This is running on YouTube. And it's not what you think it is.
Aug 05, 2024 – [[read-time]] minute read
In the first six months of 2024, there were more than 3B views of videos related to running on YouTube.
I have been running for almost ten years now. I truly cherish this part of who I am, so when I found out that we’d be shouting out YouTube’s running community with a Yoodle - our way to celebrate a community of creators on the homepage - I knew we had to highlight a vital part of the scene: the creators.
I know what you’re thinking: almost everyone around you seems to have just taken up running. How did that happen?
In the first six months of 2024, there were more than 3B views of videos related to running on YouTube. And in the past five years in the UK - where I live - the term “Running for Beginners” had the largest search spike since the pandemic, when it was at an all time high. And worldwide, we’ve seen a consistent increase in search interest since 2022.
But perhaps the most interesting thing we discovered as we prepared to hero this incredible family of creators and runners, was that a lot of the videos about running on YouTube are actually about… everything but running.
It’s not just about crossing the finish line, it’s also the psychology of it, preparing for a marathon, fueling our bodies to get us to the finish line marked on the floor or in our heads. My favourite thing was seeing how important that sense of round-the-clock dedication was for each creator. Which is why we made this short film about pretty much everything except the actual running, to truly celebrate YouTube’s running community.
In the short film (which is live in the UK, France and Germany), you can see creators like Lucy Davis from the UK, Kpaou Kondodji from Germany, and Thea from France, sharing the reality behind being in love with running.
Here are some of the creators featured in our short film, telling us about how they run, even when they’re not running.
Ben is Running - UK
'Even on my easy days, I'm still focused on my running and doing everything I can to prepare. I've got in the habit of preparing both my breakfast in the form of overnight oats and pre-prepare my electrolytes so if I have to wake up in the early hours of the morning, everything is set up to give myself the best chance of success on the run. All these small decisions allow me to absorb the training effect and ultimately am ready to go again day after day.'
Liz Newcomer - US/UK
‘Even when I'm not running, I religiously do my pre-run physio stretches! I also journal ahead of big races and do kit lays! I actively choose not to drink alcohol because I know the detriment it can have to my running and overall sense of wellbeing. I know my mind and body are better without it, and I can have a better, healthier approach to running without it!’
Aubrey Running - UK
‘Right now, running is my thing…. even my holiday choices are shaped by running, I check with the Mrs if the family has plans, I charge a million devices, the phone, Garmin watch, heart rate monitor, foot pod, headphones and my phone. Depending on the run, I choose appropriate shoes and then finally, boom… run time!’
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One of the things I truly love about working at YouTube is getting to discover all of the incredible communities that thrive on our platform. Whether it’s creators making Shorts casually about a day in their life, or a creator that’s been on the platform for years sharing their most inspiring accomplishments, they all contribute to the thousands of communities that make YouTube what it is - something that helps people to find their tribe.
To our runners, we hope this Yoodle and short film captured the essence (and reality) of being a runner. To those thinking about starting running, recognise it's so much more than just running.
But as it did for me, it starts by putting on a pair of good training shoes and getting out there. I hope you join us - and if you don't there's so much to see from your sofa from YouTube’s British, German and French Running Communities.
Happy running.