‘Why do people commit to long distance running’: serious leisure qualities and leisure motivation of marathon runners

Abstract

Accumulating studies suggested that serious leisure qualities (SLQs) had an important correlate to leisure motivation (LM). However, the role of SLQs on LM remains ambiguous. This study aims to explore the relationship between SLQs and LM among long distance runners. A multiple regression analysis was conducted using data from participants (N = 300) recruited from a distance-running event (Hangzhou Marathon) held in China. The study results showed that marathon runners had high scores for the six SLQs and for the dimensions of LM with high levels of self-­determination. Significant differences were found for the SLQs and LM based on sociodemographic variables. LM was related to marathon runners’ SLQs, and motivation factors with higher self-­determination were positively associated with SLQs. These study findings extend the literatures of the relationship between SLQs and LM, and contribute to understand why do people commit to long distance running. The limitations and implications of this study are also discussed.