patterson, Ian and Axelsen, Megan. 2014. "The 'Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner' No More: Marathons and Social Worlds." Journal of Leisure Research. 46 (4), pp. 375-394. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2014.11950333
Article Title

The 'Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner' No More: Marathons and Social Worlds

ERA Journal ID19646
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsRobinson, Richard (Author), Patterson, Ian (Author) and Axelsen, Megan (Author)
Journal TitleJournal of Leisure Research
Journal Citation46 (4), pp. 375-394
Number of Pages2020
Year2014
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN0022-2216
2159-6417
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2014.11950333
Web Address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00222216.2014.11950333
Abstract

This paper investigates how a group of novice marathon runners become immersed in the social world of a distance running community. A qualitative research design involved a combination of interviews and observations from within the social world of the distance running community. This fieldwork was undertaken in the traditional three month training period leading up to a major international marathon on the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia. Two groups were tracked using these methods: the first were runners who trained with a club while the second group were runners who trained individually. The findings suggest that novice runners who trained with a club progressively identified with the values and behaviors of the social world of the long distance runner.

Keywordssocial world; serious leisure; marathon runners; sport tourism; careers
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020470208. Culture, representation and identity
Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Queensland
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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