Why Do MZs Run Together?: A Phenomenological Study on Running Crew Culture

This study aimed to explore how MZ generation (Millennials and Gen Z) participants engage in running crew activities-why they began running, how they sustain their practice, and what socio-cultural meanings emerge throughout the process. Using a phenomenological research design, this study conducted participant observation and in-depth interviews with 14 running crew participants active in Seoul and the metropolitan area. Applying Giorgi’s phenomenological analysis method, the findings were categorized into three core themes. First, “More than one: Relationships built through running together” describes how trust and a sense of belonging were cultivated, forming a loosely connected yet emotionally supportive community. Second, “Low-threshold, barrier-free practice” highlights the autonomy and flexibility of running as a practice that fits seamlessly into participants’ everyday routines. Third, “Performing the self through shared records” reveals how digital sharing and emotional feedback functioned as means of expressing and reinforcing social identity. These results suggest that for the MZ generation, running crews function not merely as spaces for exercise, but as multifaceted sites of identity construction, relational belonging, and embodied self-care. This study offers a deeper understanding of youth physical culture and provides practical and theoretical implications for the development of leisure and community programs targeting younger generations.