New Study Reinforces Benefits of Running

A new study of Peace Runners 773’s Out West Run 13.1 training program found that participants experienced meaningful gains in mental health, physical activity, workplace productivity, and community connection, with a sense of belonging emerging as a key driver of those outcomes. 

The organization’s Comprehensive Impact Report is among the first studies to examine the health, social, and economic effects of a community running program together. Its findings demonstrate how investing in community-based wellness programs can generate measurable benefits for participants and the neighborhoods they call home. 

The study identified four key outcomes associated with participation in Peace Runners 773 programs: 

Participants improved by an average of 2.6 points on the PHQ-9 depression scale, moving from mild to minimal depressive symptoms. The resulting increase in workplace productivity was valued at an estimated $3,200 to $3,279 per participant annually. 

Participants who began meeting CDC physical activity guidelines generated an estimated $2,040 per person in annual health care savings. 

Workplace productivity gains associated with improved physical health represented an estimated $1,390 to $1,964 in additional earnings per participant annually. 

Participants reported a stronger sense of connection to the Garfield Park community, suggesting the program’s benefits may extend beyond individual health outcomes. 

Peace Runners 773 engaged SPARC for Sports to lead the year-long research project. SPARC brought in Kent State University economist Shawn Rohlin and consumer psychologist Jennifer Wiggins to design and conduct the study. Researchers surveyed members of the 2026 Out West Run cohort at the beginning and end of the six-month training program, measuring changes in mental health, physical activity, workplace productivity, and community connection. 

Researchers expected participants’ physical health to improve. The magnitude of the mental health gains, however, was less expected. Participants moved, on average, from mild to minimal depressive symptoms on the PHQ-9, a widely used clinical screening tool.

Researchers also observed a potential network effect: participants who receive support through the program become sources of encouragement and connection for others.