The United States and the United Kingdom have many differences and similarities in terms of culture, music, politics and even food – well, maybe not similarities in food so much ­– and now a new research report finds both those differences and those similarities extend to the sport of running.

A recently released SportsShoes’ 2026 Running Report, which takes a deep dive into the popularity of running and retail opportunities in the UK through a survey of 5000 adults, found that while only 17 percent of residents run outdoors at least once a month, another six percent would like to start running this year.

The Top 10 reasons why people surveyed run is to maintain/improve fitness; to challenge themselves; to lose weight; maintain/improve mental health; to look better; to be in the outdoors; to have a hobby; lower cost alternative to gym memberships and team sports; to be fitter or faster than someone they know; and to explore new places.

Another positive finding: Among those who run, 18 percent would like to run more this year, up from 13 percent in the 2025 survey, and significantly up from only eight percent in the inaugural 2024 survey. Among those most enthusiastic about the sport: Gen Z , with 43 percent wanting to start running or run more frequently in the next 12 months.

Among other findings:

  • For both men and women, their top running priority is maintaining or improving fitness. 
  • Other motivations vary by gender. For men, the second-largest motivation is to challenge themselves, while for women it is to lose weight. 
  • Only nine percent of runners are motivated to run to achieve a goal such as a marathon, even though over half did take part in a competitive event of some kind in 2025.
  • For Gen Z, the top motivator is to look better, while for all other generations, it is to maintain or improve fitness.
  • The primary benefits from running include improved mental health/mood; improved sleep; more energy; less stress; feeling stronger; and improved fitness.
  • “One thing is clear: for many runners, the value of running itself extends far beyond physical fitness alone,” SportsShoes continues. “Putting one foot in front of the other, whether on the treadmill, trail or pavement, supports both their mental and physical well-being.”
  • Interestingly, only one in 10 of those surveyed cited “making friends” as a benefit, “Considering the fact that year-on-year only around 1 in 10 say they run in a group, and that this year a huge 42 percent said they opt for solo runs, the data reinforces the idea that, despite group running being up year-on-year, running tends to still be a very individual experience.”
  • Reasons for not running more or at all also vary, ranging from “I don’t enjoy it” to “I think I am too unfit,” to “I feel embarrassed when other people see me running.” For men, the most common reason is feeling too old, while women are more likely to cite a lack of enjoyment. 
  • Of interest to run retailers, runners living in the U.K. spend $1710 a year on the sport. And, like in the U.S., shoes are the largest single expense. 
  • The survey still found that over half of runners purchased running shoes based on what they think is their running style, while over one-third of runners said they are not confident they are wearing the right type of shoes for their running style.
  • The one downside is that many runners are holding on to their running shoes longer than recommended. More than half of runners do not replace their shoes every 300-400 miles. 
  • And like in the U.S., almost half of runners wear their running shoes for everyday activities, such as errands.