I had never run more than 3 miles in my life when I signed up for myfirst half-marathon.

It was the month after I turned 25, and all my friends were signing up.

On social media, people in their 20s were describingmarathon trainingas their “quarter-life crisis.”

oneInstagram reelwith 9 million views says.

While I didn’t venture as far asrunning a full marathon, an increasing number of my peers have.

Whither go this stampede in Nike shorts?

Four years on, we’re reaching peak running mania.

People are evenadding their marathon times to their resumes.

And people aren’t just running marathons they’re pursuing increasingly intense competitions and challenges.

It all raises the question: why now?

After graduating from college in 2020, Rylee Jade Ollearis needed something to do.

She had wanted to be a runner but never carved out the time.

Now she had plenty.

At first, the 2-mile run through Chicago was a challenge.

But gradually Ollearis built up to a half-marathon.

Since official races were still canceled, she completed the 26.2 miles on her own.

She also realized that running was about more than the physical challenge.

“It was about discovering what I’m capable of and constantly pushing my limits,” she says.

Ollearis has since run two official marathons, three Ironmans, and three ultramarathons.

Women especially are taking to the streets in droves.

Women “are constantly being told to shrink and slow down,” Ollearis says.

“I wanted to be that woman who shows up and is strong.”

It sets a goal that is attainable but not easy.

For young people who graduated into an uncertain and shifting world, purpose was a hot commodity.

He noticed a lot of people get into running during the pandemic lockdowns.

But even without a pandemic, navigating your mid-20s is tricky.

Some are calling it theirquarter-life crisis.

Plus, there’s theinfluencer effect.

Back then, he says, ultra running was a niche sport.

Now budding racers can open TikTok and follow someone’s training plan from day one to race day.

The running world has become a robust community for young people.

“It’s a music-festival vibe,” O’Connor said.

After completing her first marathon, Ollearis decided to sign up for an Ironman.

For six months she trained every day.

“I was swimming on Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

She has no regrets.

“It gave me a lot of purpose.

It gave me a reason to show up every day,” she says.

Ollearis began documenting her Ironman journey onTikTok, and her following grew by 100,000.

The more she posted, the more her follower count grew.

This year Ollearis was able to quit her full-time job and focus on online coaching and content creation.

She hit a personal record.

It’s the dream.

To stand out, creators have to up the stakes.

Then he signed up for an Ironman.

Bandolik enjoyed the accountability that came with posting his progress online.

“They’re creating longer and longer and harder and harder races.”

Eve Upton-Clarkis a features writer covering culture and society.