Celebs Who Are Marathon Runners

Completing a marathon demands incredible stamina and months of hard work and mental strength. While known for their careers in acting, cooking, or performing, many celebrities have also shown they’re dedicated athletes by running marathons. They’ve participated in races both large, like the New York and London marathons, and smaller, local events. Often, they run to achieve a personal challenge or to raise money for charity.

Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell is not only a celebrated actor, known for his work in films like ‘Anchorman’ and ‘Saturday Night Live’, but also a dedicated marathon runner. He ran the Boston Marathon in 2003, finishing in 3 hours, 56 minutes, and 12 seconds. This followed marathons in New York City (2001) and Stockholm (2002). Ferrell frequently prioritizes running, even with a busy filming schedule, and openly discusses how long-distance running benefits mental health. Finishing Boston under four hours demonstrates his impressive athletic ability among celebrity runners.

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys completed the 2015 New York City Marathon in 5 hours, 50 minutes, and 52 seconds. She used the race as an opportunity to raise money for Keep a Child Alive, a charity she started to help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS. Keys shared her training process, explaining that it helped her become more mentally strong and disciplined. Despite being a busy musician, she dedicated herself to running the full 26.2-mile course through New York City’s five boroughs. Her marathon run demonstrated how celebrities can use their platform to support important causes and show dedication to a challenging goal.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds ran the New York City Marathon in 2008 as a tribute to his father, who had Parkinson’s disease. He completed the race in 3 hours, 50 minutes, and 22 seconds – a great time for someone running a marathon for the first time. Reynolds shared his experiences training, detailing both the physical and emotional difficulties. He also used the race to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and it stands as an important moment in his history of supporting charitable causes.

Gordon Ramsay

Gordon Ramsay is a dedicated athlete who has run the London Marathon over ten times, achieving a personal best of 3 hours, 30 minutes, and 37 seconds. Beyond marathons, he’s also completed several Ironman triathlons, which include running a full 26.2-mile marathon as the final event. Ramsay often explains that the dedication he learns through training helps him cope with the stress of his demanding career as a chef. He also uses his running to raise money for charities, including his own foundation, the Gordon and Tana Ramsay Foundation.

Sean Astin

Sean Astin, best known for playing Samwise Gamgee in ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ is also a dedicated marathon runner with over a dozen races under his belt. He’s completed marathons in Los Angeles and Boston, and even pushed his endurance further by finishing the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. Astin created “Run3rd,” a movement that inspires runners to dedicate their races to others and share their stories online. He continues to be a prominent and consistent celebrity advocate within the running world.

Edward Norton

Edward Norton ran the 2009 New York City Marathon in an impressive 3 hours, 48 minutes, and 1 second. He used the race to raise money for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, which works to protect natural areas in East Africa. Norton trained hard for the marathon and ran with three Maasai warriors to draw attention to their organization’s work. The effort raised over a million dollars for environmental and health projects, and Norton’s time is considered one of the fastest ever recorded by a celebrity in a marathon.

Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart completed his first marathon in New York City in 2017, finishing in 4 hours, 5 minutes, and 6 seconds. He ran the Chicago Marathon in 2018, hoping to beat his previous time. The actor and comedian often shares his workouts and his “Hustle Hart” mindset with his large social media following, encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Hart has said that running marathons helps him push his boundaries and prove the importance of staying positive. His participation in these high-profile races has also brought more young and diverse people to the sport.

Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher ran the 2022 New York City Marathon to support Thorn, his charity dedicated to fighting child sex trafficking. He finished the race in 3 hours, 54 minutes, and 1 second, beating his goal of completing it in under four hours. Throughout his training, which he shared with fans in a digital series, Kutcher lost weight and greatly improved his endurance. Ultimately, his efforts raised over a million dollars for Thorn’s important work.

Bryan Cranston

I was so surprised to learn that Bryan Cranston ran the New York City Marathon way back in 1985, even before ‘Breaking Bad’ made him a household name! And not just ran it – he finished in an incredible 3:20:45, which I’ve heard is still one of the fastest times ever recorded by a celebrity. He’s talked about how much mental and physical toughness it took to keep going for that long, and he actually sees it as something that really influenced his dedication as an actor. It’s been a while since he’s run a marathon, but it’s still such an impressive feat and fans like me continue to be amazed by it.

Katie Holmes

In 2007, Katie Holmes ran the New York City Marathon, completing the race in 5 hours, 29 minutes, and 58 seconds. Despite her busy acting career and constant media coverage, she successfully trained for the event. Her finish made headlines, and she was cheered on by her family at the finish line. Many people saw Holmes’ participation as motivating, showing working mothers how to prioritize fitness alongside family commitments. Since then, the actress has continued to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

Please share your favorite celebrity marathon success stories in the comments.

2026-02-16 10:46