Why do you run? A new perspective on running

Aug 21, 2024

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The "Running Era" has arrived: data from the Brazilian Road Running Association (ABCR) shows that interest in the sport has indeed increased. Now, we see running with new eyes - the sport, which is democratic, not only inspires people but also motivates them to have a healthier life in a very simple way.

Running offers a low-cost physical activity amid the cost-of-living crisis. The health benefits include improved cardiovascular health, increased bone density, better muscle endurance, and the "runner's high" (caused by the release of endorphins). Not to mention that it is the only sport that is free — you don’t need a gym, registration, or equipment, just a stretch of road to run on. Among all the reasons why young people are turning to running as an exercise, the main one can be explained by the low entry cost. Furthermore, running is beneficial for both the body and mind - in a busy and often chaotic routine, running is a great escape.

Running has attracted a broader range of people for some time, and statistics show this: between 1986 and 2018, average running times increased. People are taking 12 minutes longer to complete a 10 km course, which suggests that running no longer attracts just super fit athletic types — everyone wants to participate. Money, health, and trends aside, running connects to the collective drive for self-development that has dominated wellness trends over the past decade. No one starts out being able to run even 10 km without some level of training, and generally, it is a continuous goal in the search for self-improvement, and running encapsulates that.

Whether for inspiration from someone, for the adrenaline, to lose weight, or to take some time for yourself - the reasons vary. We spoke to several people and asked the big question. Check it out below:

"My father has always been very into sports and has always worked a lot. Initially, running with him was a way to spend quality time creating a common interest. But running is addictive, every end of training makes me want to do more and do better; today I run for the unique feeling of challenging myself and surpassing my limits with each training/competition."

Jeane Moura, 21, producer, São Paulo - SP

"I started a little over a year ago just with the goal of getting my body in shape. What really helped me start was watching videos from the 'Uvu Club' - I thought it was amazing seeing the guys going out to run in different places and decided to give running a chance and it became a lifestyle. Today I can’t imagine myself not running 2-3 times a week; it’s 'addictive'."

Otavio Astrath, 23, Bochum - Germany

"I enjoy the sense of achievement that running brings me; it’s a form of meditation. Running is also a mental act because, in my experience, the destination is never a physical place, but rather in the mind."

Giovanne, 25, São Paulo - SP

"I started running out of necessity to lose some localized fat and haven’t stopped since. Today I have the body I was looking for and I feel even healthier; thanks to running, everything around me changes... Diet, sleep, and consequently, a more organized and productive life."

Luan Aldana, 21, Osasco - SP

"So, I started running because of a challenge at work, and since the first race what got me hooked was the adrenaline of going further faster and seeking that in every race, but also the well-being and even a connection with God (in the sense of feeling so good running that I feel directly connected to the divine). The quest to overcome challenges."

Pedro Neves, 28, civil engineer, Porto Velho - SP

"2022 was a very long year for me; I didn’t have time for anything, including eating right/taking care of my health. At the beginning of 2023, I found myself in a routine of getting up from bed to work and going back to bed after work. Zero motivation, zero strength, a lot of tiredness, and also many pounds! Then, since I had graduated at the end of 2022, I had time to take care of myself and started going to the gym. I gradually tried to combine cardio with weight training. I have always hated weight training, still hate it, but I keep going because I know it's important. Gradually, 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill turned into 2 minutes of running and 28 minutes of walking. Then 5 minutes running and 25 walking. Until one day I managed to run 30 minutes straight. At the beginning of the year, I got interested in the 'City Runners' group, from Rudgieri, and took a chance to run 5km in a group. Since then I run whenever I can; it has become an activity that I truly ENJOY doing and is not an 'obligation,' like weight training. Group running has greatly motivated me!"

Gabriel Zago, 23, São Paulo - SP

"Running came into my life as a personal challenge. I wanted to prove to myself that I could, and every day I experience this challenge in a different way. I have been weight training since my beautiful 14 years of age, and it has always been for pure aesthetics. Of course, it's great to lift weights and feel super strong, but it has never gone beyond wanting to have a flat stomach and toned legs. And then, at the beginning of 2024, I tried entering the world of running, and it was love - almost - at first sight haha The beginning was frustrating, but seeing and feeling the evolution was what motivated me to keep trying. And absolutely nothing replaces the feeling of being proud of what my own body is capable of doing. When I run, I feel an incredible freedom. As if nothing could stop or catch me, not even my own mind. The fatigue is often first mental, but running has taught me that I can surpass myself, and that my own thoughts do not dominate me."

Isabelle Duarte Alves, 21, psychology student, São Paulo - SP

"My parents have always run. My father especially: he competed in over 15 races a year and ran the São Silvestre every year; in addition, he also did cycling. So I have always had a great motivation. For those same reasons, I was always a child who participated in all kinds of sports possible. At the end of my adolescence, I started weight training, but it was never something I enjoyed; I did it out of obligation. With all this, at the end of last year, I started being bombarded on TikTok by running videos and began to motivate myself to do it. I still have a lot of difficulty regarding endurance, but there is no doubt that it is a sport that I see a lot of potential in my routine."

Joice Baraldi, 20, Santo André - SP

"Running is my way of escaping life, taking time away from responsibilities, and resting my mind. I believe this is the reality for many, not just with running, but with any physical activity or sport; they end up being an escape from reality. You know, running helps me deal with anxiety, something that seems so common these days. Between work, family, and all the demands of life, it sometimes feels like I’m always running, but actually running is where I find my balance."

