If you have lived in Vancouver long enough you will have noticed everyone loves to run. What exactly has happened to make running a trend that hasn’t slowed down since it grew in great popularity just a few years ago. Let’s get into it!

How Did This All Start?

Running has always been a popular form of exercise but not to this extent. This years Sun Run saw a record turnout with over 50,000 participants, making it one of the biggest 10k races in North America. But why?  Post pandemic a lot of people began working from home full time. Being at home all day can really take at toll on someone especially without any exercise to break up the day. Another thing that was lost due to new ways of working, was everyday human interaction. If you wanted to see people it was now up to you in order to get out their and make the effort to see someone instead of having those everyday interactions at work. That can make someone feel pretty lonely. When life slowly began to feel normal again, the resurgence of group physical activity was back and thriving more than ever. Whether it was organized sports like, softball, soccer, basketball, and Run clubs everyone was eager to join something to feel a sense of belonging.

What Makes Running So Popular?

Before Strava, Fitbits, and Apple watches made running trendy, most runners were doing it competitively without having any stats on their phones and watches. Running has now become popular because it is obviously a healthy form of physical activity but also for the relationships and community it builds with fellow runners in run clubs. Apps like Strava, which is an app that allows you to track your runs and share your times and pace with your friends, has added an entirely new social element that has made this trend even bigger. Not only is it just for fitness but now you can meet others on an app who share common interests. I have even heard stories of people who have used Strava almost like a dating app to meet new people and set up running dates.

Not to mention the city we live in is absolutely beautiful, and when the weather is nice there nothing better than going outside to do some physical activity. Having such scenic views and beautiful trails makes becoming a runner much easier. What do you think of this running craze? is it something you would ever get into?