Fresh air and solitude: what Russians are really looking for in running

      Following the rise in popularity of mass running events in Russia, there is also growing interest in what exactly motivates people to regularly lace up their sneakers. A recent study, covering residents of 37 cities with populations over 500,000, has allowed for a clear portrait of the motivations of the modern runner.

      At the top of the list is a rather predictable story about the body. Almost 35% of respondents reported that they run to improve their physical fitness or lose weight. This reason was most commonly cited in Kirov (51%), Volgograd (48%), and Yaroslavl (47%).

      The second most significant factor turned out to be equally physiological but with a different nuance: 26% of survey participants go for a run to spend more time outdoors. Here, the leaders are Voronezh (38%), Tyumen (37%), and Ulyanovsk (35%).

      Rounding out the top three is practicality. The accessibility of running—no need for special infrastructure or equipment—was chosen by 20% of respondents. And the spending figures confirm this: 28% of runners spend less than 1,000 rubles a year on their hobby or spend nothing at all, while 31% manage with amounts ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles. Meanwhile, the average annual spending across the entire sample was about 7,900 rubles. The highest proportion of those who value accessibility was found in Makhachkala (35%), as well as in Vladivostok and St. Petersburg (30% each).

      A less obvious but persistent motive is social interaction. For 17% of respondents, running has become a way to be part of a community and spend time with like-minded individuals. According to the survey, 22% of Russians usually run with friends (peaking in Tomsk and Astrakhan, both at 33%), 16% with family (with Sevastopol standing out at 24%). Another 5% train with a coach, and 4% in running clubs. However, the most popular format remains individual: 29% prefer to run alone. One more interesting detail is that 9% combine their runs with walking their dog.

      As for health, opinions are divided. 16% strive to maintain their overall well-being through running, while 7% run to relieve stress and distract themselves from daily worries.

      At "SberInsurance," which provided the data, they also point out the flip side of the coin. According to the same surveys, 22% of runners have encountered pain or injuries during their runs at least once, and 8% have experienced overload and a decline in well-being after workouts. From January to April of this year, more than 13,000 "Sports Protection" policies for running were issued, which indirectly confirms that Russians are increasingly approaching their runs not only with enthusiasm but also with a risk calculator.