Running News Daily

We asked runners what motivates them to get out and hit the road—their answers may inspire you. 

Why do you run? If you’ve never thought about it before, ask yourself now. 

Being intentional about the reason why you run is a crucial part of maintaining motivation, especially if you’re just starting your running journey. Most of us know the research-backed benefits of running, but what is going to be that thing that gets you out the door when you don’t even feel like moving? 

While your reason should be unique and personal to you, here’s some inspiration from our dedicated Runner’s World+ members and social audiences on Instagram and Facebook to keep in mind when considering what your why is. 

For Myself 

“Running is my ‘me time.’ It is time for me to simply run, listen to music, and enjoy the outdoors. It allows me to begin each day with a sense of accomplishment, and along the way I plan my to-do list, calculate finances, and solve problems. I do my best thinking when I am running. It also keeps me focused on my health and I always have at least one half marathon or marathon to train for.”—Jill Pompi (RW+ member)

“Because it’s the only thing in my life that’s just mine.”—April Thomson

“As a mom of three littles, running is my ‘me time.’ Time to fill my own cup; time to work toward a personal goal; time to show my kids that I enjoy movement simply because it helps me be happy, healthy, and strong!”—Marlena Shaw (RW+ member)

“It’s my time—no one asking me for anything. It’s me vs. me. Love the feeling after a long run.”—Spullins JB

“Running is just for me, and I run so I can be my best self. I don’t mean physically. Sure, I love how strong my legs feel when I cross a finish line or that good burn after a long run. But my best self is found when I hit the pavement and process whatever is going on in my life. I have two young kids (ages 3 and 14 months), and I am constantly being poked, pulled, and called. When I lace up my running shoes, the stress melts away and I am a better mother because of it.”—Melissa Hofstrand (RW+ member)

“To escape from reality for a brief moment and enjoy my ME time.”—Yuri Aguilar

“Sometimes to relax, regroup, and shake out anything bothering me… but usually to start my day off just right!”—Erin Carey Ryan

For My Health

“My health, specifically my heart.”—Kati Johnson (RW+ member)

“To maintain my health and challenge myself to reach new running goals.”—Gwen Jacobson (RW+ member)

“To fight bad genetics and hear my grandkids say, ‘Whoa, Grandma!’”—Michele (RW+ member)

“My asthma kept me from doing exercise for so many years. I’m running because I can finally do something I never thought possible.”—Patricia McHugh (RW+ member)

“To save my life. I am type 2 diabetic by way of having PCOS. By the time I was diagnosed with PCOS, I had developed full-blown diabetes. I run now to train for a half marathon I crazily signed up for and to get in shape for my first century ride next year. I will run and bike towards a cure.”—Stephanie Gold (RW+ member)

“I exercise and stay active so that I can be mobile and independent as long as possible as I get older. I choose running because it gives me such a great sense of accomplishment.”—Lisa Bartlett

“I run because last year I got Pulmonary embolisms in my lungs and now I want to improve my health and my lungs and spread awareness!”—Jennifer Cole

“Manage stress and support in quitting smoking.”—Aude Carlson (RW+ member)

“Keeps my AFib under control.”—Todd W. Peterson 

“I want to be able to walk well into my old age. I have family members who have significantly lost mobility due to their unwillingness to exercise.”—Amy Watkins (RW+ member)

“To control my type 2 diabetes! It works!”—Mike Shamus

For Someone Else

“I started running after witnessing my mom complete a marathon and was overcome with emotion when she finished. I began running the very next year and completed a half marathon with my mom and have been running ever since. Running does so many things for me. It’s my escape, it keeps me centered, helps me to focus, a confidence builder but more importantly allows me to follow in the footsteps of my mom and continue to honor her. I wear a shirt with a picture of her running our last race together so that she’s running with me. I love to run!”—Chantal (RW+ member)

“My daughter.”—Jesse Sturnfield (RW+ member)

“To keep my sanity. Also, I wanna show my kids if they work hard, don’t give up, and find a love for something, they can accomplish anything in life. When they’re tired, stressed, unhappy, just to channel in and get the work done. They’ve been there when I run my marathons and have shown support and encouragement, and I’ll do the same for them. My daughter joined cross country this year and wants to join again next year. My son is wanting to join as well.”—Angela Yawea 

“Because my dad ran. I lost him six years ago and clearing his flat I found his medal from Reading Half Marathon in 1988. Holding it inspired me to change. I have my dad’s and my medal from the same race together.”—Stumpy Taylor

