Every December thousands of runners quietly take on one of the most deceptively simple challenges in the running calendar:
Run every day in December.
No medals.
No entry fee.
No finish line.
Just you, your running shoes, and the commitment to get out the door 31 days in a row.
This is the Marcothon running challenge.
In 2025 the challenge celebrated its 17th edition, and for me it was my 12th time taking part — which probably says something about my personality, although I’m not entirely sure what.
What Is Marcothon?
Marcothon is a December running challenge where participants run at least 3 miles every day in December.
The challenge began in 2009, when Glasgow ultrarunner Marco Consani set himself a challenge to stay fit through winter.
His wife Debbie Consani, also an accomplished ultrarunner, joined the following month and named the challenge Marcothon in his honour.
What started as a personal experiment quickly grew into a global grassroots running challenge. Each year, thousands of runners take part by running every day in December and sharing their runs using the hashtag #Marcothon.
The Marcothon Rules
The beauty of Marcothon is how simple the rules are:
• Run at least 3 miles or 25mins every day in December
• Log your run on social media using #Marcothon
• Continue until December 31st
That’s it.
For me personally I only ever apply the rule at least three miles every day
Three miles doesn’t sound like much.
But when you run 3 miles every single day for 31 days, it quickly becomes a proper challenge.
The Real Challenge: Consistency
Marcothon isn’t about speed.
It isn’t about racing.
It’s about showing up every day.
December tends to throw plenty of obstacles in the way:
• dark winter evenings
• cold weather
• work commitments
• family events
• travel
Marcothon forces you to find a way to run regardless of what the day looks like.
Some days it’s a nice trail run.
Other days it’s a headtorch shuffle around the block at 9pm just to tick the box.
Both count.
Yes… You Do Have to Run on Christmas Day
This is the question that appears every year.
“Surely Christmas Day doesn’t count?”
Sadly, there is no festive exemption clause in the Marcothon rules.
So yes — you absolutely do have to run on Christmas Day.
Somewhere between:
• opening presents
• eating far too many mince pies
• preparing Christmas dinner
…you’ll probably find yourself sneaking out for a quick 3 mile jog around the neighbourhood.
Oddly enough, it often ends up being one of the best runs of the month.
Christmas Day Marcothon tradition — festive hats required.
Santa Races Count Too
One of the great things about Marcothon is that any run counts.
Some years that includes taking part in a local Santa race, which tends to involve hundreds of runners dressed in festive outfits jogging through town centres while confusing the general public.
It’s not exactly high performance running…
…but it definitely counts towards the Marcothon miles.
📷
Santa race miles still count for Marcothon.
The Community Element
One of the reasons Marcothon has lasted so long is the community aspect.
Every December runners share their runs using #Marcothon, and you quickly realise people are doing this challenge everywhere:
• freezing Scottish trail runs
• treadmill miles
• lunchtime loops
• late night “get it done” runs
Seeing other runners sticking with the challenge is often the extra motivation needed to get out the door.
Does Marcothon Make You Fitter?
If approached sensibly, Marcothon can absolutely help build fitness.
Running daily helps develop:
• consistency
• aerobic endurance
• mental discipline
The key is to keep most runs easy.
Marcothon is not about smashing hard workouts every day — it’s about building a habit of running regularly.
Running Every Day in December: Why So Many Runners Do It
The idea of running every day in December might sound unusual, but it has become increasingly popular among runners looking to maintain consistency through winter.
Challenges like Marcothon encourage runners to complete at least 3 miles every day in December, helping build a strong running habit during a time of year when many people struggle with motivation.
For many runners, the goal isn’t speed or performance.
It’s simply about showing up each day and keeping the momentum going through the winter months.
By the time January arrives, runners who complete the challenge often find they’ve built a level of consistency that sets them up well for marathon or ultra training in the new year.
The Downside
Running daily isn’t risk free.
Fatigue and small niggles can creep in if you’re not careful.
The best approach is to treat some days as very gentle recovery runs.
Sometimes the goal is simply to keep the streak alive rather than push hard.
My Take After 12 Marcothons
After completing 12 Marcothons, the challenge still delivers the same lesson every year:
Consistency beats motivation.
Some runs are brilliant.
Some runs feel like a chore.
But by the time December ends you’ve run 31 consecutive days, and that momentum heading into the new year feels pretty good.
If You’re Doing Marcothon and Sweat a Lot…
Running daily in winter can actually be tricky for runners who sweat heavily, particularly when wearing multiple layers.
If that sounds familiar, you might find these guides helpful:
• How to Measure Your Sweat Rate When Running
• Hydration Strategy for Sweaty Runners
• Best Electrolytes for Heavy Sweaters
(You can link these to your existing SweatSmartRunning guides.)
Final Verdict
Marcothon remains one of the most enjoyable grassroots running challenges around.
No medals.
No pressure.
Just runners keeping each other accountable through December.
And after 12 editions…
I’ll probably be back again next year.
⭐ Marcothon Rating: 4.5 / 5
Simple.
Challenging.
Surprisingly addictive.