Jose Sanchez
Research expert covering society, economy, & politics for Latin America
Running - statistics & facts
Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the world, with millions of people enjoying its physical and mental health benefits every day. In the United States, the number of runners and joggers generally hovers around 50 million, and it ranked as the most popular sports activity in Japan in 2024. At the highest level, athletes such as Usain Bolt and Kelvin Kiptum broke new ground, with the former setting the fastest 100m sprint time at the Olympics in 2012. Whether casual or competitive, solo or as a group, running will always be a great option to release stress and keep fit.
How big is the running industry?
While perhaps needing less equipment than other activities, leading manufacturers of running gear and footwear are some of the biggest in the game. In 2025, the revenue of the athletic footwear industry was estimated to be around 37 billion U.S. dollars, with the biggest markets for athletic footwear being the United States and China. Meanwhile, wholesale sales of treadmills in the United States have reached new heights, amounting to 1.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Whatever the product, leading brands and manufacturers will hope they can stay on track with continued growth in the coming years.What is the fastest ever marathon time?
Marathons are some of the biggest spectacles in world sport, and the most prestigious are known as the World Marathon Majors. In 2024, the major marathon with the highest number of runners was New York, with over 55,000 people crossing the finishing line. 26.2 miles is a challenging distance, yet some athletes have taken it in their stride: as of 2024, the record for the fastest marathon time was held by Kelvin Kiptum, who completed the 2023 Chicago Marathon in 2h 0m 35s. Kiptum tragically died the following year, and any future athlete looking to beat the Kenyan’s phenomenal record has their work cut out.