For My Mental Health

“To keep my sanity!”—Libby Meyer (RW+ member) 

“It’s my therapy.”—Allie Haight

“Running is my ultimate stressbuster! As a middle-aged tech leader, husband, and father to two preteens, running generates all the right endorphins and energy to ensure I’m on top of my game—all of my games!”—Annu Kristipati (RW+ member) 

“Cheaper than therapy.”—Louie J. Frucci

“Running helps me dealing with my anxiety, my mental health, but especially this past year with grief. I lost my dad last year and couldn’t work out for two months. I was able to go back to working out thanks to running. Then I signed up for my first marathon. That was on the one-year anniversary of my dad’s passing. Running is my way to feel my dad close and be able to connect with him.”—Fadela (RW+ member)

“Because it has the power to mute my anxiety and self-doubt.”—Nicholas Kuiper

“Running makes me happy. It reduces my stress and anxiety and improves my mental health. It keeps my cardiovascular system strong.”—Suzanne Reisman (RW+ member)

“To stay calm in the chaos.”—Christine Starkweather

To Feel Powerful & Free

“Because it makes me feel powerful and healthy (sometimes only once it’s over).”—Laura (RW+ member)

“To be a real-life video game character.”—Erin Fan (RW+ member)

“Feels like I’m flying. Powerful and free.”—Tenaya Hergert

“I run because I want to be healthier in my 50s than I was in my 30s! And, also, running makes me feel powerful.”—Laura (RW+ member)

“Running gives me a voice.”—Becky Westcott Capazz

“It makes me feel strong and confident, that I can handle everything else in my day.”—Rebecca Eisenbacher (RW+ member) 

“To feel free, manage anxiety, accomplish increasing mileage.”—Barbara Saunders (RW+ member) 

“Total freedom. Slap your shoes on and be free.”—coach_shasonta

For Connection 

“Running makes me feel strong and is my way of meditating. I also love that I’ve been able to connect with people and make so many new friends through running. I enjoy seeing my fitness progression.”—Gisele Carig (RW+ member)

“For my mental health and human connection with friends.”—lizpowers76

“Refreshes the spirit. BTW: I can no longer run; I train and enter races as a walker. Have made many new friends who accept me for just being there.”—Lewis Silverman

“I have many reasons. I connect with my running partners on some runs. I connect with God on others. I find a sense of accomplishment. I like to test what my body can tolerate.”—Tim Thomas (RW+ member)

“When I’m alone, I run to quiet my mind. It is meditative and rejuvenating. I also run to be social. The running community is the best.”—Andy Romanelli (RW+ member)

“Makes 77 feel young and hanging around with younger runners is a whole lot of fun. Not to mention I’ve been loving going for a run for more than 46 years.”—Barbara Ann Morrissey

Because I Love Racing

“I want to improve my 5K time.”—Courtney Danko-Searcy (RW+ member) 

“The feeling I have on race day, within the first mile, that all the training is paying off.”—Mark Hopkins (RW+ member)

“My husband and I started running about six years when my son, who was about 12 at the time, had run over 25 5Ks. It took about a year until we were ready for our first 5K. We love running and training together. Running helps me at the end of a long teaching day, and it just feels so good after! We have since ran many 5Ks, some 10Ks, and two half marathons!”—Suzy Wintjen (RW+ member)

“It’s at the end of Ironman.”—Cheryl Turpin

“First, I began to improve my health, then I got hooked. Fifteen years later I am chasing my Six Star Medal.”—Jorge Mitey (RW+ member)

“It’s something I’ve always done since fifth grade. I got into racing 25 years ago. I love the challenge running gives me to constantly improve and get back out there whenever I’ve been injured or ill; and next month will one year since starting my first running streak! Most of all, I run because I love how it makes me feel. It has gotten me through the worst times in my life. Whenever I’m having a bad day, whether I’ve already gone running or not, I go running. It always calms me and makes feel better.”—Elle Escochea Grunert

So That I Can Indulge

“Because I love carbo loading.” —Bud Bjanuar

“I run so I can eat whatever I want and still be in shape!”—Christi Webb (RW+ member) 

“I run to eat poutine.”—Robin Bosse

“So I can drink beer!”—Kathy Davis Ward

“Because I am a chocoholic.”—Chantal Englebert

“Faster than walking and I like tacos.”—Shelly Pedergnana

“I run to eat crispy pata.”—Arrin Villareal

To Get Outside

“Fitness and peace of mind. Also, a great way to explore neighborhoods and the outdoors.”—Sue Padden

