Marcothon 2022 kicked off just over a week ago, with thousands of runners committing themselves to the personal challenge of running at least three miles or 25 minutes every day in December, ‘for nothing and no reason whatsoever’. 

The rules of Marcothon are simple: those committing to the challenge must run every day in December, including Christmas Day itself - no mean feat! Each run must be a minimum of three miles or 25 minutes long, which ever comes first. There’s no playing catch-up, either; if runners miss a day, they’re out. Only running – not walking, cycling or any other activity – counts, but pace is not important. 

For the past week runners have been sharing their stories on social media and as the temperature has started to drop, there has been plenty of chat about icy morning runs, and sub-zero night-time dashes. In amongst all this baltic chat, was a comment from one chap who took care of business in a pair of wetsuit boots after a surf in Lanzarote. That's dedication for you! 

Jokes aside, as the weather turns all at runABC would like to say... "We salute you Marcothoners!" It's a tough gig when the weather is kind, so to be out there getting the miles in, day after day, when it is bitingly cold is some impressive stuff! 

Now in its 14th edition, the Marcothon began in the winter of 2009, when Glasgow-based ultrarunner Marco Consani designed a challenge to keep him running over the darkest days of winter. He settled on running at least three miles every day in November, and achieved his goal.

After seeing her husband’s fitness and motivation improve as he worked through his challenge, Consani’s ultrarunner wife Debbie decided to do the same the following month – naming the challenge the ‘Marcothon’ in his honour.  

Word of the challenge soon spread around the world and the Marcothon community quickly grew. In 2010, the challenge joined Facebook, where it now has more than 8.5K supportive friends in a private group where participants can post their runs and share in their agonies (and ecstasies). 

If you'd like to be a part of the group, you can do so here. 

Image: runABC stock