Garmin has released its latest international running and cycling data reports to coincide with Global Running Day and Global Cycling Day (which both landed on June 3, 2026). The reports highlight trends across the Garmin Connect user community.
Data from Garmin indicates a continued increase in sports participation, alongside UK-specific research indicating that 63% of Brits now identify as runners. The findings point to a surge in new participants, with 20% of respondents noting they started running within the last six to 11 months.
According to the company, technology is playing a major role in supporting this growth. Over four in five runners (81%) regularly check their stats on smartwatches, fitness bands or apps, while 43% admit they would not go for a run if they could not track it.
The global data report highlights that Garmin runners recorded nearly 13% more indoor running activities and 3% more outdoor running activities over the past year. Runners under 40 saw the biggest upticks in running activities, while athletes over 60 also made strides. On an international basis, South Korean users recorded the most activities per capita for running, track running, and treadmill running, whilst users in France recorded more trail running activities per capita than those in other locales.
The findings also reveal a 23% increase in users who recorded both a run and a strength training activity in the same week. Globally, the average distance tracked per run was 4.82 miles. Participants aged 50–59 logged the highest average distance at 5.1 miles per activity, while those aged 20–29 tended to run slightly less distance at 4.6 miles per run.
The average pace per mile recorded across the Garmin ecosystem was 9:21 for men and 10:11 for women. Not surprisingly, younger age groups ran faster than older ones, with an average speed of 9:16 per mile for those aged 20–29 compared to 10:57 per mile for those over 70.
Runners in Ireland logged the fastest average mile at 9:09, followed by participants in Portugal (9:12) and Italy (9:13). The data shows that runners logged the most miles in August last year, with Saturdays being the most popular day for longer distances overall.
The sweet spot for weekly mileage is between 6–10 miles per week on average, with nearly 40% of runners falling into this category, while 28% hit their stride between 11–20 miles per week. Only 7% of users ran between 21–30 miles a week, and just 3% ran more than 31 miles each week.
On average, Garmin users spent 46.3 minutes on a run. When broken down by age, those aged 60–69 ran 50.8 minutes, 50–59 ran 50.7 minutes, over 70+ ran 49.9 minutes, 40–49 ran 48.5 minutes, 30–39 ran 45.9 minutes, and 20–29 ran 42.6 minutes.
The average VO2 max for all tracked runners was 50, while the average sleep score stood at 73. Sleep data revealed that runners tended to sleep better than non-runners, who had an average sleep score of 70. Those who ran 0–10 miles averaged a score of 73, while those running 11–30 miles or more averaged 74.
The resting heart rate of non-runners sat around 62 bpm. An average user who ran 0–5 miles per week had a resting heart rate of 59 bpm, while a user who ran more than 31 miles a week saw that number drop to 55 bpm.
The half marathon training plan emerged as the most popular distance selected by those using the Garmin Coach feature.
In cycling, the average bike ride tracked per user was 28.59 miles. Age also played a role, with those aged 20–29 and 60–69 both riding just over 30 miles per ride, while those aged 30–39 and 40–49 rode just over 27 miles per ride on average.
Cyclists in Italy recorded the highest average distance per ride at 34.73 miles, followed by riders in Belgium (33.05 miles) and Spain (32.80 miles). The locales with the largest year-on-year increases in the number of cycling activities were Belgium (3.5%), Luxembourg (2%), and Taiwan (1.7%).
Garmin cyclists spent an average of 115 minutes on each ride, with older cyclists tending to ride longer than younger ones. Those aged 20–29 spent about 111.6 minutes per ride, whilst those over 70 spent about 134.2 minutes on average. Cyclists in Italy spent the most time on their bikes at 142.7 minutes per ride, followed by Spain (134.4 minutes) and Colombia (130.3 minutes).
The highest volume of rides was recorded on Sundays, and August was identified as the most popular month of the year for cycling activities. The global average speed reached 14.89 mph, with younger cyclists riding at a faster pace. The three fastest locales globally were the United Arab Emirates (17.75 mph), Thailand (16.81 mph), and Malaysia (16.73 mph).
Garmin cyclists recorded a global average elevation gain per ride of 1,158 feet (approximately 353m). Cyclists aged 60–69 climbed the most, with an average elevation gain of 1,201 feet (around 366m) per ride. The three locales with the highest average elevation gain per ride were Spain (1,704 feet), Colombia (1,678 feet), and Portugal (1,617 feet).
Functional threshold power (FTP) data revealed that the average max FTP for men was 224 and 188 for women. FTP was typically highest on average among younger cyclists, decreasing with age. The three locales with the best average max FTP globally were Norway (234), Slovakia (231), and the Czech Republic (228). The max FTP for ‘elite’ cyclists, defined by Garmin as those who cycled 140 miles or more per week, was 243 on average.
The average VO2 max for all tracked cyclists was 51, with scores being highest among younger age groups and steadily decreasing with age. Top cyclists with an average weekly mileage of 160 miles or more recorded an average VO2 max of 62, while everyone else averaged 51.
The research also explored user motivations, revealing that 60% of runners started the activity to improve physical fitness, while 47% were motivated by improving mental health and reducing stress. Furthermore, 74% use running to manage emotional wellbeing, and 64% state it has helped reduce feelings of loneliness.
Georgia Hunter Bell, Garmin Ambassador and British middle-distance runner and Olympic medallist, said “Global Running Day and Global Cycling Day are brilliant moments to celebrate all the different ways people choose to move.
“Running is my passion, but cycling has become an important part of my training, helping me build strength, support recovery and stay consistent throughout the year. Whether you’re chasing a PB, training for a race or simply moving for enjoyment, the most important thing is finding an activity you love and making it part of your routine.”
