LOS ANGELES MARATHON / DAILY REPORT : There’s a Long List of Reasons for Running Long Distances

Why do people run marathons? What hidden compulsion drives a person to travel 26.2 miles on foot?

Some answers were provided by a recent survey of 309 runners entered in Sunday’s seventh annual Los Angeles Marathon.

The vast majority run for personal reasons, not for competitive ones, the survey found. More than 82% responded that the race was against themselves, 17% said it was a race against the clock and only 1% viewed the marathon as a race against others.

Even given the obvious physically taxing aspects of the marathon, 69% said they relied on mental endurance rather than physical strength to get to the finish.

But when the runners were asked why they enter marathons, the answers were wide-ranging. Forty percent said ran for the sense of achievement, 18% said they run for enjoyment, and 11% said they run as part of a fitness program.

Four percent said they run to stay young, 3% said they run marathons to tell others they done it and 1% said ‘to chase love interests.’

One man responded by saying he’s running this year’s L.A. Marathon because he’s the best man at a wedding that will take place at the 13- mile mark.