From Fringe to Favorite: How Paris Turned into a City of Runners

Take a stroll along the Seine, and there is one thing I can guarantee you'll see. Regardless of season or time of day, there will be people running by the river, in the streets, and in the parks. This is a striking contrast to how it used to be. Only ten years ago, a jogger in Paris was more of a curiosity.

In general, exercising in public was a rare activity – and likely to be frowned upon.

Running in the city centre, or even showing yourself outdoors in a sports outfit, used to be seen as a “faux-pas” – something that wasn’t socially acceptable. I assume the reason was partly related to tradition – it was just how it was, and partly to the norm of looking, dressing, and smelling good in the presence of others.

When I moved to Paris in 2012, I can’t remember seeing anyone running, except for a few in Jardin du Luxembourg now and then. I wasn’t even doing it myself, even though it’s one of my cherished hobbies.

A national trend

Today, running is more popular than ever – in all of France as well as in Paris. I haven’t been able to find reliable statistics specifically for Paris, but here are some numbers on a national level: A recent survey states that 15 % of the French population are weekly runners, a number that’s increased from 8 % in 2018. If we include people who run less often, the total rises to 35 %.

So, how did this happen?

Three main factors sped up the development:

1. The first one is related to traffic and physical barriers. As many streets and areas in Paris have become fully or partially pedestrianized over the last decade, this has made it easier and more pleasant to run here. I wrote about this some months ago – take a look if you’d like to know more. A core example is the riverbanks, which I’ve already mentioned. Here you can find some additional ones.

2. The second factor is the pandemic. As people needed new ways to exercise while also getting a break from tiny apartments, running became a low-hanging fruit and turned into a new habit for many locals.

3. Finally, the 2024 Olympics gave another boost. People filled the streets to support the runners and were also invited to use the same route themselves. Marathon Pour Tous – the marathon for everyone – was a massive success, with 40,048 participants across the various distances. Even more interesting is the fact that more than 400,000 people applied for the 35,000 spots that were released initially.

Running as a social experience

While many people run alone, it’s also very popular to join running groups. Paris has a lot of them, and as I did my research for this post, I found it utterly fascinating to see the range of categories that exist. I started by looking at this overview where you’re able to sort the clubs by dates and areas. But then I found this website, with a list based on topics:

If you’re a morning runner, you can, for example, join KIIN Run Club. They meet up on Wednesdays at 7:00 AM and Sundays at 9:00 AM, starting from Le Peloton Café. 

Do you prefer evening workouts, with a little extra? Annette Running Klub is hosted by Annette K, a large boat by the Seine dedicated to sport, well-being, parties, and culture. The group meets on Wednesdays at 18:45 in the 15th arrondissement, and runs for an hour with a coach. Afterwards, there’s a DJ set back at the boat.

There are also clubs related to various topics, such as the Food Runners Club, the cheese club (of course!) Pattes Pressées Running Club, Art Run, and Founders Running Club aimed at creatives, investors, and entrepreneurs. And if you’re visiting Paris and would like an alternative to traditional guided tours – you can book a run with Paris Running Tours. There seems to be something for everyone.

A new kind of pride

Still – what strikes me most isn’t the number of runners or variety of running clubs. It's the cultural shift, and how fast it’s happened. Today, locals show a shared, public pride in healthy habits unlike anything I’ve seen here before. “Bah, mais bien sûr! Of course we run.” They certainly do. In the morning, during lunch – even after apéro. Past Louvre and Châtelet. I would say that running has become a part of Parisian identity.

How about you – have you brought your trainers and joined the locals yet? Leave a comment below.

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