Statistics show that most people now taking up running in France are women. In Paris, some run alone and some in running groups – which are booming in the French capital as women turn to them for motivation, safety and a sense of community.
"There are around 13 million people in France who run, both men and women. And 63 percent of new runners – those who have been running for less than two years – are women," sports policy consultant Claire Rabès told RFI.
She was citing the latest figures from the UESC, the professional organisation for the sports and cycling industry in France, which also found that the proportion of women taking part in running events has risen from 28 percent to 37 percent over the past 10 years.
This year’s Paris Marathon on 12 April attracted nearly 60,000 participants, 33 percent of whom were women – compared to 31 percent in 2025 and 25 percent in 2022.
Running is one of the most accessible forms of exercise, Rabès explains.
"Running is easy: you can do it in trainers and, basically, whenever and wherever you like. And we know full well that women face difficulties when it comes to doing sport, particularly in terms of mental load and available time."
Lockdown escape
Jeanne, who works for a bank, started running in 2020 during the Covid pandemic. At the time, she was working from home in a flat shared with six people, three of whom she didn’t get on with.
"I needed to let off steam, and little by little it started to do me good," she told RFI on the sidelines of a recent 10 km charity run in the Bois de Boulogne on the western edge of Paris.
"At first, I was running three kilometres, and the day I managed to run 10 kilometres without stopping, well... I was so happy."
Rabès says Covid lockdowns pushed lots of people towards running. "During the pandemic, people realised that running was the only way to get outside."
Other elements have also played a role, she notes, including a growing push from France's ministries of sport and health to get people moving. Their messaging highlights the risks of a sedentary lifestyle and "that being active is, in fact, a key factor in good health".
The five biggest factors motivating both men and women to run are wellbeing, health and self-care, fun, competition and weight loss, according to the UESC's 2026 report on running in France, published on 10 April.
Fitness craze
For women, growing interest in running is part of a wider trend, according to Rabès: the fitness drive promoted by influencers and social media, especially in the United States and particularly among high-earning professional women "who have significant economic, cultural and financial resources".
Women with lower incomes are less likely to take it up, she says, having "less economic time, less time in terms of family responsibilities, and also less of a sense of legitimacy".
Women runners represent big business for sports brands, which are tailoring their marketing.
"The more women take up sport, the more they’ll consume sports-related products – in terms of equipment, nutrition, events and race numbers too," says Rabès.
"We can see, for example, that Nike has placed a strong emphasis on marketing for running, notably by launching specific categories of trainers … or even brands like Asics, which is very strong in running, are conducting specific studies showing that running is ultimately a form of luxury."
Strength in numbers
While Jeanne runs alone and says she likes "the feeling of freedom", running groups are becoming increasingly popular.
"There’s a tendency for women to run in groups. They often run either with their family or with their partner. This is one of the main reasons why women take up running," explains Rabès, who notes that women’s approach to running is often less focused on competition.
"And women are increasingly joining small running clubs, particularly in large cities where it is easier to set them up."
Adidas Runners Paris is a mixed-gender running group that has been based in the capital for 11 years.
"There are six groups in Paris. And it’s true that we’re seeing more and more women taking up running," says Laura, one of the group's organisers.
"But I still feel that, naturally, within our community, there has always been a lot of kindness and diversity, and that women have always found their place."
Caroline, a lawyer, has been running with the group every Saturday morning for 10 years. "Running groups are great for keeping each other motivated, and for feeling safe – that's really important, especially for women – and just for pushing yourself a bit more and for catching up with friends," she says.
For Sofia, a programmer in Paris who has been running for the past year, "it's nice to be welcomed and be part of the community".
