鈥淚t鈥檚 the perfect sport for a pandemic,鈥 The in 2021, explaining the surge in popularity of running in the face of Covid-19 restrictions. 鈥淎ll you need is a pair of shoes and a six-foot buffer from the next person,鈥 the author Talya Minsberg described what she called a 鈥渂ack-to-basics exercise boom鈥. With gym closures and restrictions on indoor activities and team sports, people turned to outdoor exercise as a safe and accessible way to stay active and maintain their physical and mental well-being. Running offered a sense of freedom, a chance to escape the confines of home, and an opportunity to connect with nature amidst lockdowns and social distancing measures.
And while Covid-19 restrictions have long been lifted, many pandemic runners have kept at it, thanks to the addictive nature of a sport often belittled as boring and repetitive. According to a 2023 survey of roughly 4,000 active runners conducted by , almost 30 percent of the respondents started running during the pandemic. So what is it that motivates runners to tie their laces several times a week? Beyond the immediate health benefits, the motivation to run often stems from a desire for personal challenge, stress relief and the pursuit of fitness goals. As our chart, based on survey data from , shows, staying in shape and healthy is by far the most-cited reason to run in the post-pandemic world, followed at quite some distance by stress relief and simply enjoyment.
Whether it's training for a race, improving cardiovascular health or simply enjoying the hypnotic rhythm of footfalls on pavement, running has become a cornerstone of many people's daily routines, fostering a global community united by a shared passion for movement, fresh air and athletic achievement.
