From Hollywood stars to chart-topping musicians and former presidents, these 20 celebrities traded red carpets for race bibs and showed they’ve got serious endurance. Some ran for charity, others for a challenge—but all proved that fame doesn’t get you a free ride to the finish line.
Ready to see who went the full 26.2?
1. Ryan Reynolds
Actor Ryan Reynolds ran the New York City Marathon in 2008 in 3 hours 50 minutes, exceeding his expectations. He ran the race in support of Team Fox, raising money to fight Parkinson’s disease, which his father suffered from.
In the last miles, he was inspired by a meeting with Michael J. Fox.
Reynolds himself admitted that he did not consider himself a runner before this challenge.
2. Oprah Winfrey
In 1994, TV host Oprah Winfrey completed her first 26.2-mile race, the Marine Corps Marathon, in 4:29:15.
Her participation was a cultural shift, showing that marathons were not just for professionals. The phrase “Beat Oprah” became the motivation for many aspiring runners. Winfrey proved that discipline and perseverance are more important than athletic background.
3. Ashton Kutcher
In 2022, actor Ashton Kutcher ran the New York City Marathon to raise money for his charity Thorn, which fights child trafficking. He managed to raise over $1 million.
Kutcher trained with the support of Peloton and completed 26.2 miles among 50,000 other participants. It was his first marathon.
4. Gordon Ramsay
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is an avid marathoner. In 2004, he ran the London Marathon in an impressive 3:30:37.
He has completed over 15 marathons, and several half-Ironman distances, and participated in an Ironman. For Ramsay, running is part of discipline and a healthy lifestyle.
5. Harry Styles
In March 2025, singer Harry Styles ran the Tokyo Marathon and finished in a great time of 3:24:07. He kept a steady pace throughout the race, running both halves of the marathon with nearly identical splits.
Styles placed 6010th out of nearly 38,000 runners. His participation was an unexpected surprise for fans.
6. Pamela Anderson
Actress Pamela Anderson ran her first 26.2-mile race, the New York City Marathon, in 2013 in 5:41:03. She ran the race with her brother, raising money for the J/P HRO Haiti Relief Fund.
Her previous running experience was limited to training on the beaches of Malibu. The marathon was a real challenge for her.
7. Pippa Middleton
The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, Pippa Middleton, ran one of the world’s toughest marathons, the Great Wall Marathon in China, in 4:54:51 in 2016. The course included climbing the Great Wall of China and over 5,000 steps. She finished 13th among women.
The race was a charity event, in support of the British Heart Foundation.
8. Natalie Dormer
Actress Natalie Dormer, known for her role in Game of Thrones, has run the London Marathon twice. In 2014, she ran it in 3:50:57, and in 2016, in 3:51:21.
She was raising money for ChildLine. For Dormer, participation was more important than time: she ran to help children.
9. Katie Holmes
Katie Holmes completed the New York City Marathon in 2007 with a time of 5:29:58. She was supported by her then-husband Tom Cruise and their daughter Suri.
The actress admitted that Kanye West’s music, especially the track “Stronger,” helped her. Participation in the marathon was a personal achievement.
10. Ethan Hawke
Actor Ethan Hawke ran the New York City Marathon in 2015 with his wife Ryan. They raised money for The Doe Fund, an organization that helps homeless people and former prisoners. It was their first marathon.
According to Hawke, participating was a personal challenge and an act of solidarity.
11. Edward Norton
In 2009, actor Edward Norton ran his debut marathon—the New York City Marathon—leading a team of around 30 runners, including three Maasai warriors, to support the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust.
He completed the 26.2-mile race in 3:48:01, using the event not only to raise funds but to spotlight conservation of Kenya’s wildlife and celebrate Maasai culture.
12. Colin Farrell
Actor Colin Farrell ran the 2024 Dublin Marathon, completing the distance in 4:06:45. What made the race special was that he finished the last 4 km pushing his friend Emma Fogarty’s wheelchair, who suffers from the debilitating skin disease EB. Together, they raised over €774,000 for DEBRA Ireland.
It was an emotional and inspiring run, full of human warmth and support.
13. Jennifer Connelly
Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Connelly ran the 2024 New York City Marathon. She dedicated her participation to raising money for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Connelly shared that the race was her dream and she was proud to have made it happen. She was supported by her husband Paul Bettany and children.
14. Diplo
Famous DJ and producer Diplo ran the Los Angeles Marathon in March 2023, finishing the race in 3 hours and 55 minutes, although in his video, he claimed a time of 3:35. Before that, he had never run more than 14 miles.
15. George W. Bush
Future US President George W. Bush ran the Houston Marathon in 1993, finishing with a time of 3:44:52. At the time, he was not yet in public office, he would become the governor of Texas two years later, in 1995.
Even during his presidency, he continued to run three miles a day, viewing it as essential for both physical fitness and mental clarity. His dedication to running inspired many to balance an active lifestyle with demanding careers.
16. Flea
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea ran the Los Angeles Marathon in 2011 in 3:52:59 and improved his time to 3:41:49 in 2012. He also regularly runs the Griffith Park Marathon to support his music school, the Silverlake Conservatory.
For the musician, running has become part of his ritual and a way to give back to the community.
17. Shia LaBeouf
Actor Shia LaBeouf ran the Los Angeles Marathon in 2010 in 4:35:31, raising money for the U.S. Vets organization. He also took part in the art performance Metamarathon, running 144 laps around a museum in Amsterdam.
For LaBeouf, running is part of his creativity and a way to express ideas. His marathons always come with an unconventional message.
18. Will Ferrell
Comedian Will Ferrell has run several marathons, including the New York City Marathon (2001, 5:04), the Boston Marathon (2003, 3:56:12), and another one in 2014, in 3:48:11.
Despite his comedian image, he takes sports seriously. He has also participated in ultramarathons and Ironman.
19. Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys ran the New York City Marathon in 2015, finishing in 5 hours, 50 minutes, and 52 seconds. She took part in the race to raise funds for Keep a Child Alive, a charity she co-founded.
In interviews, the singer admitted her initial reaction to the idea of running a marathon was a firm “HELL NO,” but later saw it as a mental challenge.
20. Randall Park
Actor Randall Park ran his first marathon, the New York City Marathon, in 2024, at the age of 50. He dedicated his run to KultureCity, a nonprofit that promotes sensory inclusion for people with autism, including his daughter. After losing his father earlier that year, Park saw the marathon as both a personal challenge and a way to process grief.
He described running as a form of meditation and said his goal wasn’t speed, but simply to finish the race with intention and purpose.
By Lena Sage
