IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v22y2025i9p1351-d1736670.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Not All Runners Cross the Same Finish Line: Sociodemographic Inequalities in COVID-19 Recovery After a Mass Sporting Event

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel Martínez-Cevallos

    (Facultad de Cultura Física, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170129, Ecuador)

  • Alejandra Proaño-Grijalva

    (Universidad Internacional de la Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain)

  • Frano Giakoni-Ramírez

    (Instituto Del Deporte y Bienestar, Facultad de Educación y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Andres Bello, Las Condes, Santiago 7550000, Chile)

  • Daniel Duclos-Bastías

    (iGEO Group, School of Physical Education, Faculty of Philosophy and Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2362807, Chile)

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted patterns of physical activity and participation in mass sporting events, with recreational runners in Latin America among the most affected. In Colombia, pre-existing inequalities in access to sport further exacerbated these impacts. Nevertheless, evidence on post-COVID-19 impact and recovery experiences among regional runners remains limited. Objective: We examined the sociodemographic profiles, athletic experience, and perceptions of COVID-19-related impact and recovery among participants in the 2023 Medellín Marathon, and to assess differences by educational attainment, employment status, age group, and geographic origin. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken involving 2486 registered marathon runners. An ad hoc questionnaire assessed COVID-19 symptoms and sequelae, perceived respiratory and physical limitations, fears associated with group exercise, and self-reported recovery. Analyses included descriptive statistics, bivariate comparisons and one-way ANOVA tests. Results: Older participants, retirees and those with lower educational levels reported significantly greater COVID-19 impact, longer recovery periods and higher perceived physical and respiratory limitations. In contrast, younger runners and those with a college education showed more complete physical recovery and attributed protective benefits, such as improved cardiorespiratory function and a lower incidence of respiratory symptoms, to their training. Additionally, runners originating from smaller municipalities and other Latin American countries reported higher levels of impact and lower perceptions of recovery. Conclusions: Post-COVID-19 effects among marathon runners are not uniform but vary according to sociodemographic and contextual factors. These findings underscore the importance of tailored support and readaptation strategies—particularly for vulnerable subgroups—to ensure their safe and equitable return to mass endurance events.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Martínez-Cevallos & Alejandra Proaño-Grijalva & Frano Giakoni-Ramírez & Daniel Duclos-Bastías, 2025. "Not All Runners Cross the Same Finish Line: Sociodemographic Inequalities in COVID-19 Recovery After a Mass Sporting Event," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(9), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:9:p:1351-:d:1736670
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/9/1351/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/9/1351/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cristina Romero-Blanco & Julián Rodríguez-Almagro & María Dolores Onieva-Zafra & María Laura Parra-Fernández & María del Carmen Prado-Laguna & Antonio Hernández-Martínez, 2020. "Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle in University Students: Changes during Confinement Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Jeannet M. Delbressine & Felipe V. C. Machado & Yvonne M. J. Goërtz & Maarten Van Herck & Roy Meys & Sarah Houben-Wilke & Chris Burtin & Frits M. E. Franssen & Yvonne Spies & Herman Vijlbrief & Alex J, 2021. "The Impact of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome on Self-Reported Physical Activity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, June.
    3. David Parra-Camacho & Manuel Alonso Dos Santos & María Huertas González-Serrano, 2020. "Amateur Runners’ Commitment: An Analysis of Sociodemographic and Sports Habit Profiles," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Iris A. Lesser & Carl P. Nienhuis, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity Behavior and Well-Being of Canadians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-12, May.
    5. Kathrin Wunsch & Korbinian Kienberger & Claudia Niessner, 2022. "Changes in Physical Activity Patterns Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-48, February.
    6. Manuel Mosqueira-Ourens & José M. Sánchez-Sáez & Aitor Pérez-Morcillo & Laura Ramos-Petersen & Andrés López-Del-Amo & José L. Tuimil & Adrián Varela-Sanz, 2021. "Effects of a 48-Day Home Quarantine during the Covid-19 Pandemic on the First Outdoor Running Session among Recreational Runners in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
    7. Goichi Hagiwara & Takaaki Tsunokawa & Takehiro Iwatsuki & Hironobu Shimozono & Tsuyoshi Kawazura, 2021. "Relationships among Student-Athletes’ Identity, Mental Health, and Social Support in Japanese Student-Athletes during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-12, June.
    8. Daniel Martínez Cevallos & Mario Alguacil & Ferran Calabuig Moreno, 2020. "Influence of Brand Image of a Sports Event on the Recommendation of Its Participants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-13, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Apichai Wattanapisit & Manas Kotepui & Sanhapan Wattanapisit & Noah Crampton, 2022. "Bibliometric Analysis of Literature on Physical Activity and COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-9, June.
