The marathon race has recently become a worldwide phenomenon for recreational exercisers of all ages, running pace, and body types. Participation of recreational runners in marathons has dramatically increased over the last 20 years (Trappe, 2007). Females in particular have made an impact on the marathon by increased participation and dramatic improvements in finishing time (Burfoot, 2007). Little research has been completed on the specific motivational factors of life meaning and fulfillment. The purpose of the present study was to understand how marathon running provides personal meaning and life satisfaction to recreational female runners. Furthermore, understanding reasons why runners participate in marathons despite knowing the physical pain and psychological anguish associated with running long distances were explored.;Phase one of the study included the collection of demographic, running history, and Motivation Orientations of Marathoners Survey (MOMS; Masters et al., 1993) data for 137 male and female runners. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all measures. Of particular importance to the current study was the life meaning subscale, which had a minimum score of 7.00, a maximum of 45.00, and a mean of 22.94 (SD = 10.58). Males and females did not differ on mean scores for the life meaning subscale ( p = .223). Phase two of the current research entailed in-depth interviews of 12 female recreational marathon runners, who scored high on the life meaning subscale of the MOMS during phase one. An inductive content analysis of the interviews yielded 1,235 meaning units, which collapsed into 112 lower-order themes, 23 higher-order themes, and four global themes. The global themes included motives to run, barriers that threaten motivation to run, strategies to maintain motivation in running, and life meaning gained through running.;While the present study provides further evidence of previously identified motives to run marathons, new insights on how running provides life meaning and life satisfaction to participants was also discovered. Characteristics providing meaning included discovering one's capability of running, developing a mastery-oriented approach, finding inspiration, creating a sense of self, experiencing positive feelings through running, and forming a relationship with running. Participants had to find meaning in marathon running, but once they did running became an important piece of who they are. With persistence, discipline, and commitment, running long distances can be an enjoyable experience throughout ones entire life.
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