In order for us to understand their actions better, we asked our panel of runners to rate just how important running is to them and to explain what their reasons for running are.
The importance of running
‘Running is important to me’
Why do you run?
Running starts with a wish to get fit and lose weight, but turns into a fun and stress-relieving pastime: ‘First the body, then the mind.’
In all seven countries, our runners agreed that fitness is their main reason for running, with 54% confirming it to be the most important reason to start and 63% affirming it as their reason to continue. The second most important reason to take up running is weight-loss, with 40% of all European runners claiming this as their motivation to start.
For 22% of European runners, running for fun is the third most important reason to take up the sport, while for 34% it is their main reason to continue. The Italians are the only runners for whom the fun of running is more important than losing weight or improving one’s physical condition.
The physical benefits of running far outweigh the mental benefits when it comes to getting started, but most runners revealed that the mental rewards they get from running are stronger motivators for them to continue.
Top 10 reasons for European runners to start
Reasons to start running vs. Reasons to keep running
Stress-relief
At just 21%, stress-relief may not be a very important reason to start running, but with 35% of runners choosing it as their incentive, it is ranked number three on the list of why people run nowadays. On the whole, however, stress-relief is definitely a highly motivational cause and for the most serious runners in Europe, the Italian and Spanish, it was a very important reason to start (29% and 28% respectively). This is in contrast to the German and Dutch runners, who at 17% and 15% respectively, view it as only half as important a reason to start.
For one in three runners, the stress relieving effect of running is highly valued. For the Italians it is the second highest reason for running (with a ratio of 40%), while the Dutch (only 29%) and the British (31%) are the least appreciative of this as a benefit.
What was your reason to start running? The differences per country
Above all others, German and Belgians runners started because they had made a particular resolution, (such as New Year’s). For 16%, this resolution was an important reason. The lowest in this category are the Dutch with just 8%.
Above all others, Belgian and Spanish runners started running because they wanted to increase their performance in other sports (24%). The lowest in this category are the French with just 13%.
Spanish runners are also the highest when it comes to starting for the feeling of being mentally rewarded (19%), while this is the least important factor as far as the Dutch are concerned (just 10%).
More than any other nation, Dutch runners simply wanted to get or stay fit (61%). This is in great contrast to the southern European runners, as just 46% of Spanish runners and 49% of Italians made this their choice.
At the top end of the scale, 27% of Italian runners started running for fun and 19% were following their doctor’s or dietician’s advice (as opposed to a mere 8% of British runners).
The second figure can also be linked to the fact that 29% of Italians started in order to relieve stress.
Out of every nation, more French runners claimed to have started running out of habit or addiction (10%) in contrast to the Dutch and British who were just 4%.
Across the board, British runners hold the average when it comes to why they started running. They do, however, hold the lowest percentage (of just 17%) for runners who began for fun.
What’s your reason for continuing to run?
For British runners, the fun factor does not improve that much over time. Only 25% runs for fun compared to 42% of Belgians and 40% of Dutch. As a result, the British seem to be very persistent runners when it comes to continuing to run as they persevere more than other nations.
Weight-loss is the second most important reason to run, for both categories of starting and continuing. All in all, the Italian runner is looking to lose weight more than others with three quarters of them aiming to lose an average of 5.6kg compared to just over half of Spanish runners.
‘I want to lose weight’
Weight-loss may well be important to most runners, but that’s where the general consensus ends, as there is a big difference between nations when it comes to weight-loss ambitions. The Italian and British runners often want to lose weight but not that much, whereas the Dutch feel really overweight and want to lose around 9.5kgs. This is closely followed by their German neighbours who wish to lose an average of 6.9kgs.
How many kilos do you want to lose?
Why running as opposed to other sports?
The reason for running being favoured above other sports differs greatly between countries, but most European runners agree that the flexibility and simplicity of it is of most importance to them.
The preferred locations for running differ between nations, with forests, streets and parks being the most obvious choices. There are, however, some nations who prefer to go to the gym for their run, with Britain topping the list at 34% and Spain following closely behind with 29%.
‘I like the fact it’s an outdoor sport’
The affordability of running is also of high importance in certain countries. The Dutch don’t seem to be bothered by this fact at all but for the British and French, it’s a great advantage.
‘I like the fact it’s affordable’
