Running just crossed a milestone it had not touched in years: more than 50 million Americans ran or jogged in 2024, the first time participation broke 50 million since 2020 (SFIA). The sport is bigger, the field is more even between men and women, and the shoes on people's feet have quietly become a multi-billion-dollar arms race. Here are 51 verified running statistics for 2026, with a source on every number.
Key running statistics (the short version)
- More than 50 million Americans ran or jogged in 2024, the first time over 50 million since 2020 (SFIA).
- Global road-running finishers jumped 17.1% in 2024 across 600 races in 44 countries (Road Race Management).
- The half marathon was the fastest-growing road distance in 2024, with finishers up 20.9% (Road Race Management).
- US marathon finishers reached 432,562 in 2024, up 5.0% versus pre-pandemic 2019 (RunRepeat).
- Women now make up roughly 50.2% of all runners, edging past men across 107.9 million analyzed race results (RunRepeat / Sneakers4Good).
- The global running-shoes market is projected at about $23.5 billion in 2026 (Market.us).
- HOKA hit $2.23 billion in net sales in fiscal 2025, up 23.6% in a single year (Deckers Brands).
- On Holding cleared CHF 3 billion in net sales in fiscal 2025, up 30.0% (On Holding).
- Carbon-plated "super shoes" deliver a measured running-economy gain of about 3% to 5% (DataInsightsMarket).
- Running shoes should be replaced every 300 to 500 miles, and the average runner spends just under $1,000 a year on the sport (REI; Running Shoes Guru).
US running participation
More than 50 million Americans ran or jogged in 2024. That broke the 50 million mark for the first time since 2020, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. (SFIA)
US running and jogging participation grew roughly 5.7% year over year in 2024. The post-pandemic dip is over, and the trend line is pointing up again. (Statista)
247.1 million Americans were active in at least one sport or fitness activity in 2024. Running and jogging were among the categories driving that decade-long climb. (SFIA)
The average runner is about 44 years old. Running skews older than many sports, and the 45-and-up group is one of its fastest-growing segments. (Run&Grow)
US runners break down as 56.4% White, 14.6% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, and 9.2% Black or African American. (Zippia)
Running is one of the few sports where the participant base keeps widening rather than narrowing, which is part of why brands keep pouring money into it.
Race participation and finishers
Global road-running finishers rose 17.1% in 2024. A survey of 600 well-established races across 44 countries counted 4,668,261 finishers at distances from 5K to 86K. (Road Race Management)
Half-marathon finishers climbed 20.9% in 2024, the fastest growth of any road distance. The survey covered 190 half marathons with 1,513,531 finishers. (Road Race Management)
Marathon finishers grew 14.6% in 2024 across 135 races and 1,144,630 finishers. (Road Race Management)
5K finishers grew 13.7% in 2024, with 236,181 athletes across 48 races. (Road Race Management)
US per-race participation grew 8.2% in 2024. (RunSignup via Running USA)
Participation rose again across all major distances in 2025, including the 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. (Running USA)
The five largest world marathons drew 269,817 runners in 2024. New York, Paris, Berlin, London, and Chicago together made up that total. (Statista)
The 2024 New York City Marathon had over 55,000 finishers, the largest single marathon field in the world. (Statista)
The double-digit growth shows up at every distance, which tells you the boom is broad rather than a one-event spike.
US marathon trends
US marathon finishers reached 432,562 in 2024, up 5.0% over pre-pandemic 2019. The State of US Marathons report covered 6,352 races and about 97% of all US marathon results. (RunRepeat)
Even so, 2024 sat 12.8% below the all-time peak of 496,178 finishers in 2014. The marathon recovered, but it has not yet beaten its high-water mark. (RunRepeat)
The average US marathon finish time in 2024 was 4 hours 34 minutes, with men averaging 4:24 and women 4:51. (RunRepeat)
Runners are getting slightly faster: men finished 2.2% quicker and women 1.1% quicker in 2024 than in 2019. (RunRepeat)
Younger runners are coming back to the marathon: the under-25 share grew from 9.2% in 2016 to 12.1% in 2024. (RunRepeat)
Male US marathon finishers grew 8.8% from 2019 to 2024, while female finishers grew just 1.0%. Men went from 234,346 to 255,033; women from 173,207 to 174,875. (RunRepeat)
Women in running
Women now make up about 50.2% of all runners. An analysis of 107.9 million race results found women narrowly ahead of men in overall participation. (Sneakers4Good)
Women were 39.6% of all race entries in 2024, just below the 41.3% record set during the 2020 running boom. (Running Insight)
In sub-ultra trail races, female participation has reached 46.8% versus 53.2% for men, close to parity. (Running Insight)
Women's trail-running participation grew from 13% in 1997 to 46% in 2022. (Running Insight)
For context, female race participation was only around 20% back in the 1980s. The shift over four decades is one of the biggest stories in the sport. (Sneakers4Good)
One nuance worth noting: at the marathon distance specifically, the female share has slipped from its 2017 peak, which is why women-focused race programming has become a priority for organizers.
