12 May 2026 01:00
Marathons as Public Healthcare
Welcome to “The Future of Running” podcast on Head Start presented by Brooksee and hosted by Phil Dumontet.
In this episode, Phil sits down with Chris Robb, CEO of Mass Participation World and one of the most influential global voices in endurance events, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of mass participation events.
What if governments treated marathons as public healthcare infrastructure? What if the most important person at your event isn’t the runner, but the spectator cheering at mile 10? And could the greatest threat to endurance sports actually be its rapid growth? Also in this episode: the shifting economics of race events, why mass participation is becoming increasingly valuable to cities and sponsors, and how the industry can scale sustainably without losing its soul. A thought-provoking conversation for anyone building the future of endurance sport, community, and active lifestyles.
