Based on key indicators, we are currently experiencing a post-pandemic running boom. We just chatted with Genea Salinas from The Running Event (TRE) about it on this podcast episode. Here are the key growth indicators of the current boom:
- Global Participation: The estimated number of global runners and joggers jumped from 672 million in 2022 to nearly 785 million by 2025.[1]
- Soaring Brand Revenue: Major athletic brands report record-breaking sales, with companies like On Running and Hoka growing sales by roughly 30% to 35%.[2]
- Apparel and Gear Expansion: The running apparel market is projected to expand past $112 billion, driven by younger demographics, premium gear, and everyday streetwear integration. [3]
- Social and Community Shifts: Local running clubs and digital tracking apps have surged, turning the sport into a heavily connected social activity for younger generations. [4]
- The “Sweat Jetting” Movement: Modern travelers increasingly prioritize physical wellness. Travel aggregators like TripAdvisor explicitly classify “sweat jetting”—vacations designed around high-end athletic experiences—as a top travel trend. [5]
The Three Waves of Running Booms 🌊
The current running boom of the 2020s is fundamentally different from the previous two. It has evolved from an individual fitness regimen or a race-day pursuit into an online lifestyle aesthetic and a “third place” for community socialization. Driven heavily by Gen Z and women, it is the first boom entirely built around digital connectivity, streetwear fashion, and “sweat-jetting.”
| Feature | 🏃♂️ First Boom (1970s) | 🏁 Second Boom (Late 1990s–2014) | 📱 Current Boom (2020s–Present) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Driver | Cardiovascular health and longevity. Fending off heart disease. | Mass participation, charity challenges, and personal bucket lists. | Mental health, social connection, and escaping screen isolation. |
| Core Demographic | Overwhelmingly college-educated, white-collar men. | The “Women’s Revolution” in running; booming middle-aged participation. | Gen Z and young adults (18–29); near-perfect 50/50 gender split. |
| The Culture | The solitary “lonely jogger” pounding the pavement alone. | Big-city marathons exploding in size; focus on official chip times. | Informal run clubs, crew culture, fashion-forward gear, and “runfluencers”. |
| Tech & Gear | Basic canvas shoes or early Nike “waffle” trainers; simple stopwatches. | Introduction of early GPS watches and standard synthetic fabrics. | Carbon-plated “super shoes”, Strava as a social network, and TikTok content creation. |
A Closer Look at the Three Eras
Data compiled by Google Gemini.
The First Boom (1970s-1980s): The Jogging Revolution
- The Spark: Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s book Aerobics (1968) and Bill Bowerman’s book Jogging (1966), plus Frank Shorter winning the 1972 Olympic Marathon gold medal sparked a national obsession with aerobic exercise.
- The Vibe: It was highly functional and intensely individualistic. Everyday people—mostly middle-aged men—began “jogging” (a relatively new word at the time) around their neighborhoods to avoid premature heart attacks. Running clubs existed, but the sport was largely a solitary act.
The Second Boom (Late 1990s–2014): The Mass-Participation Explosion
- The Spark: The rise of charitable training programs (like Team In Training) and the rapid growth of massive city marathons like London, New York, and Chicago.
- The Vibe: The focus shifted from just staying alive to achieving something monumental. Completing a marathon became a primary bucket-list goal for the average civilian. This era democratized the sport by drawing in millions of women and casual athletes who cared less about winning and more about crossing the finish line.
The Current Boom (2020s-Presnet): The Social & Aesthetic Wave
- The Spark: The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns forced people outdoors, but the momentum was sustained by remote work flexibility and a desperate need for offline community.
- The Vibe: Running is no longer just a workout; it is a lifestyle subculture.
- The “Third Place”: Weekly social run clubs have replaced bars and dating apps as the primary way young adults network and socialize.
- Digital Proof: A run hasn’t truly happened until it is uploaded to Strava (which functions as the modern runner’s primary social network) or documented via a TikTok “Get Ready With Me” vlog.
- High Fashion: Brands have turned running apparel into streetwear fashion, making the “runner aesthetic” desirable even when not exercising.
