The global pop superstar chats with legendary author and fellow marathoner Haruki Murakami on the sublime simplicity of running—and how it nourishes the creative life.
There was a time when Ethan Shuley may have been interviewed and featured on the cover, but those days are long gone. I guess Harry on the cover will likely get more people to grab the magazine along with a PayDay and Coca-Cola Zero as they're checking out in the Safeway.
And you know what...? Styles is no slouch. Good for him. But 2:59 is no 2:07... what would be better is if GQ and Cosmo covered the 2:59 and Runner's World covered the 2:07.
I'm very impressed with what he's done. He's someone who could do anything in the world with his time, doesn't have to do anything, yet he obviously chooses to do a lot of marathon training. Going sub 3 hours doesn't just happen, he's put in quite a bit of work.
I'm very impressed with what he's done. He's someone who could do anything in the world with his time, doesn't have to do anything, yet he obviously chooses to do a lot of marathon training. Going sub 3 hours doesn't just happen, he's put in quite a bit of work.
I agree. I am not sure why my post got so many downvotes. I guess my point was that we can be impressed with Harry Styles running 2:59 and at the same time be kind of bummed that our sport's largest print publication is featuring a pop celeb story over true runners doing insane things in the sport.
A lot of people go sub 3:00 every year. Gemini says the number is over 60,000 in 2025. Would Rolling Stone feature Mondo Duplantis on the cover because he put a single on Spotify that got 750,000 listens? Because that is a much rarer feat.
Your condescending tone brought you the downvotes. I feel that most runners have moved past animus towards normal people and fitness runners. "Sub Elites" are seen as purveyors of jerky behavior rooted in anger and insecurity.
There was a time when Ethan Shuley may have been interviewed and featured on the cover, but those days are long gone.
I'm not a defended of Runner's World in the least, but there was never a time when someone like Ethan Shuley would have been on the cover. It's always been who they are.
I should add that it appears Styles actually does care about improving at this sport and training legitimately for his races. So I have no idea why anyone that wants more attention given to something we care about would then have an issue with him being promoted like this.
Okay, I will own up to it. FWIW, I wasn't trying to be condescending towards Styles and I am no Sub Elite. And I was wrong in that RW has always had celebs on the cover over the years.
If you actually read the article, I think it offers a good explanation of why we, well I - I can't speak for others, run. I know for me it's a chance to get out of my head and can be almost meditative in some ways.
I should add that it appears Styles actually does care about improving at this sport and training legitimately for his races. So I have no idea why anyone that wants more attention given to something we care about would then have an issue with him being promoted like this.
He's also not a shameless self-promoting influencer type. He races under pseudonyms.
Dude's out there doing it for the love of the game.
There was a time when Ethan Shuley may have been interviewed and featured on the cover, but those days are long gone.
No way Ethan Shuley ever made a cover. They had a lot of models and celebs, but I can also remember Nikki Hiltz, Kara Goucher, Shalane Flanagan, Meb, Ryan Hall, Lance, Faith Kipyengon, Mary Decker, Khalid.
Tell me Shuley belongs in the conversation with any of them.
I'm very impressed with what he's done. He's someone who could do anything in the world with his time, doesn't have to do anything, yet he obviously chooses to do a lot of marathon training. Going sub 3 hours doesn't just happen, he's put in quite a bit of work.
I agree. I am not sure why my post got so many downvotes. I guess my point was that we can be impressed with Harry Styles running 2:59 and at the same time be kind of bummed that our sport's largest print publication is featuring a pop celeb story over true runners doing insane things in the sport.
A lot of people go sub 3:00 every year. Gemini says the number is over 60,000 in 2025. Would Rolling Stone feature Mondo Duplantis on the cover because he put a single on Spotify that got 750,000 listens? Because that is a much rarer feat.
The difference is that Rolling Stone readers have no idea who Mondo Duplantis is and don't really care. Harry Styles can generate interest among casual fans or even non-fans of the sport. I'm willing to bet that readership will be much higher with Styles on the cover than Shuley.
I agree. I am not sure why my post got so many downvotes. I guess my point was that we can be impressed with Harry Styles running 2:59 and at the same time be kind of bummed that our sport's largest print publication is featuring a pop celeb story over true runners doing insane things in the sport.
A lot of people go sub 3:00 every year. Gemini says the number is over 60,000 in 2025. Would Rolling Stone feature Mondo Duplantis on the cover because he put a single on Spotify that got 750,000 listens? Because that is a much rarer feat.
Honestly? A Rolling Stone interview with a world record holding track athlete who also produces music sounds fascinating. I’d buy that issue.
Great article. My teenage daughter says running is cool now, so clearly we’ve reached peak cultural relevance. And to the downvoters…. remarkable strategy! demand that the sport become more popular, then get upset when someone actually gives it mainstream attention. Brilliant. Good grief.
Geez, some of the people on this thread are such dorks.
Always pretending that running a 2:18 makes you a more authentic or important runner than someone who runs a 2:58.
Not realizing that telling stories about interesting public figures who genuinely love to run enhances running culture.
That being a boring, try-hard sub-sub-elite is more interesting than people who can articulate why running makes their life meaningful
Let's Run is great for a bunch of reasons. The racing coverage goes deeper than anywhere else. But there is more to life and running than that, and if that escapes you the problem is that you are a two-dimensional loser.
This post was edited 14 minutes after it was posted.
Reason provided:
grammar error
