Understanding the expansion of running from a social practice theory perspective. A case study focused on the city of Valencia

Running is a physical-sport practice that has gained enormous popularity and diffusion in the last two decades in most European countries, which has sparked research interest from social scientists. Most research has focused on describing the profiles of runners, examining their life experiences, understanding how they develop their relationship with their bodies and analysing the health benefits of running. Less frequent have been studies that aim to explain the recent growth of this practice in a given territorial context. This article presents a case study on decisive aspects in the growth of running in the last ten years in the Spanish city of Valencia. The main contribution lies in the application of the Social Practice Theory perspective. The study revealed that the changes occurring in this city in relation to the three types of elements that make up social practices – materials, competences and meanings – and the way in which the interconnections between them have developed – were instrumental in the growth of the practice of running. The findings obtained could be useful to develop more effective actions to promote the physical-sport practice of citizens.