Celebrating the Spirit of Running
World Run Day: A Global Movement
Join us as we honor the passion for running and unite runners worldwide in a celebration of health, community, and perseverance.
The Journey of World Run Day
Explore the milestones that have shaped World Run Day into a global event.
1999-2003
The Vision Begins
In 1999, inspired by his love for running, and the lack of a day worldwide to celebrate it, our founder envisioned a day dedicated to runners worldwide, promoting health, charity, and community spirit. The virtual run was born in an event called WORLD RUN DAY. People enjoyed the concept so much that other virtual events were created over certain holidays. The first was the Virtual Turkey Trot, followed by the New Year’s Day Run, etc. People in areas that couldn’t get to a traditional running event loved the idea … and the shirts. The E-Bib was created during this time as well. Essentially, it was a bib created in a PDF format that participants could download from the runday.com event site.
2001 -2004
First Global Event
The 1999 inaugural World Run Day event saw participation from runners in Long Beach, NY and Cape Verde, a country in West Africa. In 2006, in a suggestion by Runner’s World’s Bart Yasso, the event was held in cooperation with the United Nation’s “End Child Hunger Campaign”. In subsequent years runners would make their donations directly to their charity of choice.
2005
Expanding Horizons
With growing popularity, World Run Day expanded to include more virtual runs, allowing more runners to join from around the globe.
2015 - 2024
A Decade of Impact
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, World Run Day had participants from over 50 countries, uniting thousands in the spirit of running. Although some years did not have as many participants as others, the event continues. In 2025 a very concerted effort is being made to have multiple Virtual Runs/Virtual Challenges throughout the year and continue to provide runners with the best t-shirt designs on the planet.
The Heart Behind World Run Day
World Run Day was born out of a deep-seated love for running and a desire to bring people together through this shared passion. Our founder believed that running is more than just a sport; it’s a way to connect, inspire, and promote well-being. This video was created to share the benefits running can provide to every runner.
Celebrate the Spirit of Running
World Run Day unites runners globally, celebrating the joy and freedom of running while promoting health and community spirit.
Global Participation
Personalized Experience
Charity Focus
Voices from the Run
“Participating in World Run Day was a transformative experience. Running alongside a virtual community from all over the world was truly inspiring.”
Sarah J., New York
“I felt connected to a global movement. World Run Day motivated me to push my limits and embrace the runner within.”
David L., London
Join the Global Running Movement
Register for World Run Day and become part of a worldwide celebration of running. Embrace the challenge, enjoy the camaraderie, and make a difference.