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“Why do people choose to run together in huge groups, when one of the primary advantages of running is the very fact that you can do it on your own?” Maarten van Bottenburg shares his thoughts on the cohesion the ‘new running’ creates between individuals. Van Bottenburg is a Professor of Sport Development at Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ��, where he heads up the Sport & Society focus area.

“An amusing gender-related example in the development of running sport is that, less than fifty years ago, in 1969, a woman ran the Boston marathon. At the time, women were not supposed to take part in the race and the organisers therefore tried to force her to withdraw. Nowadays, it’s more exceptional for women not to run for fitness than it is for them to do so. That was the ‘first wave’ of running. In the late 1960s, the idea of running on sidewalks – in between the shoppers – became normal in the United States. Those early runners were mostly people in their thirties and former athletes.”

When did the second wave of running hit?

“In the second half of the 1990s. In this wave, different demographic groups were represented. And this is when running really exploded in popularity. People in their forties, fifties and sixties took up running, too – and commercial businesses began to react. Folks started to organise themselves into groups when going for a run. This gave them the freedom they needed to fit running into their busy lives. Event-planning organisations took advantage of this trend by organising specific running events.”

You were commissioned by the Athletics Union to conduct research?

“That's right. In 2005, the Athletics Union was struggling to decide what action they, as an organisation, should take in connection with the developments in running. That’s when I joined them for a large-scale population study, mapping out the market on their behalf. At that time, the Athletics Union had some 120,000 members – but three million people were running for sport. Which begs the question: how does one respond effectively?”

Running alone together?

“Why do people choose to run together in huge groups, when one of the primary advantages of running is the very fact that you can do it on your own? Apparently, we do feel the need for some kind of shared experience. To find an answer to that question, I conducted a great many in-depth interviews centred on the form of cohesion that occurs between individuals within the ‘new running’. All around me, I see people running in both pairs and small groups. Each and every one of them is looking for a form that will allow them to do that more fluidly. Running events are extremely helpful when it comes to team-building. Even just during the preparations beforehand, they create a sense of belonging that wouldn't have been possible without that kind of event.”

Performance-oriented or seeking health and relaxation?

“People sign up for a running event to give them the push they need to actually run. That way, they are working towards a goal, or forcing themselves to have a certain amount of discipline. People are less interested in the achievement aspect. After all, your race time is merely an indication of your age, lifestyle, work and how much time you spent preparing. That makes the rankings – except those of top-tier runners who participate in that kind of event – kind of a stand-alone indicator. Which makes for a really nice integration of high-level athletics and sport for a wider public.”

Metaphor for science?

“I feel that sport can be utilised to create a community and to demonstrate that you, as a group, have shared values. Science is also competitive, but – just as with sport – you should make sure things stay fun, interesting and challenging as you take part. That way, you are creating a sense of pride and a connection between participants. I think it would be wonderful if the were to contribute to that higher goal.”