Running Experience Survey 2025
3: Motivational profiles
One of the goals of the RXS was to understand how runners engage with running in different ways depending on their background, goals and orientation to the sport.
In this section we look at one way of exploring these differences: motivations.
The survey included nine questions designed to gauge levels of key motivations. These were selected based on previous research that suggested they were either the most common motivations runners cited, or the ones that varied most between different groups.
Below, we will look at the overall motivational picture, and compare the prevalence of different motivations by gender and age. We also introduce a set of four motivational ‘types’ that we will use to explore differences in running practices in more detail later in this report.
3.1 Motivations - overall
Motivations and their strengths
The chart below shows the proportion of runners who stated each of the listed motivations was ‘vital’ to their relationship with the sport (this is the chart’s default setting).
By clicking on the arrow above the chart you can dig deeper, including those runners who rated each of the motivations as ‘very important’ and ‘somewhat important’.
Some motivations – most notably, ‘raising money for good causes’ – appear very infrequently at the ‘vital’ level, but are an important minor motivation for many runners. Looking after health and mental wellbeing, on the other hand, are ‘vital’ to a large number of runners, making them key drivers of running participation.
3.2 Demographic differences
Gender differences
Generally, average motivation scores are fairly similar for male and female runners.
However, as in other studies, male runners tend to be more likely to rate running fast or far as important, and females score higher on health, wellbeing and social motivations.
The first chart here shows average motivation levels as percentages. The second chart, which shows starker differences between the genders, indicates the proportion of people reporting each motivation as ‘vital’.
Motivational differences by age
Some motivations remain at fairly consistent levels for runners of all ages, but those included on this chart show appreciable differences between younger and older respondents.
Most motivations drop off in strength as runners age, but not all follow the same pattern.
Weight management is unusual in starting low and peaking in middle-age, before dropping off from around 60.
The motivation to run as fast or far as possible shows the steepest decline between the youngest and oldest age groups.
3.3 Motivational profiles
Four types of runner
It’s possible to use statistical analysis to identify four broad groups of runners based on the motivational data. This simplified model captures much of the variation in how people relate to running from a psychological point of view.
Most people won’t fit perfectly into any one profile, but you can probably spot the one that is most like you.
Later in this report will be able to flesh out these profiles by including other data on attitudes and practices collected during the survey.
(statistical note: profiles created using principle component analysis and k-means clustering)
Profile 1: Competitive Achievers
Enjoy racing and pushing themselves to personal bests. Most likely to see themselves as athletes or serious competitive runners.
Especially highly motivated by:
Running as fast or far as possible,
Setting and achieving goals
Not likely to be motivated by:
Managing weight,
Fundraising
Profile 2: Pragmatic Joggers
Running is a way of keeping fit and active, but not a hugely important part of their lives.
Somewhat motivated by:
Health and weight management are likely driving motivations
Especially low motivations:
Running as fast or far as possible,
Fundraising,
Friendship and community,
Great experiences
Profile 3: Experiential Runners
Enjoy the intrinsic pleasures of running, being outside and spending time with other runners. See running as life-affirming and uplifting.
Especially highly motivated by:
Contact with nature,
Friendship and community,
Mental wellbeing
Less important motivations:
Running as fast or far as possible,
Fundraising,
Setting and achieving goals
Profile 4: Community Enthusiasts
Health and fitness a key driver, but active members of their running communities and love getting involved. Wide range of motivations.
Especially highly motivated by:
Managing weight,
Mental wellbeing,
Fundraising,
Friendship and community,
Looking after health
Somewhat less important motivations:
Running as fast or far as possible,
Contact with nature,
Setting and achieving goals
Gender balance of profiles
This chart shows the relative size of each profile in the RXS dataset (in brackets), and also the balance of male and female runners (after taking account of the gender imbalance of the sample).
Among survey respondents, Competitive Achievers are the most strongly represented, and Pragmatic Joggers the least.
Both of these groups are more likely to be male. Experiential Runners and Community Enthusiasts have higher female representation.
Profile composition across age groups
As people age, many appear to move from one motivational profile to another. This is depicted in this line chart.
Competitive Achievers make up over 40% of the youngest runners surveyed, but that shrinks to less than 20% in the oldest runners.
Pragmatic Joggers and Experiential Runners trend firmly in the other direction, with the former becoming the largest group (accounting for almost 40% of runners) in the oldest age group.
Community Enthusiasts are most consistently represented across age groups, but also become less common among the oldest groups.
Running Experience Survey
© Neil Baxter 2025
Please always cite using: Baxter, N. (2025). Running Experience Survey. Running Studies. https://runningstudies.co.uk/running-experience-survey