“The feel of being outside with my dog. Watching him enjoy the run lets me enjoy the run.”—Stan (RW+ member) 

“It’s my time with nature. It’s for me to clear my head and think.”—Assa Burton

“Running is my sanctuary. It’s where I can clear my mind, letting go of stress and finding clarity with each step. The rhythm of my feet hitting the ground is a meditative escape, helping me to focus and recharge. Physically, running keeps me in peak condition, building strength and endurance while boosting my overall health. But what I love most is being outside, feeling the fresh air, and soaking in the beauty of nature. Whether it’s a sunlit trail or a quiet street at dawn, running connects me to the world around me in a way nothing else can.”—Adam Scolatti (RW+ member) 

Because I Can

“This is my ‘stock’ answer. I do because I can and I can because I do.”—Chip Kidd

“Because I’m not ready to give up yet.”—Martha Rhine (RW+ member) 

“Because I was completely disabled, not able to move, stand, walk, talk, or do anything... stuck in the hospital for 13 weeks. When I was discharged and started to walk a little, I needed something to help me get some kind of life back. Running was it.”—Rob Snavely

“Because I’m 70, and not dead yet.”—Michele Glover

“Because I can. One day I won’t be able to and it’s not today.”—Mike Bravo

“Because one day I’ll be old and everything will hurt, and it’s the one thing in my life that lately makes me happy. When you’re running you forget everything. If you’re still thinking of debt, sadness, breakups, you’re not trying hard enough. Every day you have to push yourself.”—Miryam Hernandez

“Because I still can… at 73.”—Joanne Gile Michaelsen 

“Forty-five years, why stop now? Never regret going for a run.”—Leslie Kitching 

“Sixty-one years old. Been running since I was 15. Because a day without running is like a day without brushing your teeth.”—Sharon Graeber Hall 

To Prove it to Myself or Someone Else

“To prove I can. And prove my mind is more powerful than my body.”—Colton James

“Because I still can, and everyone tells me I can’t!”—Lloyd K Leverett

“To tell people I did.”—Chris S. Charlett

“I’m 55. Basketball days are over. The need to compete is still there, and even if that means competing with myself, running allows me to do that.”—Shawn Davis

Because I Hate How I Feel When I Don’t 

“I don’t know, but recently I injured my knee, and I was sad I couldn’t run. Thank god, it healed itself. I think running gives me inner peace.”—Jose Murga

“Because I hate the way my brain itches when I don’t.”—Joe Baron

“Because it’s better than smacking my family upside the head from being over stimulated. [It] helps my mental health.”—heatherbrubaker19

“I don’t like it until it’s over.”—Laurie Stinson Fuller

“So that I am tolerable to my husband!”—Dimitra Zakas

“It’s either that or sending my work computer flying out the window like a frisbee on the regular.”—Ayla Amon 

“It feels so good when I stop.”—Sarah Wiley 

Jakob Ingebrigtsen brought his remarkable 2026 season to a fitting close on home soil, winning the men’s street 1500m at the inaugural Runfest Norway in Sandnes on Friday.

Competing in front of an enthusiastic hometown crowd, the Olympic and world champion took control of the race from the early stages and maintained his authority through the finish, stopping the clock at 3:40.7.

Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen followed in second in 3:43.3, while Sigurd Tveit completed the podium in 3:47.8.

The unusual street race added another dimension to the occasion, with 273 runners taking part on the same road and sharing the course with one of Norway’s most accomplished distance runners. For the recreational participants, it offered a rare opportunity to compete alongside Ingebrigtsen in an event that brought elite athletics and mass participation together.

The victory also provided a fitting final chapter to a season that began with significant uncertainty for Ingebrigtsen. After undergoing major Achilles surgery in February, the Norwegian was forced to miss a substantial portion of the summer campaign as he worked his way back to full fitness.

His return, however, quickly developed into another championship-winning chapter. In Birmingham, Ingebrigtsen captured European 5,000m gold before adding another major title at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, where he won the 5,000m.

Those performances transformed what could have been a disrupted season into another year defined by championship success and a determined return to the highest level.

Now, with the Sandnes victory added to his 2026 record, Ingebrigtsen closes the year exactly where it began in spirit — overcoming adversity, rebuilding his form and once again competing at the front.

From Achilles surgery in February to major championship victories and finally a 1500m win before his hometown crowd, the Norwegian has given his 2026 season a memorable final scene.

Olympic 100m hurdles champion Masai Russell has announced her engagement to longtime partner Robert “Robbie” Springfield, adding a major personal milestone to the remarkable journey of one of America’s leading track and field stars.

