IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jscscx/v14y2025i9p521-d1737039.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Motivations for Long-Distance Running in the Context of Sustainable Urban Lifestyle: A Case Study of Poznan

Author

Listed:
  • Bartosz Antkowiak

    (Department of Sports Tourism, Faculty of Physical Culture Sciences, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland)

  • Milena Michalska

    (Department of Sports Tourism, Faculty of Physical Culture Sciences, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland)

  • Mateusz Grajek

    (Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-902 Bytom, Poland)

  • Mateusz Rozmiarek

    (Department of Sports Tourism, Faculty of Physical Culture Sciences, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland)

Abstract

The increasing popularity of long-distance running in urban areas reflects a convergence of personal health goals and sustainable urban living practices. However, understanding the psychological drivers behind such behaviors remains essential for designing effective health promotion strategies. This study investigated the motivations of 155 participants of the Poznan Marathon and Half Marathon using the validated Polish version of the Motivations of Marathoners Scale (MOMS). Data were collected via an online survey and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and MANOVA to assess differences across gender, education, place of residence, and BMI. The highest-rated motivations were personal goal achievement and health orientation, aligning with the values of sustainable urban living. The least important were recognition and affiliation. Women reported significantly higher motivations related to health and weight control, while men showed a greater tendency toward competition. Education level and place of residence did not significantly affect motivational profiles. BMI was positively correlated only with weight-related motives. The findings highlight the importance of tailoring physical activity promotion to demographic differences, particularly gender and BMI. Supporting long-distance running through inclusive, personalized strategies may enhance its role in fostering healthier and more sustainable urban communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Bartosz Antkowiak & Milena Michalska & Mateusz Grajek & Mateusz Rozmiarek, 2025. "Motivations for Long-Distance Running in the Context of Sustainable Urban Lifestyle: A Case Study of Poznan," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:14:y:2025:i:9:p:521-:d:1737039
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/9/521/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/9/521/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pantelis T. Nikolaidis & Aïna Chalabaev & Thomas Rosemann & Beat Knechtle, 2019. "Motivation in the Athens Classic Marathon: The Role of Sex, Age, and Performance Level in Greek Recreational Marathon Runners," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-9, July.
    2. Mabliny Thuany & Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko & Zbigniew Waśkiewicz & Thayse Natacha Gomes, 2021. "Individual and Economic Characteristics as Determinants of Brazilian Runners’ Motivation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-8, September.
    3. Agata Gajdek & Idalia Kasprzyk & Bernadetta Ortyl, 2024. "The Importance of Landscape during Long-Distance Running Activity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-18, January.
    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. Maria Morfoulaki & Glykeria Myrovali & Kornilia-Maria Kotoula & Thomas Karagiorgos & Kostas Alexandris, 2023. "Sport Tourism as Driving Force for Destinations’ Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Daniel Stark & Stefania Di Gangi & Caio Victor Sousa & Pantelis Nikolaidis & Beat Knechtle, 2020. "Tower Running—Participation, Performance Trends, and Sex Difference," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-9, March.
    3. Marek Kazimierczak & Agata Dąbrowska & Katarzyna Adamczewska & Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko, 2019. "The Impact of Modern Ultramarathons on Shaping the Social Identity of Runners. The Case Study of Karkonosze Winter Ultramarathon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Joanna Poczta & Nuno Almeida & Małgorzata Paczyńska-Jędrycka & Ewa Kruszyńska, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 Incidence on Motivation to Participate in a Triathlon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-11, May.
    5. David Parra-Camacho & María Huertas González-Serrano & Rómulo Jacobo González-García & Ferran Calabuig Moreno, 2019. "Sporting Habits of Urban Runners: Classification According to Their Motivation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-18, December.
    6. Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko & Dariusz Wieliński & Katarzyna Adamczewska, 2020. "Perceived Benefits for Mental and Physical Health and Barriers to Horseback Riding Participation. The Analysis among Professional and Amateur Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-14, May.
    7. Joanna Poczta & Nuno Almeida & Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko, 2021. "Socio-Psychological Functions of Men and Women Triathlon Participation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-12, November.
    8. David Manzano-Sánchez & Lucas Postigo-Pérez & Manuel Gómez-López & Alfonso Valero-Valenzuela, 2020. "Study of the Motivation of Spanish Amateur Runners Based on Training Patterns and Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-12, November.
    9. 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.
    10. Basagaitz Guereño-Omil & Patxi León-Guereño & Eunate Garro & Mateusz Rozmiarek & Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko & Maciej Młodzik & Arkadiusz Włodarczyk & Bartłomiej Łuć, 2024. "Motivations behind Active Sport Tourists Participating in Natural and Cultural Landscapes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-11, October.
    11. Pantelis T. Nikolaidis & Beat Knechtle, 2021. "Is It Time for Sports and Health in the Era of Covid-19 Pandemic?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-3, January.
    12. 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.
    13. Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko, 2022. "Recreational Running Motivations among Breast Cancer Survivors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-9, November.
    14. Beat Knechtle & Volker Scheer & Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis & Caio Victor Sousa, 2020. "Participation and Performance Trends in the Oldest 100-km Ultramarathon in the World," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-12, March.
    15. Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko & François Gravelle & Agata Dąbrowska & Patxi León-Guereño, 2020. "Do Years of Running Experience Influence the Motivations of Amateur Marathon Athletes?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-16, January.

    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:jscscx:v:14:y:2025:i:9:p:521-:d:1737039. 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.