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Research influencing public and practitioner understanding of running participation and performance

Impact: Social Impact

Narrative

This research has generated substantial public and practitioner engagement beyond academia, attracting international media coverage across mainstream, specialist, and practitioner-focused outlets. Findings from the study have been featured in RTÉ Brainstorm, national radio interviews, World Athletics, Runner’s World, Canadian Running, Marathon Handbook, Born on the Trail, and a range of international running and sports science blogs and media platforms across Europe and North America.

The research has reached diverse audiences including runners, coaches, athletics clubs, race organisers, sports scientists, and the wider public. Coverage has highlighted the study’s findings on the association between running club membership, social networks, and marathon performance, contributing to wider discussions on participation in physical activity and the role of community-based sporting organisations.

To support transparency and wider knowledge dissemination, the study dataset comprising over 200,000 London Marathon participants was made openly available through Zenodo. The dataset and associated findings have provided an accessible resource for researchers, coaches, running practitioners, and sports communities interested in endurance performance, participation, and recreational sport.

The research has contributed to public understanding of how social connections and community engagement may influence sporting participation and performance, demonstrating the value of economic and interdisciplinary approaches in examining real-world health and physical activity behaviours.
Impact statusOpen
Category of impactSocial Impact

SDGs impacted

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Wellbeing

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