Opinion: In a world full of worryingly bad news, the Dublin marathon can restore your faith in humanity
It will be a different Dublin from the usual capital next Sunday with thousands of people cheering on the thousands of people running in the Dublin marathon. For the committed cheerleader, it will be a long shift, but it seems to me to be a day when the silent majority came out. The question is what were they saying?
In a world full of worryingly bad news, the Dublin marathon can restore your faith in humanity. On Sunday along the marathon route, you will see all sorts of endurance, strength and commitment. There will be commitment not just to the race, but to getting around, remembering a loved one or acknowledging a charitable cause. You will meet many runners and walkers all of whom were invariably kind, encouraging and generous towards fellow runners. Sometimes It's hard to believe that there is any good in the world at all with the daily news headlines, but good will come out to play next Sunday.
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From RTÉ News, thousands hit the Dublin streets to run and watch the 2023 Dublin marathon
Though the majority of the marathon entrants have long since relinquished any Olympic dream, there is evidence that performance is enhanced by the presence of others. Indeed the first known social psychological experiment was one in which Norman Triplett demonstrated the performance enhancing effects of the presence of others, known as social facilitation. Support really does matter for the 22,500 runners.
Marathon runners gain from the course supporter so the clear message is one of encouragement. It can take a long time to get around those 26.2 miles and the supporters certainly entertain and buoy up participants. There are signs made by enthusiastic kids, a range of beautiful handcrafted banners, willing people on. You also spot adults with equally creative and entertaining signs: 'Run like millennials run from commitment’ or ‘All toenails go to heaven’.
There is much about race day that has to do with our relationships with each other. One thing that is clear from research is that collective events allow people to transcend their difference and embrace all those, near and far, who are part of the national community. These events can help people negotiate tough times too. People with experience of bereavement by suicide who attend Darkness into Light show an uptick in their health and happiness after the event.
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From RTÉ Archives, Joe O'Brien reports for RTÉ News on preparations for the 1984 Dublin City Marathon
The marathon is made possible by hundreds of volunteers ensuring the event happens in the first place. There are stewards at every corner, water stops with more than enough people to offer water and a well-organised facility for dropping off and picking up bags. An estimated 1500 volunteers are pivotal to the success of the marathon. Given these people have foregone their lie-in on the Sunday morning of a bank holiday weekend, you will be relieved to know that their volunteering is likely to be of considerable benefit to their health. In fact, giving back is now believed to reduce stress and improve health not least because it strengthens our connections to others.
Are supporters benefiting from their attendance at the marathon? I really think so. Some supporters put considerable effort into their supporting. Support teams often plot a course across the city to meet and greet their runner at multiple locations across the city. On a day where there are so many roads closed, the supporter can be as challenged as the runner.
I can still remember the lift I got on my first marathon from my family's presence on Nutley Lane. My plan to drop out was upended by my husband's encouragement. The Dublin marathon tracker allows those further afield to cheer remotely. This type of solidarity offers an occasion to show pride in those we love. It is not something we have every day and it is lovely that the marathon offers that opportunity.
There's no doubt that the Dublin marathon is an important date for the capital and country. It can be considered a collective phenomenon as much as the St. Patrick's Day festival. It is about our connections to others and is an occasion to build or consolidate a support system based on common commitment and interest for both runners and supporters. These interests are diverse, from sporting right through to civic, charitable and familial interests. This diversity allows the event to feel so unifying: every runner, walker and supporter is part of something bigger and more important than themselves. It truly is good sauce.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
