SportsShoes’ third annual UK running report reveals that 17% of the UK are frequent runners, running at least once a month
One in eight runners (12%) now use AI to plan their runs
Runners spend on average £1,297 a year on their hobby
Almost two thirds of runners (65%) have felt unsafe whilst running, with female and Gen Z runners reporting this more
SportsShoes has released its third annual edition of the Running Report, a comprehensive look at the UK running community and industry based on exclusive brand insights and a survey of 5,000 people.
The report aims to highlight how and why people run, the barriers and challenges they face alongside trends and insights such as how much runners spend on the hobby, the impact of technology and popularity of competitive running.
The findings show that running remains a popular and accessible way to stay active, however 81% of people say they don’t run despite a boom in the industry and even those who hit the pavement frequently say they face issues with motivation, technique and safety.
Running, in all its forms, is still very popular
According to the data, 17% of the UK run outdoors at least once a month – whether that’s on the road, trail, track or cross country. Impressively, the data shows that in 2025, over half (54%) of runners took part in a running competition or race, such as a 5K or marathon, and three in five (61%) are planning to do so in 2026.
As the previous two reports found, it’s men that are running more than women (23% of men compared to 15% of women) and the younger generation are lacing up their trainers far more. 30% of millennials and 27% of Gen Z run at least once a year compared to 15% of Gen X and just 5% of baby boomers, making those under 44 years old nearly six times as likely to go for a run compared with those over 61.
For the first time the report has looked at how much runners are spending on the hobby as well as how technology is impacting runners. Considering aspects such as shoes, tech, supplements and training, the average runner spends £1,297 on running, with trainers being the highest annual expense (£187). According to the report findings, 81% of runners use some sort of tech whilst on a run (such as smartwatches, apps and heart rate monitors) and 12% are using AI to plan their runs, coaching or training.
Confidence and lack of enjoyment are holding would-be runners back
A huge 81% of the UK don’t run and the data shows that it’s most likely due to lack of enjoyment (27% of people cite this as their reason), feeling too old (25%) or having a condition or injury that means they can’t (25%). Amongst the other most common reasons are issues around confidence and self-image, with feelings of being too unfit (22%) or overweight (10%), not being good enough (13%) and embarrassment (9%) all ranking highly.
Even runners themselves face challenges and blockers, according to the report, with nearly a quarter of runners (24%) saying that lack of motivation is their biggest hurdle. Issues around technique and endurance are also common, including managing breathing (20%) and getting fatigued quickly (19%). Concerns about their running environment are also holding runners back, imperfect weather (20%), it being too dark (14%), lack of safe or convenient routes (13%) as well as general safety concerns (12%) all appear in the top ten.
Safety concerns have grown year on year
The report dives deeper into the experiences of runners when it comes to safety. Almost two-thirds of runners (65%) have felt unsafe whilst running, a significant 23%-point increase compared to last year’s figures, and 62% of runners have experienced some form of intimidating behaviour while doing so. The most reported experiences are feeling like someone is staring at you (21%), being beeped at from a car (19%) and feeling like someone is following you (18%). The data shows that it’s Gen Z that are most affected – over 4 in 5 (83%) say they have felt unsafe while running and 80% have encountered intimidating behaviour.
As with last year’s findings, it’s women that are reporting feeling unsafe more than men – nearly three quarters (72%) of female runners have felt unsafe compared to 60% of male runners and 67% of women say they have encountered some form of intimidating behaviour while running compared to 58% of men. Female runners are particularly likely to report being stared at, followed, or catcalled. Catcalling has the largest disparity between genders; women are more than twice as likely to experience it when on a run.
To combat these feelings of unease, the report notes that many runners are making adaptations to their running and schedules, such as telling someone before heading out for a run (60%), avoiding wearing revealing clothes (58%) and sticking to well-lit streets (56%).
Dan Cartner, Head of Marketing at SportsShoes, comments: “What stood out most to us this year wasn’t how many people are running, but how many are holding back. Running should be one of the simplest ways to stay active, yet confidence, motivation and safety are stopping too many people from even getting started – or from enjoying it fully once they do.
“We believe better access to the right kit, clearer education, and safer running environments can make a real difference. By publishing the Running Report, our aim is to push the conversation beyond performance and towards how we make running feel welcoming and supportive for everyone.”
To read the full report visit: https://www.sportsshoes.com/advice/running-hub/health-wellbeing/running-report
