Harry Styles, the 32-year-old British pop star, was recently filmed running from his home in north London to Wembley Stadium, where about 90,000 fans were waiting for another show on his new tour. The video quickly went viral, showing him in blue shorts, a gray sweatshirt and a small shoulder bag as he ran through London on his way to work, except that work meant a 90-minute concert.
The distance from his home in Hampstead to Wembley is just under 10 kilometers, and by estimates he covered it in about 40 minutes. Fans who spotted him were amazed. One wrote on social media that he may be “the first person in history to run to his own stadium show,” while another said seeing Chris Martin take a train to a concert was impressive, but this was “another level.”
After that run, Styles still went onstage and delivered an energetic performance with dancing, constant movement and live singing for about 90 minutes. The article says most people would need a shower, rest and recovery after such a run, but for Styles it appeared to be just a warm-up.
Styles told Runner's World this year that he only really discovered running after turning 30, and that marathon training became part of his life and even influenced his music. He said, “When you train for a marathon, and that’s the loneliest part of the process, you just go out for a run and three hours later come home,” adding that there is “real synergy” with electronic music and that it feels “almost hypnotic.” The article notes that exercise can help process emotions, organize thoughts and reduce stress.
His seriousness as a runner was underlined by last year’s Berlin Marathon, where he registered under the false name Sted Sarandos to avoid publicity, wore a headband and sunglasses, but was eventually recognized. He finished in 2:59:13, nearly 25 minutes faster than his previous marathon in Tokyo, despite temperatures nearing 30 degrees Celsius. The article concludes that Styles has become not only a pop star but also one of the more notable running success stories in recent years.
