A marathon effort: why 26.2 miles is good for staff productivity

Taking on a marathon is no mean feat; the 26.2 miles have the potential to cause untold damage to the body, and it really is only the fittest who will succeed. With just days to go until this year’s London marathon, thousands of runners across the UK are gearing up to take on the streets of the capital. And while crossing the finish line and completing a marathon is an outstanding achievement, there’s no denying the issues that often come with it; injuries, exhaustion, and days off sick to recover from training.

It might then come as a surprise to hear that CV-Library’s latest research suggests that running a marathon could actually be good for your career; when we asked over 1,000 of the UK’s professionals what they thought about training for, and running, a marathon whilst working, the results were overwhelmingly positive.

The data actually suggests that the nation’s employees believe that the regular exercise which comes as a result of training for a marathon improves productivity; a staggering 87.7% indicated that frequent exercise aids in motivation and workplace productivity, while 78.9% feel that the routine of training and exercising makes them more able to commit and focus in their careers. Suggesting that employers who worry about their marathon-running staff needn’t be concerned; taking on challenges of this type may actually be increasing their output!