The Best Facial Hair in Running

Written by
ACTIVE.com
No offense to the bird, but for many, it's no longer the most-anticipated part of the month. November is also known for the No-Shave November initiative, which raises awareness and money for men's cancers. For 30 days, eager participants forgo shaving and cultivate some pretty epic beards and 'staches in order to start a conversation about serious diseases like testicular, colorectal and prostate cancer.

Luckily for the sport of running, there are a plethora of mustachioed men. From Michael Wardian to Noah Droddy, these dudes just get facial hair. We're not sure if they plan to grow their beards even longer in November, but we've decided to curate their faces to contribute to the movement.

Read More: Best Hairstyles for Runners
Rob Krar
1 of 9
The Man Behind the Beard:
Krar has enjoyed a long career in endurance sports after getting his start as a teen representing Canada in the Triathlete Junior World Championships. That was nearly two decades ago, and now Krar is best known for his wins on the trails, including taking first in Western States twice and being named ultramarathoner of the year in 2012 and 2013. He is also dedicated to speaking out and raising awareness about mental illness. He lives with his wife in Flagstaff, Arizona, where they've opened their home to aspiring ultrarunners.

Facial Hair Analysis:
Krar's traditional grizzly beard has a mind of its own--which is expressed through its Twitter account . It shares regular updates on its status, like, "growing" and "floofy." It occasionally pokes fun at Krar's baby-faced competitors, too. Blonde and bare Jim Walmsley, for example, was a recent target.
Follow @robkrar
Find:
Your Next Race
Noah Droddy
1 of 9
The Man Behind the Mustache:
The internet first fell in love with Droddy at the 2016 Olympic Track Trials when he was spotted at the start line of the men's 10,000-meter finals. Despite his disappointing performance in the race, the track world fell in love. After a slew of tweets and a few lengthy profiles about his phenomenal look, he was a recognizable name in every American home. Actually, more like every home that watches track and field--so, like 3,000 people, but still. Anyway, Droddy's speed and running performance have been steadily improving since he became a social media sensation.

Facial Hair Analysis:
I mean, what more needs to be said? That mustache? That beard? It's a work of art.
Follow @noah_droddy
Find:
Your Next Race
Noah Droddy's fans
1 of 9
He's inspired a nation.
Follow @noah_droddy
Find:
Your Next Race
Craig Engels
1 of 9
The Man Behind the Look:
At 23, Engels ' fourth place finish in the men's 1500 meters at the USATF Championships in Sacramento was an impressive feat. The Ole Miss athlete ran a personal best of 3:37:66 and was promptly scooped up by Nike Oregon Project. We're impressed by his speed, but what we really love is his mullet and 'stache.

Facial Hair Analysis:
While the mustache acts a mere complement to the glorious feathered hair, its impact is undeniable.
Follow @craigathor
Find:
Your Next Race
Robert Domanic
1 of 9
The Man Behind the Mustache:
Domanic is a teammate of Engels, who surely encouraged this stud-stache. He is also the first athlete in Ole Miss history to win All-American honors in the 1500m.

Facial Hair Analysis:
We can neither confirm nor deny that he styles this look every day.
Follow @robert_domanic
Find:
Your Next Race
Anton Krupicka
Specialty: Ultramarathoner
1 of 9
The Man Behind the Beard:
The first time Krupicka ran the Leadville 100 in 2006, he won it. The next year, he won again, shaving 47 minutes off his time. He's an ambassador of the sport of ultrarunning, and his beard is one of the most recognizable on the trails.

Facial Hair Analysis
Krupicka considers himself a mountain runner, so it only makes sense that his look would match the terrain of his choosing.
Follow @antonkrupicka
Find:
Your Next Race
Jared Ward
1 of 9
The Man Behind the Mustache:
When Ward came in third at the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles, he nearly freaked out. He was surprised, elated and brought an energy to the American men's marathon that fueled the team's great performances at the Rio Olympic Games. Ward's best time, 2:11:30, places him among the best in the world. Plus, he's just an all-around nice guy.

Facial Hair Analysis:
When Ward recently shaved his mustache, he was unrecognizable. His upper lip looked naked. We like to think that this athlete was born with his upper lip-tickler.
Follow @jwardy21
Find:
Your Next Race
Michael Wardian
1 of 9
The Man Behind the Beard:
If it is long, Wardian will run it. In 2016, he captured attention around the globe by running the World Marathon Majors--seven marathons, on seven continents, in seven days--in an average time of 2:31:09--the fastest ever. He's a 2:17 marathoner who loves a good challenge, which might be why he's run the world's quickest 50K on a treadmill.

Facial Hair Analysis:
Wardian's face hair is just as nuts as his race schedule, but we can't blame him. If you had 47 races in one year on your plan, all over 26 miles, you'd probably forget to trim your beard, too.
Follow @mikewardian
Find:
Your Next Race
1 of 9
Find:
Your Next Race