Russell shared the news with her followers, revealing that Springfield had proposed and that she had accepted. Reflecting on their relationship, the Olympic champion described him as her best friend and expressed her excitement about spending the rest of her life with him.

The couple’s relationship dates back to their college years at the University of Kentucky, where both were student-athletes and competed in track and field. Russell established herself as a standout hurdler, while Springfield competed in the long jump, giving them a shared understanding of the demands, sacrifices and pressures that come with pursuing success in athletics.

Springfield has since transitioned from competition into coaching. A former collegiate long jumper, he is now part of the coaching staff at Morehead State University, where he works with the programme’s sprinters and jumpers.

Their relationship has developed alongside Russell’s rise to the top of the sport. The defining moment of her career came at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she captured gold in the women’s 100m hurdles, securing her place among the sport’s Olympic champions.

Away from competition, Springfield has remained a familiar part of Russell’s journey, sharing in the demanding periods of training and competition that accompanied her pursuit of Olympic success. Their connection has consequently grown from a college athletics relationship into a long-term partnership.

The engagement now marks another significant chapter for Russell, this time away from the track. After reaching the pinnacle of her sporting career in Paris, the 100m hurdles champion is beginning a new phase of her personal life alongside a partner who has been part of her journey since their university days.

From competing on the same collegiate stage to building a future together, Russell and Springfield’s story has evolved alongside two careers shaped by track and field. The Olympic champion will now balance this new personal chapter with her continuing ambitions in athletics

The women’s race at the 2026 TCS Amsterdam Marathon is shaping up to be one of the most competitive editions in recent years, with a deep international field set to take on the fast Dutch course on Sunday, October 18.

At the centre of the contest will be four Ethiopian athletes who have already broken the 2:20 barrier, creating the prospect of a fascinating battle for victory and a possible assault on the course record of 2:16:52.

Defending champion Aynalem Desta will return to Amsterdam looking to retain her title after producing the biggest performance of her career at last year’s 50th edition. Desta won in a personal best of 2:17:37, establishing herself among the leading marathoners in the field and setting the benchmark for this year’s contenders.

Standing in her way will be fellow Ethiopian Meseret Belete Tola, a former Amsterdam champion who knows exactly what it takes to succeed on the course. Belete Tola captured the 2023 edition in 2:18:21, and her return adds another layer of experience and proven quality to an already formidable lineup.

The field also includes Mestawut Fikir Truneh, who arrives with an impressive marathon pedigree. Truneh finished runner-up at the 2024 Berlin Marathon in 2:18:48, demonstrating her ability to compete at the highest level on one of the world's major marathon stages.

Completing the quartet of sub-2:20 Ethiopians is Buze Diriba, whose personal best of 2:19:34 places her firmly among the leading contenders. With four athletes possessing credentials below 2:20, the race is likely to develop into a tightly contested battle from the opening kilometres.

The depth extends well beyond the leading quartet. Desi Jisa Mokonin, representing Bahrain, Yeshi Kalayu Chekole of Ethiopia and Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet of Eritrea have all established themselves as serious marathon competitors with performances approaching the 2:20 mark.

Another major name to watch is Abeba Aregawi, the former 1500m world champion representing Sweden. Aregawi has successfully transferred her talents to the marathon and made headlines earlier this year by setting a Swedish national record of 2:23:12 on her debut. Her presence adds another intriguing dimension to an already high-quality field.

Amsterdam’s marathon course has consistently provided an opportunity for elite athletes to produce fast times, and this year’s women’s lineup has the depth to turn the race into a genuine test of both championship racing and outright speed.

With four athletes already inside 2:20, two former Amsterdam champions returning to the start line and several other accomplished marathoners ready to challenge them, the battle is expected to remain open deep into the race.

The ultimate target will be the Amsterdam women’s course record of 2:16:52. Whether the leading contenders can threaten that mark remains to be seen, but the quality assembled for October 18 ensures that the record will be firmly in the spotlight when the race reaches its spectacular finish inside the Olympic Stadium.

The 2026 Valencia Half Marathon is shaping up to be a thrilling contest of speed, endurance and tactical brilliance, with some of the world’s finest road runners set to converge in Spain on October 25.

Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo and Alex Matata will be among the leading contenders, facing a formidable Ethiopian challenge spearheaded by Jemal Yimer and Tadese Worku. The field also features Rodrigue Kwizera, who boasts the fastest personal best among the leading entrants at 58:16.

