As thousands of runners navigated the streets of New York City on Sunday, the familiar clanging of cowbells echoed alongside cheers from the sidelines, underscoring the instrument’s surprising prominence in marathon culture. While the exact origins of this tradition remain unclear, the cowbell has become a hallmark sound at marathon events worldwide.
The use of cowbells in sporting events is believed to have roots in Europe, particularly in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, where they were originally used by farmers to track their cattle during spring and summer months. When winter sports like ski racing gained popularity about a century ago, spectators adopted cowbells as an audible way to encourage competitors since mittens prevented clapping. This connection to winter sports laid the groundwork for the bells’ gradual transition to other athletic events.
Experts suggest that the cowbell’s journey from alpine ski slopes to marathon routes likely involved cycling, a popular summer sport in the Alps, before becoming a staple of road racing. Despite still being used for livestock in rural areas, manufacturers now sell the overwhelming majority of cowbells for cheering at sporting events.
Organizers of major marathons have embraced cowbells for their practicality and symbolic significance. The Chicago Marathon’s executive director, Carey Pinkowski, recalled first encountering cowbells during races in the late 1990s and noted their popularity as affordable, durable souvenirs that can be branded with event logos. Large quantities are often distributed to cheering spectators and runners alike to amplify crowd support.
Jack Fleming, CEO of the Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the Boston Marathon, observed that cowbells surpassed other noisemakers such as thunder sticks and plastic pompoms about 15 years ago, in part because they are reusable and easy to operate with one hand, allowing spectators to cheer while sipping water or using their phones. However, Pinkowski warned of minor hazards, sharing his own experience of developing blisters from prolonged bell ringing.
For runners, the distinctive ringing provides a rhythmic encouragement that helps break the monotony of covering long distances. Nick Synan, founder of the Upper East Side Run Club and a New York City Marathon participant since 2013, described cowbells as a motivating beat that punctuates the race experience.
Despite their popularity on race days, the sound of cowbells tends to fade quickly after events conclude. Pinkowski noted that in the days following a marathon, there is typically a quiet moratorium on bell ringing within organizing offices, signaling the temporary nature of the tradition’s prominence—at least until the next race.