近年場場報名爆滿的馬拉松賽事屬於高強度的長跑運動，即使馬拉松運動似乎與個體循享樂主義的概念相悖，參賽者仍趨之若鶩。本研究欲探討馬拉松的賽事困難度如何影響跑者的失敗恐懼感，以及是否產生反轉機制提高跑者的預期正向知覺，進一步影響參賽意願。本研究採用實驗法進行實測，結果發現：賽事困難度與參賽意願不具顯著影響，但賽事困難度愈高，跑者會產生愈高的失敗恐懼感，且藉由情緒反轉產生較高的預期正向知覺，進而提高參賽意願。換言之，馬拉松賽事困難度會透過跑者失敗恐懼感及預期正向知覺的中介作用提高參賽意願。本研究結果為反轉理論（Reversal Theory）及良性受虐（Benign Masochism）等研究領域提供理論貢獻，並提供業者籌辦馬拉松賽事的實務參考。

Marathon, an intensive long-distance race, is one of the most popular activities nowadays. Even though the concept of a marathon may seem contradictory to the idea of hedonism, people are eager to participate in the race without a doubt. The study aims to figure out how the race difficulty of a marathon event impacts the fear of failure triggered by a marathon runner and whether fear of failure affects expected positive perception through a reversal mechanism, furthermore, how expected positive perception influences a runner's intention to participate in the marathon. In other words, race difficulty could enhance the intention to participate by mediating fear of failure and expected positive perception. The result provides not only theoretical contributions related to reversal theory and benign masochism but also a reference for organizing future marathon events.