Ebenyo arrives with a personal best of 59:04, placing him firmly among the athletes capable of sustaining a demanding pace over the 21.1-kilometre distance. Matata, who owns a 59:11 best, adds further Kenyan strength, while Andrea Kiptoo brings another sub-60-minute credential to the race.

Yimer has already established himself as one of the fastest athletes in the field with a 58:33 personal best, while Worku has clocked 58:35. Kenya’s Owen Korir, with a best of 58:58, further underlines the remarkable depth of the men's lineup.

Valencia Half Marathon 2026 Entries

1. Rodrigue Kwizera (Spain) — 58:16

2. Jemal Yimer (Ethiopia) — 58:33

3. Tadese Worku (Ethiopia) — 58:35

4. Owen Korir (Kenya) — 58:58

5. Daniel Ebenyo (Kenya) — 59:04

6. Alex Matata (Kenya) — 59:11

7. Andrea Kiptoo (Kenya) — 59:11

8. Thierry Ndikumwenayo (Spain) — 59:42

9. Said Mechaal (Spain) — 1:00:24

10. Adel Mechaal (Spain) — 1:02:30

Kwizera, who finished second in Valencia last year, leads the field on paper and will be seeking another standout performance on the famously fast Valencia course. With several athletes carrying sub-60-minute credentials, the race has the ingredients for an aggressive battle from the opening kilometres.

Beyond the headline names, the men’s field is deep and highly competitive, bringing together a strong collection of experienced international athletes with proven ability over the half-marathon distance. With so much quality packed into the lineup, the race promises an intriguing battle in which tactics, endurance, positioning and finishing speed could all play a crucial role in determining the eventual champion.

Yet personal bests will count for little once the gun goes off. The title could ultimately be decided by patience, positioning and the ability to respond when the pace begins to rise in the closing stages. Every surge, every tactical move and every second saved could prove decisive on the road to the finish.

With Kenya, Ethiopia and Spain represented by athletes of exceptional quality, Valencia promises a high-octane men's showdown in which the leaders are likely to be separated by only a handful of seconds. The final kilometres could provide the defining moments of a race packed with speed, ambition and anticipation.

On October 25, the question will be simple: who has the strength to command the streets of Valencia and claim the coveted half-marathon crown?

 

April 19, 1982. The Boston Marathon unfolded under unusually warm, sunny conditions, and by the closing stages, the race had become a private battle between two very different American runners: Alberto Salazar, already one of the biggest names in distance running, and Dick Beardsley, the Minnesota runner who had emerged as a serious marathon contender.

For roughly nine miles, from the Newton Hills toward the finish, Beardsley did much of the leading, with Salazar tucked close behind. Neither man could shake the other. They ran deep into Boston locked together, trading surges and refusing to surrender an inch as the crowds along the course grew louder.

Salazar finally made his decisive move with less than a mile remaining. He opened a small gap, but Beardsley refused to disappear. The Minnesota runner chased him through the final streets, closing again as they approached the finish.

Then came the final sprint.

Salazar held his form and reached the finish first in 2:08:52, with Beardsley only two seconds behind in 2:08:54. It was an extraordinary result: both men broke 2:09 in the same Boston Marathon, and both shattered the previous course record.

The race became known as the “Duel in the Sun,” and it remains one of the most celebrated head-to-head battles in Boston Marathon history. Beardsley had not won, but his performance established him as one of America's elite marathoners.

For Salazar, however, victory came at an enormous physical cost. Immediately after crossing the finish line, he collapsed and required emergency treatment, including several litres of intravenous saline. The combination of heat, dehydration and an all-out effort had pushed his body to the limit.

Salazar's marathon career would never again produce quite the same kind of performance. His celebrated 1981 New York City Marathon victory had produced what was initially considered a world record, although the course was later found to be short. His Boston triumph therefore became one of the defining victories of his career.

Beardsley's story would take an even more difficult turn. Injuries disrupted his career, and after returning to the highest level, he suffered a devastating farm accident in 1989. Further accidents, surgeries and severe physical pain followed, eventually leading to a long battle with painkiller addiction.

He eventually overcame that struggle and transformed the darkest chapters of his life into a story of recovery, resilience and redemption.

That is what makes the 1982 Boston Marathon more than a two-second victory.

For one extraordinary afternoon, Salazar and Beardsley produced a marathon duel in which neither man was willing to give way. One crossed the finish line first. The other finished only two seconds behind him.

Two seconds separated them at Boston. Decades later, their legendary duel remains one of the greatest chapters in marathon history.