Happy National Running Day!

In honor of the holiday, Brooks Running Company released some fun findings from their recent Brooks Run Happy Nation Report, including tidbits related to relationships, running while traveling and runner pet-peeves, including:

Hit the street more often for a better time between the sheets?
Photo credit: MensHealth.com

Bringing Sexy Back

• The longer you run the better your sex life, the survey found, as nearly half (49 percent) of couples who run six or more miles together claim it pays dividends in the bedroom
• Runners from the West (42 percent) are most likely to claim that running increases their time spent rolling in the hay versus the South (38 percent), Northeast (33 percent) and Midwest (32 percent)

Sweat-time Gets Social

• More than three-quarters (76 percent) of men surveyed passed the miles by discussing their team’s latest victory (sports, 51 percent) or a cool new gadget (34 percent)
• Ladies, on the other hand, choose to use their running time as therapy – they are most likely to talk about relationships (47 percent), both the good and the bad
• When it comes to a favorite late-night running partner, Jimmy Fallon (27 percent) steals the spotlight, with Chelsea Handler (22 percent) and Jimmy Kimmel close behind (22 percent)

On the Road Again

• As for their favorite running city, runners say the hills of San Francisco make their heart race (46 percent), followed by Portland (34 percent), Boston (32 percent), Boulder (30 percent) and New York City (30 percent)
• Runners are committed! More than three-quarters of those surveyed (78 percent) maintain their run schedule while traveling, and men are more likely to keep up the routine than women (82 percent vs. 73 percent), as are those who are parents (82 percent vs. 74 percent)

No Sounds of Silence

• Eighty-seven percent of runners like to listen to something to keep them motivated, whether a booty-shaking playlist (music, 78 percent), audiobooks (11 percent), even meditations (10 percent) or motivational speakers (9 percent)
• Just 13 percent feel that silence is indeed golden and choose no audio companion

Pet Peeves!

• Difficulty dressing for the weather is a bigger pet peeve for females (30 percent) than males (17.3 percent)
• Runners are torn about the worst type of runner they encounter on their favorite trail or running spot:

• The Spitter (30 percent claim this is their “most hated runner” category): runners who spit or hock a loogie while running;
• The Double-Wide (29 percent): runners who run in a group and take up a lot of space;
• The Superhero (14 percent): runners  decked out in unnecessary gear;
• The Flasher (14 percent): runners who don’t wear enough clothes when it’s cold out

“We hear from runners every day about how hitting the road is an integral part of their daily routine, and wanted to test just how big a part running played in their relationships, travel habits and friendships,” said Heather Snavely, Brooks senior director, Brand Marketing. “The results of the report were both fun and surprising. And I have to agree with those surveyed; I personally would love to join Chelsea Handler for a martini 5K in San Francisco.”

Check out the accompanying infographic below, and to see more of the survey results, click here.

Happy running!