Why do you run?
Hundreds of people.
Hundreds of answers.
One question.
Because every runner has a story!
Some run for fitness. Some for friendship. Some for adventure. Others run through grief, anxiety, illness, recovery, or simply because it makes them feel alive. Running is simply the common language, but the stories are what connect us.
Since 2019, Runners NZ has travelled the country meeting runners from all walks of life and asking one simple question.
“Why do you run?“
The answers have become a growing collection of stories from across the New Zealand running community. From first-time parkrunners to ultramarathoners. From club runners to elite athletes. From volunteers and supporters to race directors and event organisers.
Every story is different. Every reason matters.
Because running has never just been about kilometres, pace or podiums. It’s about the friendships formed along the way. The challenges overcome. The places discovered. The communities created. The moments that stay with us long after the run is finished.
These are the stories behind the miles.
RunnersNZ exists to celebrate the people, places and experiences that make New Zealand running special.
Welcome to Runners NZ — the home of New Zealand’s running stories.
– Carly Webber
