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What are running dreams about?

This symbol is identified by words like bolt, sprint, dash, etc.

Running in dreams is a frequent dream symbol, occuring in about 21% of dreams. That's about 1 out of every 5 dreams.

What are the major highlights of running dreams?

Running is a very interconnected dream symbol. Having running in a dream substantially changes the nature of the dream.

Running dreams are friendly

Dreams of running have greater increase of friendly interactions within the dream than most other dream symbols. While not all dreams of running will be friendly and they can also contain aggressive interactions, dreams of running are more likely to have friendly interactions than most other dream symbols. Other symbols that are like this include disguises, cubes, senses, youth, scientists, innocence, emaciation, teenagers, heads, and blue eyes.

Dreams of running are aggressive

Running dreams have more aggressive interactions than a lot of other dream symbols. This doesn't mean that all running have aggressive interactions or only aggressive interactions. It simply means that having running in a dream increases the probability this dream contains aggression. Other symbols that are like this include endings, unemployment, raccoons, bears, suffocation, abandoned places, rage, decapitation, rainforests, and unconscious minds.

Dreams with running might be a nightmare

Dreams of running are frequently associated with nightmares. Of course dreams that contain running might not be a nightmare. Plenty of dreams with running are not nightmares. But, dreams of running are more related to nightmares than 80% of all other dream symbols. Other symbols that are like this include arms, voice, robots, amputation, attics, creeping and crawling, dead ends, imagining, devils, and blood.

Running dreams are scary

Dreams containing running are more related to fear than 90% of all other dream symbols. Of course each dream is unique and this does not mean that all dreams of running are about fear. It simply means that if you dream of running, this dream has a great chance of being scarier than most other dream symbols. Other symbols that are like this include darkness, abscesses, mosquitoes, fantastic beings, qualities, paralysis, qualities, weakness, monster, and general body parts.

How does the dream symbol of running affect the different aspects of a dream?

Explore different elements related to dreams of running

Who is in running dreams?

Overall, dreams with running are more related to characters in dreams. Specifically, dreams of running are more related to animals, more related to different roles, and more related to fantastic beings than dreams in general.

Animals

more than usual

Insects

the same as usual

Different roles

more than usual

Fantastic beings

more than usual

Distant people

more than usual

Close people

more than usual

Family

more than usual

Romantic partners

the same as usual
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What are the emotions in running dreams?

Overall, dreams with running are more related to emotions in dreams. Specifically, dreams of running are much more related to fear and more related to pain than dreams in general. They are less related to sadness.

Happiness

the same as usual

Sadness

less than usual

Grief and sorrow

the same as usual

Embarrassment

the same as usual

Confusion

the same as usual

Fear

much more than usual

Pain

more than usual

Hatred

the same as usual

Fun

the same as usual

Love

the same as usual
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Who is in running dreams?

Overall, dreams with running are more related to places in dreams. Specifically, dreams of running are much more related to home, more related to human places, and more related to transportation than dreams in general.

Home

much more than usual

Work

the same as usual

Human places

more than usual

Transportation

more than usual

Natural places

more than usual

Magical places

more than usual
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What happens in running dreams?

Overall, dreams with running are more related to events in dreams. Specifically, dreams of running are much more related to aggressive interactions, more related to friendly interactions, and more related to disasters than dreams in general. They are less related to sex.

Aggressive interactions

much more than usual

Friendly interactions

more than usual

Sex

less than usual

Disasters

more than usual
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How do running in dreams related to other dream phenomenon?

Overall, dreams with running are more related to dream events in dreams. Specifically, dreams of running are more related to nightmares and more related to recurring nightmares than dreams in general.

Lucid dreams

the same as usual

Nightmares

more than usual

Recurring dreams

the same as usual

Recurring nightmares

more than usual

Sleep paralysis

the same as usual

Sleeping

the same as usual

Waking life

the same as usual
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How do running in dreams related the senses?

Overall, dreams with running are more related to senses in dreams. Specifically, dreams of running are more related to hearing, much more related to vision, and much more related to touch than dreams in general. They are less related to taste.

Hearing

more than usual

Smelling

the same as usual

Taste

less than usual

Vision

much more than usual

Touch

much more than usual
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How can you make sense of running in dreams?

Running dreams are frequent. Among other things running dreams are very postively interconnected, friendly, aggressive, nightmare, and scary.

Do you think this is true for your dream of running? How might your dream of running be different?

All dreams have meaning

You can gain insight from thinking about any dream, no matter how strange. Only you, as the dreamer, have final say on what your dream may or may not mean. Each dream is unique.

Look for the differences

The DreamWell dictionary provides information on how each dream symbol appears in dreams in general. Finding how experience running in dreams can be a key to understanding its meaning.

Return to the feelings

Our emotions in dreams can help us understand its meaning. Pay attention to how you felt in the dream. Pay attention to how you feel about running in dreams. See how you feel about running now, in your waking life.

What are possible meanings for dreams of running?

Running or racing in a dream can symbolize trying to escape something in your life. Think of situations where you might ask, “What are you running from?” Of course, if this symbolism is used, the dream is likely to show you running from something.

For example, a woman dreams about running from an evil shadow. The shadow symbolizes her precarious financial situation, and running from it symbolizes that she doesn’t want to think about it. She’s not acknowledging the depth of her fear about the possibility of things getting really bad.

Another woman dreams recurrently about running from a monster. One night she finally has had enough, stops running, turns and confronts the monster. It morphs into a little girl, symbolizing the “inner child” she’s been ignoring.

The action of running in a dream is often a physical representation of a personal situation. It can mean you’re in a hurry to get somewhere in your life. A race against time. You want to get ahead of the competition. You’re afraid. You run from the truth. It’s a comparison used to create symbolism and connect with your life.

