If you’ve spent any time on social media in recent years, you’ve probably seen the joke: “Running was invented in 1748 by Thomas Running.” It’s a funny idea—that something as natural as running could have a single inventor and a specific patent date. But the question behind the meme is real, and the answer is far more interesting. Running was not invented by anyone; it evolved. The real story stretches back millions of years, through ancient Olympic races, and into a modern jogging boom that reshaped how millions of people move.
The viral meme has created confusion, but it also opens the door to a deeper understanding of human history. This article separates the joke from the facts, and lays out what is actually known about the origins of running as a biological ability, a sport, and a fitness phenomenon.
We will debunk the 1748 claim, trace the evolutionary timeline of human running, and show how the meme itself became a cultural touchpoint—all while relying on verified historical and scientific sources.
When Was Running Invented? The Viral Meme Explained
The idea that ‘Thomas Running’ invented running in 1748 is a popular internet joke, not historical fact.
Hominins began running for survival, evolving unique biomechanics for endurance.
The first recorded Olympic Games featured foot races (stadion).
Running became a widespread recreational exercise, pioneered by coaches like Arthur Lydiard.
Key Insights
- Humans have been running for over 2 million years; it is an innate biological capability, not an invention.
- The ‘Thomas Running 1748’ meme provides a humorous entry point for discussing the deep history of running.
- Although running is ancient, its formalization as a sport (Olympics) and a global fitness activity (jogging boom) occurred in distinct historical periods.
- The specific year ‘1748’ in the meme is arbitrary and carries no historical significance related to running.
Snapshot of Key Facts
| Fact | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| First Humans Run for Survival | ~2-3 Million Years Ago | Australopithecus / Homo erectus likely began endurance running for persistence hunting. |
| First Olympic Stadium Race | 776 BC | The stadion race (approx. 192 meters) was the only event at the first Olympics. |
| First Modern Olympic Marathon | 1896 | Inspired by the legend of Pheidippides, the marathon was introduced at the Athens Games. |
| ‘Thomas Running’ Meme Origin | ~2019-2020 | The meme gained traction on Reddit and Twitter, satirizing the idea of an invention of running. |
| Modern Running Boom | 1960s-1970s | Coaches like Arthur Lydiard (NZ) popularized recreational jogging, leading to a global fitness trend. |
Was Running Invented in 1748? The Factual Truth
The short answer is no. The year 1748 appears in no credible historical record related to running. Running is not an invention; it is an evolved ability. Humans and their ancestors have been running for at least 2 million years, long before any human culture kept written records.
When Did Humans Start Running for Survival?
Evolutionary biologists point to the emergence of Homo erectus around 2 million years ago as a likely point when long-distance running became a key survival tool. The development of the Achilles tendon, arched feet, and the nuchal ligament allowed early humans to run efficiently and to engage in persistence hunting—chasing animals over long distances until they tired. This is supported by research into human biomechanics and fossil evidence. Wikipedia notes that running evolved very early in human ancestry, with long-distance running developing roughly 2.6 million years ago.
Why the 1748 Date Is Completely False
No source from 1748 mentions running as an invention. The date is a fabrication that emerged from modern internet meme culture. The earliest known appearance of the “Thomas Running” joke is on Reddit’s r/RunningCirclejerk, a satirical forum. Marathon Handbook explicitly states that “Thomas Running invented running in 1784” is a popular meme trend that makes no sense. The meme has no basis in any historical event.
Are There Any Recorded ‘Inventions’ of Running as a Concept?
No. Running as a physical activity was never invented—it is a natural human capability. What was invented, or more accurately formalized, are the rules and events of competitive running. The ancient Greeks codified foot races in the Olympic Games, and the modern era saw the standardisation of track events after the revival of the Olympics in 1896.
The meme treats running as if it were a patented device. In reality, running is a biological adaptation. Categorising it as an ‘invention’ is a category error that the joke exploits for humour.
When Was Running Invented as a Sport?
Organised competitive running has a clear historical starting point: the ancient Olympic Games. The first recorded running event took place in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece. That race, called the stadion, was a sprint of about 192 metres.
When Were the First Olympic Running Events Held?
Rockay’s history of running confirms that the first Olympic Games in 776 BC featured a single foot race. Over time, longer distances such as the diaulos (two stades) and the dolichos (multiple laps) were added. The modern Olympics, revived in 1896, expanded the running programme to include sprints, middle-distance, long-distance, and the marathon.
What Is the History of the Marathon?
The marathon event was introduced at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, inspired by the legend of the Greek messenger Pheidippides. The distance later standardised to 42.195 kilometres. The marathon is now one of the most iconic running disciplines worldwide. The modern Olympic era helped standardise running events internationally starting in 1896.
Ancient Greek races were run on dirt tracks, often with runners competing nude. The modern Games transformed running into a highly regulated set of events with precise distances, starting blocks, and timing systems.
When Did Running Become a Popular Form of Exercise?
While people have always run for survival and sport, the idea of running purely for fitness—jogging—is a relatively modern phenomenon. It took off in the 1960s and 1970s, driven by a few key figures.
What Role Did Arthur Lydiard Play in the Running Boom?
Arthur Lydiard, a New Zealand coach, is widely credited with starting the first jogging club in the world in Auckland in 1961. Research published in PMC notes that Lydiard’s methods emphasised long, steady runs for health rather than competition. His philosophy spread globally when American coach Bill Bowerman visited New Zealand and later co-founded jogging programmes in the United States.
