Motor marathon “81,000 steps in three days” as a means of increasing physical activity among creative university students

<jats:p>The purpose of the study is to theoretically design, methodologically substantiate, and experimentally test under the conditions of a real educational process the effectiveness of the short-term intensive motor marathon “81st Anniversary of the Victory – 81,000 Steps of Remembrance” as a means of rapid express compensation of accumulated locomotor deficit and as a tool for optimizing the psycho-emotional status of students of SPUFT. Research methods and organization. The experimental study was conducted on the basis of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “St. Petersburg State University of Film and Television” (SPUFT, St. Petersburg) during the spring semester of the 2025–2026 academic year. The research sample included first‑ to third‑year students of the Faculties of Screen Arts and Media Technologies (male and female students aged 18–22 years, classified according to medical examination results as belonging to the main and preparatory medical groups, with no somatic contraindications to prolonged moderate‑intensity walking). The following methods were used: analysis and generalization of scientific literature data, testing, pedometry, questionnaires, and mathematical statistics methods. Research results and conclusions. After the marathon, most students retained the habit of walking. Their average daily locomotor activity was fixed at 8200 ± 610 steps, which is 1.5 times higher than the baseline pre‑experimental level. It was proven that the marathon was able to overcome the internal psychological barrier and laid a solid foundation for conscious, independent physical activity of students.</jats:p>