The Running Renaissance

Running has gradually transformed from a solitary activity into a social, community-driven lifestyle workout. Everybody is learning to take things in their own stride. One step at a time. In urban spaces across India, early mornings are marked not by silence but the rhythmic thud of running shoes. Parks, seafronts, footpaths and even streets come alive as runners jog and sprint through the cool morning breeze. Today, running has evolved into a shared social activity shaped by collective motivation. Across age groups and economic strata, the common mantra is: Keep Calm And Run!

Paridhi Zumani, who took running as a personal goal and started her journey with a professional coach, says, “Running has become a huge part of the urban culture. Especially with running events in place, it has become a space, an identity for many people, including me.”

Running Sole Mates

Running as a sport has seen tremendous ‘strides’ after the Covid pandemic. As per the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) annual report, the 2019 marathon had around 47,000 participants. The number increased to 65,000+ participants in 2025 (a whopping 30% jump). Post-pandemic, running clubs mushroomed in all major cities. The Delhi Runners Group (DRG) is India’s largest running group with over 11,000 members. Other popular running clubs are Mumbai Road Runners, The Social Sprint in Goa, Namma Run Club in Bengaluru, and the Hyderabad Runners Society, which is India’s largest running community. These running clubs foster community spirit and motivation.

Fitness + Friendship

Running has become a community-driven fitness regime. Community runs are no longer just about running; it’s a hotspot for meeting like-minded people and building one’s network. “Run clubs are a community for people who love the adrenaline you feel after a run. The activities after a run and the sense of belonging they feel after a run,” says Kamya, who has now been enjoying the sport for over four years.

More often than not, the ‘finish line’ of the weekend run is a neighbourhood Irani café in Hyderabad, where people bond over chai-bun maska or piping hot filter kapi and maddur wadas in Bengaluru. Parvez Shaikh, a former state-level athlete and marathon running coach, says, “Most runners are self-disciplined when it comes to food and exercise. These running clubs operate as inclusive social hubs. People share information about their running shoes, weekly goals, running routine, etc.”

The Virtual Track

Social media as a tool has become a key driving force in popularising the ‘running culture’. Runners share their individual progress and milestones online with other runners in the virtual community. They help and motivate each other and share tips on prevention, nutrition and running techniques. Aavani Singh, owner of Jaago Powai, says, “People started running because the running trend online intrigued them. Once they started, it became a space of exploration and identity for them.”

The Running Economy

With the running clubs and stride studios flourishing across India, sports and leisure brands have been quick to build a viable commercial ecosystem around them.

From running gears, running shoes, tracking technology, energy gels for mid-run endurance, to post-run recovery accessories, you have everything. “But you really don’t need all these fancy gears. You just need proper training, a decent pair of running shoes, endurance, and the willpower to run,” says Melvin.

Apart from the sense of community, data tracking technology and apps like Strava have amplified the shift further. “I love the data and stats it shows about me,” says Kamya. The real-time data helps runners improve training efficiency and attain higher goals. Melvin D’Souza, a marathon runner and physiotherapist, says, “Data helps runners to track their progress and work on their weaknesses. The community spirit brings about a positive change in most runners.”

With the rise in India’s running culture, over 1,500 annual running events were organised in 2025 across the country. Experts suggest the revenue generation from these events could be anywhere between $400 million and $500 million. No wonder big sports brands entered the fray. So, you have the Fitso Running Club, Nike Run Club, Adidas Runners, Reebok Running Squad and ASICS Running Club (ARC) to name a few. Leading brands like TCS, Tata and the Adani Group have sponsored marathons for better visibility and consumer touchpoints.

In the coming years, experts opine that running as a sport will grow even further. Whether you are running solo or in a group, it’s the fastest way to get in shape and take things in life at your own pace!