Yan Silva Torres, creative director and designer, Brasília - DF

"I've always liked to exercise a lot and started running when my skates, which I used constantly, broke, and I needed to think of another way to exercise. At the time, I didn’t pay for a gym, and the skates were great because I could skate in parks. I decided to start running because it followed the same line; I could do it wherever I wanted and wouldn’t have to spend to start. I quickly developed a taste for it, and even with the gym, I continue my running at least 2 times a week. Today I run because it does me a world of good both mentally and physically, not to mention that it's a lot of fun to run with friends too."

Fernanda Baliero, 30, jewelry designer, São Paulo - SP

"I run because I want to discover and face my limits. For me, running is a constant victory over the mind and a way to feel my body. I see myself at 30 years old discovering that I can still start from scratch and seek my best version in everything. When I’m running, there’s no room to get distracted; the focus is literally on the run. Training for running has been an infinite journey of self-discovery about what I know about myself and what I will still discover. And even if on a day I don’t run as much as I planned, there’s always a next time."

Paula Saul, 30, influencer, São Paulo - SP

"I run for the adrenaline, for the wind in my face, for the energy that fills me while I’m in motion, and for the sublime feeling that arises after completing small goals. It’s even funny to think about it because before I started running, I had no idea how good I could feel after starting. I started because I wanted an outdoor activity and that my only challenge would be myself; I would only depend on my willpower to kickstart it, and I like challenges; surpassing myself in this aspect would mean getting to know myself better. But the greatest motivation was facing the absence of an important person in my life and needing to give reason to a new version of myself that emerged while going through that absence. My therapist says that desire only exists in lack. I missed taking care of myself and my mental health through physical activity; one day I simply went for it, and now I don’t want to stop!"

Alexia Pires, 24, São Paulo - SP

"I've been running for a while now; I've always practiced sports, etc... Today I can't forgo my daily morning run. Of course, not every day can I faithfully go to the beachfront here in Vila Velha due to work, kids, etc. I feel that the biggest reason I maintain this fidelity to running, besides the body and aesthetics that I like to keep even for performance on stages and advertisements with brands that most of the time seek a certain figure. Today I feel that the biggest reason is how running sharpens my creative side when composing and creating things - my daily run of 5/6km basically serves to plan my day/week and create things, to the point that I even try to choose a playlist that relates to something that I need to create that day or that week, whether it’s a song I have to compose with a deadline, a bigger project I’m seeking inspiration or reference for, or a script for a music video I’m sketching. This is all that goes through my mind during those kilometers run. The days I don't run definitely make it more difficult to create; over time, this makes a huge difference that becomes almost solid!"

Akilla, 25, rapper, Vitória - ES

"I run because it is good for my body and mind; to escape from everything and everyone for a few minutes. I also run because it feels great to feel the wind on my face; I run to enjoy what I like to eat and drink; I run alone to think about life. I also run with my friends to chat and gossip, to participate in races, win medals, t-shirts, water, and bananas! At first, it hurt! Sometimes, it still hurts. In the beginning, I struggled to breathe; today it’s no longer an issue. The feeling of sweat on my skin is as gratifying as the kilometers I managed to cover."

Fabiola Bogo, 49, lawyer, Cascavel - PR

"For me, many things that involve the community captivate me! In running, the initial pretension was to fill the moments when I wasn’t working or in Jiu Jitsu! I felt the need to practice another sport because I realized I needed to disconnect a little more from the natural hustle and bustle of everyday life. Running, in addition to providing me with those moments of rest, has taught me a lot about overcoming, and not just my own... But of the people around me who also practice the sport, each with their stories. What still touches me the most is the finish lines of a marathon. They are emotional! The day I went to pick up my running kit for a race, I met an elderly gentleman and his wife taking a photo with their respective sign... He looked at me and said, "Isn’t it silly for an old man to be taking a photo?" And he laughed. When I looked closer, that gentleman was preparing to run a marathon (42km) the next day..."

Rafael Lima, 23, Brusque - SC

"I run mainly for my mental health. I have ADHD and I am a very anxious person; running relieves me a lot - it’s a moment in my day when I don’t think, it greatly helps my mental health. When I started taking care of my body, I realized that having a body to move is a privilege, and I started taking care of it both in terms of diet and sports. I see that my quality of life has transformed, and running and weight training have greatly contributed to that change. Additionally, I really like the slim shape, and running helps a lot with aesthetics."

Eloísa Santiago Ferreira, 18, Santana de Parnaíba - SP

"This practice was already necessary in my life, but I always saw it as an obligation and not a pleasure; the moment I realized that running helped me 'clear my mind' and that focusing on something physical not only made me challenge myself but also made decisions the next day easier, I found pleasure in running; so today I run for pleasure but knowing the benefits that directly affect my health and indirectly impact other areas of my life such as professional, family, and personal."

Bárbara Victória Cunha de Carvalho Baptista, 25, Porto Velho - RO

"Running got me out of depression, showed me that I can overcome any adversity, pulled me out of sedentary lifestyle, made me healthier, and is a therapy. Running came into my life during one of the worst moments, and today it benefits me and those around me. It even saved me from death. I have been running for a year and six months; I have already run ultra-marathon distances in a short time; I never imagined I would do that. Today, I am married to running."

Geovane Santos da Silva, 30, Duque de Caxias - RJ

"I run because most of the time it’s a way to relieve stress, improve physical and mental health, or even a means of self-discovery and overcoming personal limits. Additionally, it offers a time for reflection and connection with my own mind."