Runningman, the transformative three-day festival celebrating movement and mindset for humans in progress, has officially wrapped its third annual event. The weekend brought together over 1,500 attendees from across the globe for three days at Kingston Downs in Rome, Georgia. Co-founded by Jesse Itzler and Devon Lévesque, the festival reimagined what a wellness event can be, fusing one-of-a-kind endurance challenges with immersive activations, live music, and unexpected moments of connection.
From September 12 to 14, 2025, participants ran, recovered, learned, and played their way through a dynamic array of events designed to spark personal breakthroughs anchored around a scenic one-mile former horse race track.
At the heart of it all: the choose-your-own-distance race, where runners logged over 13,558 collective miles on Runningman’s signature one-mile loop. Many signed up to run a 5K, 10K, or half marathon and ended up triumphing with an unexpected PR – a half or full marathon or even a 50k ultra. Along the way, participants were supported by an electric community cheering them on, and recovery activations that kept the energy flowing (and bodies supported) throughout the weekend.
The festival buzzed with live music, workshops, and interactive brand experiences. 2025 highlights included:
- Immersive Wellness Pop-Ups and Larger-Than-Life Brand Activations
- Everyday Dose curated a morning café featuring functional coffee and matcha
- FjØRD Cold Plunge kept the recovery flowing with ice baths all weekend long
- GORUCK gave participants a chance to level up their laps with weighted rucking vests
- High Rise Beverage kept the spirits high with their branded Moke pace car to kick off the race
- Hyperice showcased the Hyperboot, its newest innovation in collaboration with Nike
- HYROX brought signature disciplines from their global competition to life on-site
- Othership helped participants recover in the World’s Largest Sauna, transforming the heat ritual into a space for community connection
- Promix fueled the weekend with a juice bar, jousting arena, 110-ft obstacle course, and an ice cream truck
- Rythm turned heads with a 110-foot ferris wheel, on which participants could test their blood while taking a spin
- SuckerPunch tested participants’ stamina with a pickle-eating contest
- TRX led strength classes, TRX Ignite Games, and open community gym sessions
- WILDE fueled Saturday night’s incredible “WILDE After Dark” party following the race
- On The Main Stage: On Friday night, guests enjoyed keynotes from mental fitness and visualization expert Maya Raichoora, Ben Nemtin spoke about goals rooted in purpose, and Jesse Itzler closed off the talks with a motivational speech preparing guests for the race day ahead. On Saturday, they took in live jams from Bombargo followed with a performance by Doug E. Fresh, before the WILDE After Dark party closed out the evening.
- Zen Zone: Festivalgoers renewed their calm throughout the weekend with immersive wellness offerings like yoga with Stella Stephanopoulos, a cacao ceremony with Daniel Lawler, breathwork and guided meditation with Erika Polsinelli, energy healing with Neysha Arcelay, and goat yoga with Sweet Honey Farm.
- World’s Largest Sauna: The 4,000+ square-foot sauna, in partnership with Othership, kept everyone (extra) warm with 12 wood-burning stoves, live DJs, and guided sauna rounds.
- Learning Lab: Experts in fitness and wellness kept the mind-body connection strong with workshops on running fundamentals, clean beauty, habit stacking, alternative medicine, sleep, and more. Thought leaders included Olympian Jeff Galloway, Dream Performance & Recovery Co-Founder Todd Anderson, Fittish founder Jenna Owens, and Health and Fitness personality Michael Smoak.
“Runningman is my favorite weekend of the year. There’s truly nothing like it on the planet. We took the best parts of festivals, running events, and masterminds, and created a three-day experience that’s part summer camp, part retreat, and all about community. We’re not here to compete, we’re here to connect,” said Jesse Itzler, co-founder of Runningman. “Cold plunges, the world’s largest sauna, incredible speakers, a race element, yoga, a massive party – all while being surrounded by people who want to push boundaries and build relationships that last a lifetime. I can’t wait for next year.”
“The immersive activations put on by companies doing cutting-edge work in fitness and wellness create an environment that is as inspiring as it is unforgettable,” shared Co-Founder Devon Lévesque. “From saunas and cold plunges to an obstacle course and a ferris wheel, our partners brought this year to the next level, helping our community move, recover, and connect in new ways.”
As the team soaks up memories from 2025 (and looks to what 2026 will bring), the refreshingly welcoming, community-centric approach to fitness and movement continues to cement Runningman as an industry trend-setter.
To download hi-res images of the event click HERE.
Runningman is a three-day transformative festival for humans in progress co-founded by Jesse Itzler and Devon Levesque. Set in nature and powered by purpose, the experience blends movement, mindset, recovery, and connection with programming designed to activate and inspire both body and mind. From a choose-your-own-distance race on our signature 1-mile loop to the world’s largest sauna, wellness workshops, live music, and meaningful conversations, Runningman helps people reconnect with themselves and each other through shared challenges and celebrations in an environment that fosters growth, exploration, and real human relationships.
For more information: https://runningmanfestival.com/
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