I've noticed a few mentions in RW and other mags about a 'boom' in running in the early 1980's. What exactly caused the increase in popularity around that time?

The simple answer to that it The London Marathon

That's the main reason why I started running more...and I ran 5 London marathons in the 80's, including the 2nd ever. Obviously it was much smaller back then but it was still a major experience.

I gave up running in about 87/88 basically coz I blew up... ran too much, ran through injury, ran at all hours of night and day etc etc

I started again about 4 years ago but don't run like I used to...much more sensible 20 years on

The 80's running boom was the begining of the end for distance running in the UK in my opinion!
Suddenly finishing was more important than the time you finished in.
This is why my very slow Marathon PB of 3hrs and 6 minutes is somehow fast in the eyes off all the joggers out there today. I am ashamed of my pb and will not be happy if I don't break 3 hrs this autumn. people are not driven to do the work anymore and think that they can run a marathon on 25 mpw.

How on earth can you say that Steepler... I guess that is ok if you are a male in your 20's or early 30's but so many people take up running later in life now and a sub 3 isn't that easy as you start getting older.

And what about us women who are not as naturally fast as men??

My PB from the 80's when I was in my 20's was 3.17... I very much doubt I could have got much faster... I was doing 70 to 80 miles a week then too.

Now I'm in my 40's and last year I ran a marathon in 3.40, maybe I could get sub 3.30 but that will probably be the limit my body can give me now....and I do not slack on training!!

The majority of marathon runners are serious...maybe with the exception of those who feel the need to join the 100 marathon club and focus more on getting the marathons 'under their belt' than breaking PB's. I cannot see the attraction of joining that club myself but each to their own I guess.

It's at FLM that you see more of the so called 'joggers' and they are usually raising thousands for charity, so they are excused your accusations too!

the london marathon was a big help, but it just became trendy. no longer were you considered odd if you were seen running in the streets. the advent of decent shoes such as the nike air max meant that we large boned chaps could run without ruining the knees. a lot of people took up running as they became too old to play football and rugby without injury.

as for standards, they are undoubtedly lower than 10 years ago. i now finish in the top 100 of the north midlands xc whereas when i ran 10% faster i was lucky to get in the 120's., and runners doing 1hr 25 halfs are considered in the same light as 1hr 20's were.

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it's not how fast, it's how often

Steepler So what if the standards at the bottom end of the field drop. Start at the front and stop having a whine. As for jogging - what a load of daft faster runner snobbery. I've plodded many a mile but I've never jogged apart from warm up. I can assure you that my "plodding" requires me probably to make as much effort as someone who has the natural ability to run a lot faster. My heartrate is near the max in races and I have also lost a lot of weight. I was running 55 miles a week pre Mara and with the effort I have put in an 8 minute mile half marathon still isn't within my grasp just yet.

I think we are in the midst of another boom but many people are not entering races so its difficult to quantify.

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Mr Happy

My point is that the overall standards have slipped across the board.
London was also started to raise the level of UK distance running and has had the opposite effect. One of my mates ran sub 2.19 in the 1980's and had over 25 brits in front of him. He would have been inside the top 5 brits last year!
My point is that people plodding round in 6 hrs are really not 'running' as most people imagine it. An example of what I mean is this.
I ran the GNR in 2002 in 83 minutes. This to ME is still slow.I had warmed down,had a sandwhich and a cup of tea and as I was driving away people were STILL finishing! You can't seriously label that as 'running' or even 'jogging'. That speed is WALKING!

But you are training to get faster. That is excellent.
My grouse is with the walkers at the back!

Ed Whitlock ran 2.57 last autumn and he is over 70!!!!

Any theories on exactly why the standard has dropped? I would agree that in mens races the standard is not what it once was. Womens running in general though appears to be getting better. Perhaps this could be attributed to the current lack of male UK role models for young althletes?