There are many different schools of thought regarding the enjoyment factor of running. Even if they don’t enjoy it, there are runners (like the British) who persevere regardless. Yet much can be done to enhance the experience. On the whole, 70% of European runners prefer to run alone, but these figures vary greatly when we take a look at each individual country. This section looks at the social side of running, from partners to music and when to where.
Just over half of British runners like to run with a running mate. This may be because they feel the least safe whilst running (they are the highest scoring nation who will not run if it is dark outside). One quarter of British runners never listen to music while running, yet they are the highest-ranking country who believe running helps them run faster (22%), and the second highest who believe it helps make them run for longer (45%). In contrast to most European runners, the British prefer (along with the Germans) to run in the morning before breakfast in preferred locations of the streets (42%), the gym (34%), and forests (28%).