188 Sandra S. Radenović, Nikola V. Mijatov, Healthy Lifestyle and the Belgrade... Sandra S. Radenović 1 University of Belgrade Faculty of Sport and Physical Education Belgrade (Serbia) Nikola V. Mijatov 2 Institute for Contemporary History Belgrade (Serbia) HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND THE BELGRADE MARATHON: RECREATIONAL RUNNNERS OR FANATICS? 3 (Translation In Extenso) Abstract: Te aim of the paper is to re-examine the concept of marathon as a sports- recreational activity that presupposes a healthy lifestyle. Trough the theoretical concept of escapism on the example of the Belgrade Marathon, the autobiographical book of a recreational marathon runner and autobiographical records of recreational runners, rec- reational participation in marathons is studied as a form of escapism from the problems of everyday life that ends up as a certain form of fanaticism. Fanaticism expressed in the imperative of success imposed through the obligation to fnish the race changes the ap- proach to a recreational activity whose goal is, among other things, to improve and nur- ture health. In the social context of neo-liberalism, this (self-)imposed imperative ofen leads in the direction of disrupting health for its own fulfllment. Keywords: marathon, health, escapism, recreationists, fanatics 1. Introduction: Te marathon and healthy lifestyles Te marathon is one of the oldest Olympic disciplines. It is thought to have been founded by Pheidippides (Filípides) afer the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC when he ran 38 kilometers to tell Athenians the news of the victory over the Persians. According to the legend, afer telling the news, he died of exhaustion (Gutos, 2017, p. 41, 161-162). Herodo- tus (Heródoto), as the most reliable source from that time, did not mention Pheidippides in the context of the Battle of Marathon, so the whole event lies somewhere between his- tory and a myth (Herodotus History, 2009, pp. 273-274). Nevertheless, the marathon was 1 sandra.radenovic@hotmail.com 2 nikolamijatov@gmail.com 3 Tis paper is the result of the author`s work at the project III 41004 (Rare Diseases) - where is en- gaged as a researcher Sandra Radenović and project III 47030 (Conficts and Crises - Cooperation and Development in Serbia and the Region in the 19th and 20th Century) - on which is engaged as researcher Nikola Mijatov, both fnanced by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.