Global Running Day Date in the current year: June 5, 2024

Running is one of the earliest sports known to men. It was one of the most important competitions of the Celtic Tailteann games and the ancient Olympic Games. The program of the Olympics included several running events, as well as the pentathlon (a contest featuring five events, including running). The history of modern marathon races also dates back to ancient Greece.

Running is considered one of the most accessible sports, which is why it is so popular all over the world. You don’t need any kind of athletic equipment to run; a T-shirt or a tank top, leggings or shorts, and a pair of running shoes will suffice. Besides, you can run almost anywhere at any time and at no cost.

In addition to its accessibility, running is also popular due to its numerous health benefits (provided that you do it right, of course, since poor running technique can lead to injuries). It improves cardiovascular and respiratory health, assists in losing weight, helps lower blood cholesterol, strengthens muscles, and makes your body produce endorphins, resulting in a brief, deeply relaxing state of euphoria known as a “runner’s high”.

Global Running Day was launched in 2009 to raise awareness of the benefits of running and encourage people to take up the sport. It was originally celebrated in the United States as National Running Day, but in 2016, the event went international. During the inaugural Global Running Day, over 2.5 million people from 177 countries pledged to run more than 9.2 million miles (over 14.8 kilometers).

In 2018, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF; renamed World Athletics in 2019) launched IAAF Run 24:1, a series of one-mile runs held in 24 cities across time zones to celebrate Global Running Day. It unites thousands of professional athletes and amateur runners as they chase the sun across the globe.

The inaugural IAAF Run 21:1 started in Auckland, continued in Melbourne, Tokyo, Beijing, Bangkok, Delhi, Minsk, Ramallah, Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Nice, Berlin, London, Rabat, Abidjan, Praia, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, La Habana, Toronto, Lima, Mexico, and Los Angeles, and ended in Vancouver, creating a unique continuous global celebration of running.

On Global Running Day, anyone can pledge to join one of the many races held across the world. To participate officially, go to the Global Running Day website and submit a form, where you will need to specify your first name, country, and the distance you pledge to run.

However, you don’t need to make things official if you don’t want to. You can simply tie your shoes and run or even walk whatever distance you are comfortable with. And don’t forget to take a selfie in your running clothes and share it on social media with the hashtag #GlobalRunningDay to spread the word!