Raziq Rauf is a running coach and journalist who writes about all things running on his popular Substack ‘Running Sucks’. He has previously written for the BBC, the Guardian, NPR and Kerrang!. He lives in Los Angeles. His new book, This Is Running: A Celebration of the World of Running, Exploring the Culture, History, Brands, Races and People Behind It, covers why, where and how we run, incorporating insights from psychologists, sociologists and other running experts. In this interview, we discuss his book and his exploration of the world of running.
Greg: Can you tell me about your background? How did you get into running? What made you realize there was something beyond the physical act that warranted an entire book?
Raz: Running was just something we had to do at school during PE. Once a year, the whole school ran a 4.5-mile steeplechase through the forest surrounding the school. Running was baked into my core experiences as a student. Because I was quite good at running, I then joined the athletics team in my teenage years. I was the opposite of a college athlete, however, and didn’t actually run at university, but took it up again in my early 20s to stay in shape while working as a music journalist. I was a huge music fan as a teen, you see, and when I’m a fan of something, I write about it. And I’m a fan of running.
Greg: From a sociological and psychological perspective, why do humans run?
Raz: We used to run for survival, but we can get our food from supermarkets now, so that necessity is long gone. Sitting here at our laptops, however, either writing or reading, another necessity has come to the fore. As our lives have grown more sedentary over the past 50 years, as manual labor has given way to desk jobs, we find ourselves in a position of needing to move our bodies—for both our physical and mental health. The sporting element has never gone away, of course. We will always have the desire to run faster and farther than before in a bid to better ourselves.
Greg: The sport of running has taken off worldwide in the twenty-first century. What’s behind the running boom?
Raz: So many things have been behind the running boom(s). Paula Radcliffe getting the marathon world record in 2003 was hugely inspiring. Parkrun’s proliferation in the UK built an accessible, competitive space for many new runners. A moment in 2015 where multiple new running brands like Tracksmith, Janji, and Satisfy entered the market, changing how we dress while running. The formation of the Marathon Majors normalized flying around the world to run 26.2 miles five times in a year just to get a special medal. The explosion of run clubs as a social vector in a time when third places have been decimated. Take your pick.
Greg: How will the world of running change in the future? How will new technology shape the sport? What aspects will remain unchanged?
Raz: Running is maybe the most human sport there is. It’s the first sport that we all take part in, moments after our first steps, so I don’t think technology will shape the sport in the same way that it has shaped baseball with the pitch clock, for instance, or soccer with video assistance for key decisions. I think the main change is that more people from more walks of life will run and become decision-makers in the world of running. That means that the demographic makeup of the sport will become increasingly equitable and representative of society. That’s a great thing.
Greg: What most surprised you as you were researching and writing this book?
Raz: It was more a hope that was realized, but speaking to the incredible people in the world of running was as satisfying and gratifying as I could have ever hoped. Talking about running with other runners is one of my favorite things to do. I like to think deeply about my running practice. I like to think deeply about where I fit into the running ecosystem. Writing this book allowed me to do that in spades, and I love that.
Check out Raz’s Substack Running Sucks for more of his work. And for more interviews like this one, visit The KineSophy Library.