If it feels like everyone you know has started running in the last few years, it’s because they have. Running has seen an explosion in recent times, and the craze is mainly being fueled by Gen Z. A recent Strava report from there says that 68% of 18-29-year-olds now consider themselves runners.
This boom can be seen everywhere in the running community. Applications for marathons and other races have seen a significant uptick, run clubs have sprung up in almost every city, running social media like Strava has taken off, and sales of running clothing and accessories, including fitness watches, have soared. But what is the cause of this boom, and what impact is it having on the running world?
Pandemic Impact
Running’s newfound popularity is likely due to a convergence of factors. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly had an impact. With people being stuck inside and unable to go to gyms or workout classes to get their movement in, many people turned to running as a way to stay fit and get some fresh air. Even as the pandemic waned, many of its effects remained. The hybrid or work-from-home lifestyle that many have grown accustomed to offers more time in people’s day to fit in a run, perhaps even between Zoom meetings.
Social Media’s Role
Social media is also having an impact. Running influencers have found large audiences on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. For example, Russ Cook (@hardestgeezer), who gained notoriety for running the length of Africa, now has 1.2 million followers on Instagram. In addition to people who have built followings around running, many well-known celebrities have shared their marathon training online, like Nev Schulman from the show Catfish or Matt James, who gained fame as a contestant on The Bachelor.
Running content from influencers Russ Cook and Matt James
It’s not just celebrities who are having fun sharing their running journeys on social media, millions of social media users have been posting their progress or pictures of themselves at race finish lines for all their friends to see. This trend explains the rise in popularity of running social media apps like Strava, which currently boasts over 150 million users in more than 185 countries.
Seeing all this running content online is inspiring people who have never run before to give the sport a try. The prevalence of running on social media could explain why the biggest group fueling the running boom is Gen Z. A study by LADbible Group showed that almost 50% of their Gen Z audience runs monthly. It seems that the age group has started using running as a way to positively impact their physical and mental health and to connect to others.
The Rise of Run Clubs
Run clubs have grown in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. Strava’s 2024 Year in Sport Report showed a 59% increase in running club participation globally in 2024. Some see it as a way to find encouragement as they run. There was a 40% average increase in activity length with more than 10 people versus solo workouts. One downside of the recent surge in run clubs is that large group meetups can clog up popular running routes making it harder for solo runners and cyclists to navigate the paths safely.
Others use it as a way to meet new people and build relationships. 58% of survey respondents said they made new friends through fitness groups. And almost 1 in 5 Gen Z athletes went on a date with someone they met through exercise, and they were 4x more likely to want to meet people through working out than at the bar. Whether it’s wanting to find love or hit a PR, run clubs are encouraging people – and particularly Gen Z-ers – to hit the pavement.
Race Applications Soar
The running boom is leading to a meteoric rise in race applications. New York Road Runners, the organization behind the New York City Marathon, received a record 200,000 applications for the 2025 race. This is a 22% increase from the year before. Only 2-3% of applicants are actually chosen to run the race, however, the marathon has still been breaking records in recent years, with over 55,000 finishers in 2024.
Again, Gen Z is making up a significant portion of marathon runners. Last year, 12,000 20-somethings finished the NYC Marathon. That’s 2,000 more Gen-Z finishers than in 2023. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get into popular marathons because of the running boom, however, this doesn’t seem to be deterring runners from trying to reach this impressive goal.
Running Gear Sales Increase
Another factor that experts are speculating has led to the running boom is the market for running gear. Functional and fashionable running gear has become mainstream from brands like Lululemon, Hoka, On, and more, and has enticed people to get out and run, particularly women. Of the 349,000 in the UK, most of them were women. And on Strava, 20% of marathon runners were Gen Z women in 2024 compared to 15% of Gen Z men. According to sports marketing expert Lee Glandorf, “for a long time, Hoka’s internal motto was ‘win with women’.” And that strategy seems to be working, both for brands and for running as a whole.
Brands are also getting in on the group fitness trend, with brands like On creating their own run clubs. Lulu Lemon and other brands have been known to do group workout classes in some cities. Brands are harnessing the power of group fitness trends to further their business and, in doing so, are creating new athletes out of customers as well.
On Run Club in Broward County
The relationship between gear and running is cyclical. Running clothing and accessories may have influenced the running boom, but now that boom is leading to a huge rise in sales for these companies. Hoka’s sales increased 23.6% in the last year alone.
And of course, more runners means more people purchasing fitness wearables. The fitness tracker market was valued at $62.03 billion in 2024, up from $13.69 billion in 2022, and it is only expected to grow. The impact of the running boom is particularly significant for running-centric watches like many of Garmin’s models, including the Forerunner and Fenix. In their 2025 Q2 earnings report, Garmin stated that its revenue is up 20% in the last year, certainly in no small part due to the new wave of running enthusiasts.
A Golden Age For Running
It is a great time to be a runner. Not only is it a great way to stay in shape, get outdoors, and explore the world around you, but it is becoming a great way to connect with others. It is exciting for the industry to see so many people falling in love with the sport and chasing new goals, and we can expect that it will only continue to grow. As more people join run clubs or sign up for races, Garmin and its competitors will keep pushing to create better technology and more exciting partnerships that keep them the top choice of running wearables for millions of runners worldwide.
