Running a marathon should feel possible for anyone – but the reality is that gender, ethnicity, income and culture still shape who gets to the start line, and who never even considers it.

The good news? The barriers are well‑researched, which means they can be tackled.​

Women still face a stubborn participation gap in the big city marathons, especially beyond the age of 40. Safety when training, caring responsibilities and confidence all play a part – click here to find out more about the gender gap in marathon majors.​

Runners from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities are under‑represented across running events and report racism, exclusion and a lack of representation on start lines and in marketing. If you want a concise overview of how racism shapes access to sport in the UK, click here to find out more.​

Money matters too. Entry fees, travel, kit and time off work all stack up, and research shows that people in more affluent groups are much more likely to take part in organised running. For a deeper dive into how income and social class shape who participates, click here to find out more.​

Our mission is to use this evidence to remove those barriers, so more people see “marathon runner” when they look in the mirror – not just on TV.