Part 4/7:
As human society evolved and agriculture became prevalent, the need for running as a survival mechanism subsided. This shift led to a decline in running as an essential activity; in fact, organized jogging and running as a sport only gained popularity in the 1960s. During this time, the culture of jogging took root, particularly in the United States, with a significant rise in participation.
Celebrity influences, like President Jimmy Carter and fictional characters such as Forrest Gump, further popularized running in the 1970s. This surge was propelled by a post-World War II trend towards individual fitness as a response to increasingly sedentary lifestyles.