Who isn’t inspired by watching a marathon — or running one? The grit required to take on this 26.2-mile challenge is remarkable, whether you’re an elite athlete aiming to lead the pack or an ordinary person determined to complete the course however long it takes.
Celebrities are also feeling drawn to compete. Whether chasing a personal best, supporting a cause, or checking off a goal on their bucket list — or all three — stars like Harry Styles and Cythia Erivo are going the distance.
Harry Styles
Pop superstar Harry Styles officially began his marathon journey in 2025, but he already boasts impressive running stats, with a 3:24:07 finish in Tokyo, then a 2:59:13 finish in Berlin just six months later — a massive improvement that put him in sub-3 territory.
“If you want to run a marathon, it takes a lot of discipline. You can’t go too fast too quickly,” Styles said.
Styles also drew a parallel between marathoning and music. “When you’re training for a marathon, which is the loneliest part, you just kind of set out for a run, and three hours later you come back. But there’s a real synergy between that and electronic music. It’s kind of hypnotic and becomes like a mantra almost.”
Cynthia Erivo
Wicked star Cynthia Erivo knocked out an impressive 3:35:36 finish at the 2022 London Marathon — and she’s not stopping there, with plans to take on the 2026 London Marathon in late April.
- Monday: a short, quick “shake-out” run or hour on a bike “just to get my legs turned over”
- Tuesday: a longish run at a relaxed pace
- Wednesday: “Fartlek” sessions combining “comfortably hard” running with short, intense bursts of speed
- Thursday: another longish run (possibly 10 or 11 miles)
- Friday: a shorter run (about 6 miles)
- Saturday: another longish run
- Sunday: a long run, anywhere from a half marathon to 20 or so miles
Erivo also prioritizes intentional rest and nutrition to help keep herself marathon-ready. She described herself to Women’s Health as “like a little squirrel” fueling herself with nuts, protein bars, gels, water, vitamins (including a multivitamin, vitamin D, B12, and magnesium), and electrolytes.
Colin Farrell
When Colin Farrell ran the Dublin Marathon in 2024, it wasn’t about pace — it was about purpose.
Jennifer Connelly
That sub-4 performance places her well ahead of the average recreational runner — suggesting serious starting line preparation, even while balancing a demanding acting career.
Post-race, Connelly took to social media with a hat tip to supporters, thanking “the incredible crowd that supported us all the way” along with friends, family, volunteers, and organizers who made the race possible.
Randall Park
Just before his first 26.2, Park revealed to GQ what his biggest training challenge was — along with his motivation to train for his first marathon at age 50.
Ashton Kutcher
Kevin Hart
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is a celebrity marathoning legend. The former talk show host and media mogul made headlines with her 4:29:15 finish at the 1994 Marine Corps Marathon, a time that became iconic in running culture.
Natalie Dormer
Dormer showed up at the London Marathon again in 2016, coming in just shy of her previous finish time. Speaking to UK news outlet The Guardian at the time, Dormer underscored the importance of having a support system during those tough training moments.
Alicia Keys
In a Refinery29 blog at the time, Keys noted what kept her inspired during the race.
Carl Radke
Television personality and Summer House star Carl Radke crossed the 2025 New York City Marathon finish line in 4:04:25 — and this milestone marked more than a fitness achievement.
For Radke, the race is part of a broader wellness goal, as the star has been open on social media and in the public sphere about how running fits into his sobriety journey focused on health and accountability.
Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell may be known for comedy, but his marathon performance — 3:56:12 at the 2003 Boston Marathon — was no joke.