i got curious about whether this was actually a thing. turns out: it really is.
A few months ago I started thinking about running a marathon. Not training for one—just thinking. The idea kept showing up: in conversations, in my feed, in the fact that three people I know ran one last fall. So I started wondering whether this was a genuine cultural shift or just my particular bubble.
I pulled some data. Here's what I found.
In 1980, about 143,000 people finished a marathon in the United States. By 2014—the peak year—that number had grown to over 550,000. That's a 285% increase in 34 years. Even after COVID decimated race calendars in 2020, participation bounced back fast. By 2023, US finishers were approaching half a million again.
US marathon finishers, 1980–2023
US finishers only. Source: Running USA annual reports; estimates for 1985–1995 based on academic research. 2020 reflects COVID-related race cancellations.
The global picture is similar. Worldwide, roughly 1.3 million people complete a marathon every year. Marathon participation grew 49% globally between 2008 and 2018 alone—with Asia leading at 263% growth over that same decade.
The growth story is interesting. But the story of who was allowed to participate is what really got me.
If the overall growth in marathon participation is impressive, the women's participation curve is something else. In 1980, women made up about 10.5% of US marathon finishers. Today that number is around 41–44%. That's a rise from roughly 1 in 10 to nearly 1 in 2—in four decades.
Women's marathon participation grew 57% between 2008 and 2018, outpacing men's growth of 47% over the same period. The trend has leveled off and even dipped slightly since 2017, but the scale of the transformation is still remarkable.
women as % of US marathon finishers, 1980–2024
US data. Source: Running USA; Exploring Women's Marathon Participation in the United States, 1980–2019 (academic research). Intermediate years are estimates.
The six World Marathon Majors—Boston, NYC, Chicago, London, Berlin, and Tokyo—are the most prestigious races in the world. Look at the women's share at each one, and you see a wide spread.
NYC, Chicago, and Boston are all north of 44%. Tokyo sits at about 27%. Part of that is structural—Tokyo's qualification standards and lottery system work differently from the others—but it's also a reflection of local running culture. Berlin comes in at 34%, which is notably lower than the other European major, London, at 40%.
women's % at each World Marathon Major, 2023–24
Approximate figures based on reported 2023–24 finisher data. Tokyo's lower figure reflects its selective qualification system and local running demographics.
I still haven't run a marathon. But I did spend an afternoon pulling this data, which I'm going to count as training.
The thing that stuck with me: the story of marathon running isn't just a story about a sport growing. It's a story about who gets to participate in things—and how slowly, and then quickly, that changes.
data notes
US finisher data: Running USA annual reports (2000–2023). Earlier figures from academic research, including Exploring Women's Marathon Participation in the United States, 1980–2019. Years without reported figures are estimates based on known trend data. Global figures from RunRepeat 2019 worldwide research. World Majors women's percentages are approximate, based on publicly reported 2023–24 finisher breakdowns.