Race around the world: Identifying a research agenda for the distance runner

Participation in the sporting activity of distance running has increased considerably over the last two decades. The sport is one that requires a strong dedication from its participants due to its arduous nature. It is this dedication, coupled with the growth in interest in the sporting activity of distance running, that makes the distance runner market potentially lucrative for practitioners in the fields of tourism and leisure. Studies investigating distance runners have to date tended to have been conducted in a random manner, and this may be contributed to by the fact that such research has emanated from several different disciplinary perspectives. The haphazard nature of the research may also have contributed to the limited academic interest in the area. This paper therefore aims to contribute to the understanding of the niche market of the distance runner as a sport tourist by consolidating the research conducted in this area. We conclude by suggesting future research agendas that investigate the distance running phenomenon.