About Us
Meet Andrew
Welcome and thank you for visiting our website. My name is Andrew, and I am the owner of The Running Bug. I would like to tell you a little about myself.
I was never interested in running. In fact, growing up I hated it. It was only when I was diagnosed with depression in 2016 when I tried it, and was hooked. From then on I was signing up for races and running at parkruns all the time. I would easily run 20-30 miles a week.
Some of the races I had signed up for included the Leeds 10k and Half Marathon, York 10k, Humber Bridge 10k, Rotherham 10k, Ilkley Half Marathon, Pontefract 10k, Barcelona Half Marathon, just to name a few.
I even joined a local running club where I felt like I had a new home. To be around other people with the same love of running was amazing. It seemed like everything was going great until I had to stop running due to an injury. Consequently, I had a hip replacement in 2024.
Who We Are
Why I Stopped Running
In 2019 I started to feel a twitch in my right leg. Not thinking anything of it at the time, I ignored it. Eventually it turned into a pain and my leg started to become stiff. After months of physio and trying supplements, I was diagnosed with arthritis. In February 2024 I had a hip replacement.
Who We Are
The Birth of The Running Bug
During the COVID pandemic, it became increasingly difficult to run. Since I was passionate about running, I wanted to try to help others to stay motivated. In August 2020 I decided to start The Running Bug from my kitchen table.
With no website and no marketing strategy, I took a massive risk and built a dream into a reality. We now have thousands of runners worldwide who sign up for our virtual races.
Who We Are
Our mission is to inspire people of all abilities to stay active, motivated, and connected through the joy of running—no matter where they are in the world.
By offering engaging virtual challenges, a supportive global community, and rewarding experiences, The Running Bug aims to make fitness accessible, fun, and meaningful. It encourages individuals to set personal goals, celebrate progress, and build healthy habits, all while fostering a sense of achievement and belonging that goes beyond the finish line.
The Running Bug is a passionate team of runners, creatives, and community builders dedicated to making fitness more engaging and accessible for everyone.
United by a love of running and personal achievement, they design virtual challenges that motivate people to stay active while feeling part of something bigger.
Whether you’re taking your first steps or chasing new milestones, The Running Bug is made up of people who understand the journey and are committed to supporting, inspiring, and celebrating every runner along the way.
Charities and Fundraising
These days charities struggle to offer vital services for people and animals in need. Whilst Government funding can be available, many charities rely on donations and fundraising.
You can help. We have charity races where a percentage of entry fees will be donated to a charity. However, if there is a particular charity you are passionate about, there is the option to create a fundraising page and ask friends, family and work colleagues to sponsor you for completing one of our virtual races. We recommend using website like JustGiving or Go Fund Me.
Social media is also a good way to spread your fundraising goals and update people on your progress.
Sharing is Caring
We love to see your activities and encourage people to share their achievements with others. We are on social media, making it easy for people to post their activities, goals, achievements and stories. This is a fantastic opportunity not just to share your achievements, but it also keeps others motivated. We also have our own Strava Running Club where you can compete with others.
Find us on Facebook or join our Strava club.
