Running is experiencing a huge increase in popularity, with the explosion of run clubs and a 115% lift in marathon participation in the past five years. With all that time to let minds run free, Audible is setting the pace with a host of initiatives designed to unlock runners’ imagination and motivation.
If you are ready to take your fitness journey to the next level, then lace up and listen up with Audible. You could be turning your next run into a page-turner.
Aussies are busy multitaskers with 89% of listeners saying audiobooks allow them to consume more books, and with research from Audible showing eight in 10 (80%) Aussie runners recognise the benefits of listening to audiobooks while running – including entertainment (43%), relaxation (37%), and distraction from worries (31%)3 – Audible is the perfect training partner to turn run time, into fun time.
It’s true though. I was once an avid reader and would just devour books. But with having to be an adult, responsibilities and young family, reading time is short and precious. I have for a long time resisted diving into the audio world because I just don’t absorb information at the same rate as reading.
About eighteen months ago I really really wanted to read this one book (for the record, it was The Body Knows the Score by Bessel van der Kolk) but I was so time poor, I finally caved to the audiobook version. Now I am consuming more content aurally than ever, slotting in audiobooks, podcasts and other information when I am driving, working in the garden or just hanging out the washing.
Run with Audible Challenge on Strava
Teaming up with Strava, the app for active people, and in collaboration with media agency Wavemaker, Audible is challenging runners to complete the time it takes to listen to the average length of an audiobook on Audible – that’s 6 hours and 5 minutes – for new members to unlock access to a 2-month extended free trial of Audible Premium Plus.
With running the number one activity tracked by Strava’s millions of users in Australia, Audible is the perfect training partner to set the pace and go the distance, one chapter at a time. Runners can sign up now to the Run with Audible Challenge on Strava, and complete the challenge before 31 May to qualify.
Athlete social integration
To encourage participation and demonstrate how they’re integrating audiobooks into their daily habits and training routines, Audible is teaming up with Hello Agency to lead an influencer campaign with Australian and New Zealand athletes Max Hoonhout, Katie Williams, Matt Poole and Alfie Robertson, proving Audible is the perfect training partner to work your body, and your mind.
Unofficial Run Club takeover
Lacing up with Unofficial Run Club and Wavemaker, Audible will take over their Friday Run through Sydney with an Audible activation on Friday 2 May at Milsons Point, fueling the runners who participate in the weekly events with post-run coffees, and sparking their imaginations with Audible content.
HOKA Runaway Sydney Half Marathon Event Partner
And in 2025, Audible in collaboration with Wavemaker, is an Event Partner of the HOKA Runaway Sydney Half Marathon on Sunday 4 May, encouraging participants to run the twists and turns with Audible. During the race, Audible will have a number of athletes running with speakers, setting the pace and motivating racers with inspiring scenes from popular stories.
“Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned runner, listening to Audible can keep you motivated, moving and entertained,” said Polly Blenkinship, Head of Global Brand Media, Audible. “This multi-touchpoint approach has been specifically designed with runners in mind, meeting them where they are and providing the ultimate training companion for runners of all levels.”
To kick off training with Audible, runners can pick the perfect exercise companion from over 850,000 audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals, finding motivation and inspiration from David Goggins’ Never Finished, Mel Robbins’ The Let Them Theory, and Hugh van Cuylenburg’s The Resilience Project.
Equipment
If you are looking for a sweet set of buds to be with you on this journey, DRN has reviewed plenty of them. There are the Shokz OpenRun 2 that are on the upper end of the market. For something in the budget range, there are the Daelus QD-6 earbuds which are amazingly comfortable. Or there is the Belkin SoundForm ClearFit which slots in between the two. All of these options are open ear types and help you maintain situation awareness.