Running in a dream can connect with the emotions triggered, such as exhilaration or enjoying a challenge. It can connect with why people run regularly, such as to stay healthy and young-looking.

A man dreams about running against a competitor, just a random man. The race is only for ten meters, and in the dream he uses a starting block to launch himself and get up to full speed as quickly as possible. He repeatedly starts and is timed, but the starting block is configured for him to launch with his left leg, not his right leg, his dominant leg, and his start is slower than expected. It symbolizes “starting off on the wrong foot” in the morning.

Feeling weak while trying to run can reflect a physical condition restricting your movement. See: Weakness

Feeling weak can reflect a physical condition while dreaming known as sleep paralysis. You think you’re running, but your brain isn’t registering motion. See: Sleep paralysis

See also: Backwards, Cars, Chasing, Feet, Flying, Legs, Monster, Rivers, Rockets, Shoes, Sleep paralysis, Weakness, Wheelchairs

S

This interpretation is from ""The Dream Interpretation Dictionary: Symbols, Signs, and Meanings" and is provided by J.M. DeBord aka "RadOwl". He is the author of several acclaimed books about dreaming, the host of The Dreams That Shape Us podcast, and is a moderator of r/Dreams, one of the largest dream sharing communities on the internet.

Examples of dreams of running

Read some real dream reports of running dreams.. These real life dream reports come from the moderated dream sharing communities of Reddit including r/Dreams, r/Nightmares, r/DreamInterpretation, or r/thisdreamihad. Please note that some of these may contain graphic, sexual, or violent images and text. Use the source link for each dream to view and join the discussion of each one.

Had the scariest, creepiest and weirdest dream in my entire life.

Had a dream that there was a 11-12 year old child inside a freezer.

I was hanging out with some people and one of them could hear some sounds coming from the freezer. They went to check it out and there was a girl inside. She jumped out and ran all the way downstairs like it was nothing. (we were in some sort of house) her legs, face and back were covered in ice.

There was someone who supposedly lived in this girl's household. I asked how come no one knew she was in that freezer and how come no one looked for her. Her reply was that everyone did look for her, but no one could find her. I asked how long has she been missing, she replied 12 hours. So the girl has been inside that freezer for 12 hours. I was shocked wasn't dead.

A little into the dream, I learn that men hate this girl, including her own father. They don't like that she doesn't stay still whenever they rub their genitals against her clothed body. They hate that she slides away. I also found out that her own messed up parents did put her in the freezer so she could die.

A lot of cars started pulling up to their house, as if they knew what was going on and they wanted to teach those inhumane parents a lesson. Before I woke up, I remember myself and other people were trying to shoot the mom because she was trying to ran away. The ending felt a bit like a video game.

Honestly, what a creepy dream....

Had a dream that there was a 11-12 year old child inside a freezer.

I was hanging out with some people and one of them could hear some sounds coming from the...

Source | Show dream

Weird dream could it be a warning please help interpret it ? Thanks!

So i was in france in some strange place looking similar to a city i lived before remiremont

and a highway toll and i passed the toll so afterwards i go down the city near some sign saying neufchateau i never knew the city not even today

and then a beast man very hairy looking a bit like a werewolf only with the head of a man and very hairy and looks for someone and he didnt see me then my mom comes opens the door of the car and tells me to get in and then i quickly get in and ran and the beast couldnt see me

a bit later on i meet with a wonderful woman and we get into her charriot and her father accompanied her , and as soon as we arrive somewhere some sorceress or demon did something and made it so 3 weeks pass and the woman thought i left her and then i say to the demon indominus mortis and curse the demon sorceress… and then 3 images appear before me saying no hugging with this one or sex or love , they were stickman images laying in bed with some words written under, and then i am laying in a bed with other man i didnt knew and i did something to a pole like with my hands i made it a hole and put my controller in it and then i made it complete again and the pole was looking like all poles normal and then i see the charriot i was in and behind it is a castle and village or city on fire and then i say to the demon something like never and the dream ends

So i was in france in some strange place looking similar to a city i lived before remiremont

and a highway toll and i passed the toll so afterwards i go down...

Source | Show dream

Reoccuring Dream Locations

Does any one else have reoccuring Dream Locations? Mine are typically at the Airport on a way to a flight, University, Dormitory, or free roaming in society. I especially hate the free roaming ones since those typically consist of running away from something 🤕

Does any one else have reoccuring Dream Locations? Mine are typically at the Airport on a way to a flight, University, Dormitory, or free roaming in society. I...

Source | Show dream

Had a dream that everyone was a Satanist reptilian trying to kill me

it was like the trueman show where everyone I ran into had ulterior motives and they were all following me. Then carlos mencia came out of nowhere lol and told me what was really happening...he basically told me that all the people i knew were not actually human but reptilians trying to get me alone so they can kill me...shit made me paranoid as hell. I couldn't trust anyone but in a way it made me stronger/sharper/quick witted because I knew to stay on my toes

it was like the trueman show where everyone I ran into had ulterior motives and they were all following me. Then carlos mencia came out of nowhere lol and told...

Source | Show dream

Was chased by creepy people

Forgive me if this doesn't make sense i don't remember all the details of the dream

I was lost in the middle of nowhere when tgese creepy kids began to follow me i tried to run away but they started to chase me i kept run but they eventually caught up to me and then i woke up and when i woke up i saw a person standing next to my bed for a second it scared me

Forgive me if this doesn't make sense i don't remember all the details of the dream

I was lost in the middle of nowhere when tgese creepy kids began to follow...

Source | Show dream
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