Running shoe market size
The global running-shoes market is projected at about $23.5 billion in 2026. (Market.us)
The running-shoes segment was worth roughly $53 billion in 2024 on broader definitions, with about 5.4% projected annual growth through 2034. (Global Market Insights)
The wider athletic-footwear market was $146.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $205.8 billion by 2030, a 5.0% CAGR. (Grand View Research)
The US running-footwear market is forecast to grow at about 5.75% per year from 2025 to 2030. (Statista)
Some forecasts put the global running-shoe CAGR closer to 3.7% through 2033, a reminder that the size estimates vary with how each report draws the category line. (Grand View Research)
Challenger brands and brand share
HOKA net sales rose 23.6% to $2.233 billion in fiscal 2025, up from $1.807 billion the year before. (Deckers Brands)
Parent company Deckers Brands grew total net sales 16.3% to $4.986 billion in fiscal 2025, with HOKA now one of its two biggest brands. (Deckers Brands)
On Holding cleared CHF 3 billion in net sales for the first time in fiscal 2025, growing 30.0% to CHF 3,014.0 million. (On Holding)
On Holding's net sales were CHF 2,318.3 million in fiscal 2024, so the brand added nearly CHF 700 million in a single year. (On Holding)
HOKA gained two points of US road-running market share over the 12 months ending late September 2025, per Circana retail data. (WWD / Circana)
Brooks crossed $1 billion in global revenue for the first time before the fourth quarter of 2024, then finished the year up 9% at a record. (Brooks Running)
Brooks has held the US No. 1 adult performance running-footwear share for 11 straight quarters, according to Circana. (Brooks Running)
Brooks has delivered a 13% revenue CAGR across eight consecutive growth years. (Brooks Running)
The headline of the decade is the challengers. HOKA and On both built billion-dollar-plus businesses largely on running, and the old guard is having to defend share it once took for granted.
Super shoes and technology
Carbon-plated "super shoes" improve running economy by about 3% to 5%. That efficiency gain is the reason nearly every elite road record has fallen in recent years. (DataInsightsMarket)
The global carbon-plate running-shoes market was about $6.8 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach roughly $16.2 billion by 2034, a 10.1% CAGR. (Dataintelo)
North America holds about 40% of the carbon-plate shoe market, ahead of Europe at 30% and Asia-Pacific at 20%. (Dataintelo)
Around 40% of new running-shoe launches in 2024 included dual-layer carbon plates. The technology that started on elite feet is now built into everyday trainers. (Accio)
Shoe replacement, spending, and habits
Running shoes should be replaced every 300 to 500 miles, or roughly 500 to 800 km. Past that range the midsole loses its ability to absorb shock. (REI)
Replacement cadence depends on volume: casual runners under 10 miles a week get 8 to 12 months per pair, 5K and 10K trainees get 5 to 8 months, and 40-plus-mile-a-week marathoners replace shoes every 2 to 3 months. (Runners Need)
The average runner spends just under $1,000 a year on the sport across shoes, races, and gear. (Running Shoes Guru)
Male runners spend about $937 a year, and female runners spend roughly 21% more. (Running Shoes Guru)
On shoes specifically, beginners spend about $285 a year, intermediates $343, and veterans $389. (Running Shoes Guru)
The most common running frequency is 2 to 3 times a week, reported by 36% of runners; 17% run 4 to 6 times a week, and 9% run every day. (SportsShoes)
About 53% of runners report a running-related injury in any given year, which is a big reason shoe fit and replacement timing matter so much. (JOSPT)
Injury risk rises with mileage: 57.6% of runners report an injury by 1,000 km and 69.8% by 2,000 km, based on a study of more than 7,000 runners across 87 countries. (JOSPT)
The most common injury sites are the knee at 27% and the Achilles or calf at 25%, with patellofemoral pain syndrome the single most frequent diagnosis at about 15%. (JOSPT)
Injury rates are nearly identical by sex: 20.8 per 100 female runners versus 20.4 per 100 male runners. (PMC)
How shoppers are choosing running shoes
The same data that explains the market also explains why picking a pair has gotten harder. With HOKA and On now billion-dollar names sitting next to incumbents like Brooks and Nike, and carbon plates trickling down into everyday models, most buyers start from a shortlist rather than a blank search. For a current rundown of the brands worth knowing, the best running shoe brands guide is a sensible first stop.
Fit drives more of the decision than any spec sheet, which is why the injury numbers above are worth keeping in mind. Runners who need extra support often filter by foot shape before brand, and a focused list like the best running shoes for flat feet saves a lot of trial and error. And when the choice comes down to two specific brands, a head-to-head such as HOKA vs Brooks lines up the differences that actually change how a shoe feels on a long run.
The throughline across all of it: replacement cadence, fit, and a small handful of brands you trust matter more than chasing the newest release.
Frequently asked questions
How many people run in the United States?
More than 50 million Americans ran or jogged in 2024, the first time participation passed 50 million since 2020, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Participation grew roughly 5.7% year over year. (SFIA)
Is running growing or declining?
Growing. Global road-running finishers rose 17.1% in 2024 across 600 races in 44 countries, and US participation increased again across every major distance in 2025. The half marathon led the way with finishers up 20.9%. (Road Race Management)
How big is the running shoe market?
The global running-shoes market is projected at about $23.5 billion in 2026, sitting inside a wider athletic-footwear market headed toward $205.8 billion by 2030. Estimates vary by report depending on how the category is defined. (Market.us; Grand View Research)
How often should I replace my running shoes?
Most running shoes last 300 to 500 miles before the cushioning breaks down. Casual runners can get 8 to 12 months out of a pair, while high-mileage marathoners may need new shoes every 2 to 3 months. (REI; Runners Need)
How much do runners spend per year?
The average runner spends just under $1,000 a year across shoes, races, and gear. On shoes alone, beginners spend about $285, intermediates $343, and veterans $389. (Running Shoes Guru)
What percentage of runners are women?
Women now make up about 50.2% of all runners across 107.9 million analyzed race results, narrowly ahead of men. They accounted for 39.6% of US race entries in 2024 and 41% of US marathon finishers. (Sneakers4Good; RunRepeat)
Do carbon-plated super shoes actually make you faster?
The research points to a running-economy improvement of about 3% to 5% from carbon-plated footwear, which is why the technology now appears in roughly 40% of new shoe launches and has spread from elite racing into everyday trainers. (DataInsightsMarket; Accio)