How Did the 1960s and 1970s Influence Running Culture?
The U.S. running boom is commonly tied to the 1970s. About 25 million Americans took up running or jogging during this period. Frank Shorter’s Olympic marathon victory in 1972 is often cited as a major catalyst. Red Bull’s history of running highlights how the jogging craze transformed running from a niche competitive activity into a mainstream lifestyle choice. The world’s first jogging club in 1961 by Lydiard and Bowerman’s subsequent work were foundational.
Some online sources suggest running for exercise was invented in 1938 or 1900. These are not supported by evidence. The well-documented jogging boom did not begin until the 1960s, with Arthur Lydiard’s club in 1961 and the wider movement in the 1970s.
Timeline of Running: From Evolution to Meme
- ~2-3 Million Years Ago – Hominins evolve to run. The development of the Achilles tendon, arched feet, and nuchal ligament allows for efficient bipedal running. Source: Wikipedia
- 776 BC – Running becomes a sport. The first Olympic Games in Greece feature the ‘stadion’ foot race. Source: Rockay
- 1896 – The Marathon is born. The first modern Olympic Games include a marathon to commemorate the run of Pheidippides. Source: Red Bull
- 1960s – The Jogging Craze begins. Arthur Lydiard and Bill Bowerman popularise running for health, sparking global participation. Source: PMC
- 2019-2020 – The ‘When Was Running Invented?’ Meme goes viral. The fictitious ‘Thomas Running’ becomes a widespread joke on social media. Source: Marathon Handbook
- Present – The meme persists, creating a need for factual clarification and historical context. Source: Scribd
Myth vs. Fact: What Is Certain and What Remains Unclear
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| The ‘Thomas Running invented running in 1748’ is 100% false. It is a satirical meme with no basis in reality. | The exact date when early hominins transitioned from walking to running is debated by anthropologists, but the timeframe is in the millions of years. |
| Humans have been running for at least 2 million years. Supported by evolutionary biology and fossil evidence. | The original poster of the ‘Thomas Running’ meme is difficult to trace definitively, but it circulated widely on Reddit’s r/RunningCirclejerk. |
| Running as an Olympic sport dates back to 776 BC. | Not applicable. |
| Modern recreational jogging became popular starting in the 1960s. | Not applicable. |
Why the Question Matters: The Deep History Behind the Joke
The virality of the ‘Thomas Running’ meme highlights a cultural tendency to question the origins of common activities. It is a joke, but it prompts a valuable question: ‘When did this thing we do start?’ The answer is not a single year but a multi-million-year evolutionary journey punctuated by key cultural moments like the Olympics and the jogging boom.
Running is not an invention but an adaptation. Our bodies are designed for endurance running, which allowed our ancestors to hunt and scavenge effectively. The Olympic Games formalized running, giving it rules and a competitive structure that persists today. The running boom of the 20th century transformed the activity from a competitive sport or occasional necessity to a mainstream lifestyle choice.
Understanding this context helps readers see the meme for what it is: a playful fiction that, ironically, contains a kernel of genuine curiosity about human history.
Key Sources and Expert Perspectives
“Biomechanical research suggests that humans are uniquely adapted for endurance running, a trait that evolved millions of years ago.”
Inferred from evolutionary biology sources (Marathon Handbook, Runner’s World)
“The first recorded running event was the stadion at the ancient Olympics in 776 BC.”
Historical Record (IOC / Olympic.org)
“Arthur Lydiard is credited with developing the modern foundation of recreational running and jogging in the 1960s.”
Historical Sports Record (220 Triathlon, Runner’s World)
“Running was invented, when Thomas Running tried to walk twice at the same time, in 1748.”
Meme / Satire (Reddit r/RunningCirclejerk)
Where to Go From Here?
Now that the meme has been explained and the factual history laid out, you can explore more depth on the topic. Read The History of Running – A Brief Introduction for a detailed look at ancient and modern running. For a comprehensive timeline covering the evolution to the jogging boom, see When Was Running Invented? (History of Running). Understanding the real origins of running—from endurance hunting to Olympic glory—turns a silly joke into a fascinating lesson in human evolution and culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was running invented 1900?
No specific invention of running occurred in 1900. It is likely a confusion with the Paris 1900 Olympics, which featured many running events.
When was running invented 1899?
No significant invention of running occurred in 1899. This date appears to be a variant of the meme or a random year.
When was running invented 1938?
No major invention of running is attributed to 1938. This might be a reference to another meme or an obscure trivia point.
When was walking invented?
Like running, walking was not invented. It evolved. Bipedalism, the ability to walk on two legs, is estimated to have emerged around 4-6 million years ago with ancestors like Ardipithecus.
Who is Thomas Running?
Thomas Running is a fictional character invented by internet users as part of a satirical meme. No historical figure by that name invented running.
Is the Thomas Running meme true?
No. It is a joke. The meme originated on Reddit and spread to other platforms, but it has no basis in historical fact.
What was running like before 1748?
Humans had been running for millions of years before 1748. Before the meme era, running was used for hunting, travel, and eventually organised sports like the ancient Olympics.
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Sarah Mills is Managing Editor at Current UK, running the daily news list, headline review and commissioning.