Why We Cry at the Marathon: Collective Joy & The Spectator Spirit

Every year, I watch The London Marathon from the the sidelines or on TV, and every year, I am moved to tears. I’ve never run 26 miles. I haven't trained for months or hit "the wall." And yet, watching the sea of humanity move towards their goal, I feel a profound sense of connection and a wave of awe. If you’ve ever wondered what The Kindfulness Effect looks like in action, you don’t need to look at a meditation cushion—you can see and experience it on the streets of a city on a big race day - or at a concert. Events like the London Marathon are a masterclass in collective joy, community, and the beauty of the human spirit.

The Beauty of Collective Joy

There is a specific kind of awe that happens when thousands of people gather with the sole purpose of uplifting one another. As a spectator, you’re not  just watching a race; you are participating in a massive, living ripple of positivity.

When we see a stranger struggling and the crowd shouts their name to keep them going, our own ego shrinks. We move from "me" to "we." That lump in your throat that you feel - that’s the realisation that we are all, in our own way, walking (or running) each other home. (*Rumi)

The Power of the Story

Most marathoners aren't running for a trophy; they are running for a charity, in memory of a loved one, or to prove to themselves that they could survive a "dark night of the soul” or go beyond their perceived limits. When you see a person running with a photo of a lost parent pinned to their shirt, or someone taking part in the race with a physical disability, you are witnessing the human spirit's ability to transform pain and adversity into purpose. As a spectator, you connect with that on a deep empathetic level. You’re not just cheering for a bib number; you are cheering for their resilience, their grief, and their triumph - and in a way, your own. 

Kindfulness in Every Mile

The marathon embodies the three pillars of Kindfulness—Mindfulness, Kindness, and Gratitude—not just for the runners, but for everyone standing on the curb or watching on TV. 

• Mindfulness: Being Fully Present in the Struggle To be a spectator is to be a witness. We are forced out of our own "autopilot" and into the present moment. We see and to some degree experience the pain, the sweat, and the grit. We see the reality of what it means to be human and to overcome adversity. By being fully present with the runners and acknowledging the personal journeys they carry with them, we connect with their path and, in turn, become more aware of our own.
  

• Active Kindness: The Support of Strangers The sidelines are a place of radical kindness. Total strangers handing out water, children offering high-fives as if they were giving out magic energy, and the constant chorus of "Come on! You’ve got this! Keep going!" It’s a reminder that compassion is our natural state. When we cheer for a stranger, we are practising Kindfulness: to act with compassion for all beings.
  

• Gratitude: Awe inspiring Resilience It is impossible to watch the marathon without feeling a surge of gratitude. Gratitude for the body’s resilience, for the charities being supported, and for the community that shows up to hold space for it all. We move from simply watching to being part of this swathe of the best of humanity. 

The Ripple of the Sidelines

The Kindfulness Effect teaches us that individual conscious care contributes to collective healing.

When you stand on that sideline or watch on TV and offer your support, your energy, and your presence to someone else’s struggle, you are creating a ripple that becomes a wave. You are proving that we are not separate from one another. That collective joy is a healing force—one that stays long after the finish line has been crossed.

So what can the marathon teach us? We don’t have to be the ones running to be part of the race. We just have to show up for each other with that same spirit:

1. Be present in the connection and the struggle.

2. Be kind to the stranger.

3. Be grateful for the shared journey.

In the end, the marathon isn't just about running. It’s about the power of what happens when we decide to care for one another, one step—and one encouraging action—at a time. 🌿✨

Do you get emotional watching the marathon too? 

What was the most "Kindful" moment you witnessed this year? 

Let’s celebrate that collective joy together.

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Melissa is founder of The Kindfulness Effect. Her journey to The Kindfulness Effect started in 2007; while recovering from PTSD, she found healing through mindfulness, meditation, yoga and positive psychology. After a 15-year career in corporate management, Melissa decided to turn her personal transformation into a professional mission.

With a degree in Psychology and Philosophy and extensive teacher training, she created The Kindfulness Effect to share the tools that changed her life.

• The Formula: Mindfulness + Kindness + Gratitude = Kindfulness

• The Mission: To inspire a community of like-minded souls to live happier, healthier lives and spread compassion like a ripple effect into the world.

• Classes, courses, workshops, retreats & coaching. The Kindfulness Effect starts with you!