    2. Teresa Rubio-Tomás & Maria Skouroliakou & Dimitrios Ntountaniotis, 2022. "Lockdown Due to COVID-19 and Its Consequences on Diet, Physical Activity, Lifestyle, and Other Aspects of Daily Life Worldwide: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-41, June.
    3. Mario Mauro & Alessia Grigoletto & Maria Cristina Zambon & Marzia Bettocchi & Francesco Pegreffi & Carmela Fimognari & Laura Bragonzoni & Pasqualino Maietta Latessa & Stefania Toselli, 2022. "The Evaluation of Physical Activity Habits in North Italian People before and during COVID-19 Quarantine: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-16, January.
    4. Rosendo Berengüí & José María López-Gullón & Salvador Angosto, 2021. "Physical Sports Activities and Exercise Addiction during Lockdown in the Spanish Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-13, March.
    5. Isabel A. L. Slurink & Veerle R. Smaardijk & Willem J. Kop & Nina Kupper & Floortje Mols & Dounya Schoormans & Sabita S. Soedamah-Muthu, 2022. "Changes in Perceived Stress and Lifestyle Behaviors in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in The Netherlands: An Online Longitudinal Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, April.
    6. Marcos Quintana-Cepedal & Miguel Ángel Rodríguez & Irene Crespo & Nicolás Terrados & Beatriz Sánchez Martínez & Miguel del Valle & Hugo Olmedillas, 2022. "Injury Characteristics among Young Adults during and Immediately after the COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-8, July.
    7. Rachel L. Knight & Melitta A. McNarry & Liba Sheeran & Adam W. Runacres & Rhys Thatcher & James Shelley & Kelly A. Mackintosh, 2021. "Moving Forward: Understanding Correlates of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour during COVID-19—An Integrative Review and Socioecological Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-19, October.
    8. Hélène Charreire & Charlotte Verdot & Fabien Szabo de Edelenyi & Mélanie Deschasaux-Tanguy & Bernard Srour & Nathalie Druesne-Pecollo & Younes Esseddik & Benjamin Allès & Julia Baudry & Valérie Descha, 2022. "Correlates of Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors during the COVID-19 Lockdown in France: The NutriNet-Santé Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, September.
    9. Pnina Marom & Beth G. Zalcman & Rachel Dankner, 2022. "Association between Self-Classification of COVID-19 Risk Levels and Adverse Lifestyle Changes among Physically Active Older Adults Following the Coronavirus Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-14, June.
    10. Daniel Reyes-Molina & Jesús Alonso-Cabrera & Gabriela Nazar & Maria Antonia Parra-Rizo & Rafael Zapata-Lamana & Cristian Sanhueza-Campos & Igor Cigarroa, 2022. "Association between the Physical Activity Behavioral Profile and Sedentary Time with Subjective Well-Being and Mental Health in Chilean University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    11. Remigiusz Dróżdż & Marcin Pasek & Magdalena Zając & Mirosława Szark-Eckardt, 2022. "Physical Culture and Sports as an Educational Basis of Students’ Healthy Physical Activities during and Post-Lockdown COVID-19 Restrictions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-11, September.
    12. Chen Liao & Liying Nong & Yu-Feng Wu & Yu-Tai Wu & Jian-Hong Ye, 2023. "The Relationships between University Students’ Physical Activity Needs, Involvement, Flow Experience and Sustainable Well-Being in the Post-Pandemic Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, May.
    13. Yuta Suzuki & Noriaki Maeda & Daigo Hirado & Taizan Shirakawa & Yukio Urabe, 2020. "Physical Activity Changes and Its Risk Factors among Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults during the COVID-19 Epidemic: Associations with Subjective Well-Being and Health-Related Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-12, September.
    14. Theresa Maertl & Freia De Bock & Lena Huebl & Cornelia Oberhauser & Michaela Coenen & Caroline Jung-Sievers & on behalf of the COSMO Study Team, 2021. "Physical Activity during COVID-19 in German Adults: Analyses in the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring Study (COSMO)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, January.
    15. Yu Zhang & Jiayu Li & Xiaoping Jiang, 2022. "Household Physical Activity for Adults in the Context of the Pandemic: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-17, November.
    16. Victoria Blom & Amanda Lönn & Björn Ekblom & Lena V. Kallings & Daniel Väisänen & Erik Hemmingsson & Gunnar Andersson & Peter Wallin & Andreas Stenling & Örjan Ekblom & Magnus Lindwall & Jane Salier E, 2021. "Lifestyle Habits and Mental Health in Light of the Two COVID-19 Pandemic Waves in Sweden, 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-19, March.
    17. Irfan Ullah & Md. Saiful Islam & Sajjad Ali & Hashaam Jamil & Muhammad Junaid Tahir & Aatik Arsh & Jaffer Shah & Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam, 2021. "Insufficient Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors among Medical Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-10, September.
    18. Daphne Menheere & Mark Janssen & Mathias Funk & Erik van der Spek & Carine Lallemand & Steven Vos, 2020. "Runner’s Perceptions of Reasons to Quit Running: Influence of Gender, Age and Running-Related Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-12, August.
    19. Emilijus Žilinskas & Giedrė Žulpaitė & Kristijonas Puteikis & Rima Viliūnienė, 2021. "Mental Health among Higher Education Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey from Lithuania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, December.
    20. Josefa Domingos & Carlos Família & Júlio Belo Fernandes & John Dean & Catarina Godinho, 2022. "Is Being Physically Active Enough or Do People with Parkinson’s Disease Need Structured Supervised Exercise? Lessons Learned from COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-12, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:9:p:1351-:d:1736670. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.