Rapper Gunna didn’t set out to become a fitness icon.
Four years ago, facing legal chaos and mental turmoil, the chart-topping artist born Sergio Kitchens started running to find discipline and peace of mind.
Today, he’s leading thousands of fans through 5K runs across the globe, transforming how the hip-hop community views health and wellness.
In a recent interview with Men’s Health, the 33-year-old opened up about how fitness became inseparable from his creative process—and why he’s on a mission to bring his community along for the journey.
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Running Through the Storm
When life felt overwhelming, Gunna turned to running.
Four years back, amid legal troubles stemming from racketeering conspiracy charges that concluded with an Alford plea, his world was spinning. He needed something to anchor him, something that would quiet the noise and bring clarity.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
I’m in a good space, a good mental space right now. It’s not just because of the music. It’s because of the discipline. It’s because of the journey. I feel like it goes together now. Can’t do one or the other. Fitness and music go together for me.
Running became his meditation. Each stride built focus. Each mile reinforced discipline that spilled into every corner of his life.
Where he once arrived late to meetings, he now showed up early. His mind felt calmer. His creative process sharper.
From Solo Runs to Global Movement
What started as personal therapy quickly caught fire with his fans.
Gunna noticed something different about the reactions to his fitness content on social media. More views. Deeper engagement. People weren’t just watching—they were asking questions, seeking guidance, wanting to join him.
His team thought big. In September 2025, Gunna launched the inaugural Wunna Run 5K in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.
The response? Overwhelming.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Since that first event, Wunna Run has touched down in Toronto, Washington D.C., Miami, Atlanta, London, Johannesburg, Houston, and Los Angeles. Thousands have laced up to run alongside him. Under Armour took notice and became an official sponsor.
Breaking Barriers in Black Fitness
The majority of participants at Wunna Run events are Black—a demographic that historically faces structural and cultural barriers to fitness adoption in America.
We were not taught fitness like that. You got to be, like, that one who really didn’t go and hang out with the other friends. You stayed in the backyard and played basketball. You kept going to practice, to the football field. It wasn’t for everybody.
Gunna recognizes fitness has been gatekept by athletics in Black communities. If you weren’t the kid shooting hoops all day or grinding on the football field, working out wasn’t really for you.
He’s determined to change that narrative. You don’t need to be an athlete to hit the gym or pound the pavement.
Hip-Hop’s Legacy of Vulnerability
Hearing a trap heavyweight discuss mental health and community wellness might surprise some. The tired stereotype paints hip-hop as all machismo and bravado, allergic to vulnerability.
But that’s never been the full truth.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Hip-hop has been wrestling with trauma since Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five dropped “The Message” in 1982. From Scarface and the Geto Boys exploring paranoia in the ’90s to Logic’s 2017 suicide prevention anthem “1-800-273-8255,” the genre has always made space for struggle and healing.
Gunna isn’t just inheriting this legacy—he’s scaling it.
As a multiplatinum artist with six studio albums, his latest The Last Wun debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 with over 104 million streams. His social following exceeds 10 million strong.
But the charts only tell part of his story. His real impact is measured on the pavement, in the thousands connecting with him through fitness.
The Training Regimen Behind the Movement
Gunna works out five to six days per week, often with trainer Dustin Enriquez.
His program alternates between:
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
- Running days focused on building endurance and mental clarity
- Total-body strength training sessions
- Boxing workouts for conditioning and stress relief
During his recent 27-stop global tour spanning four continents, Enriquez traveled with him. They barely missed a session, typically training mornings or lighter afternoons before concerts.
Working out helps me as a performer with my breathing, my stamina. I can move more, engage more, and give my full energy.
The physical benefits translate directly to stage performance. Better breath control. Enhanced stamina. More energy to give audiences.
Running specifically helps him stay lean while crushing stress.
Discipline as Non-Negotiable
For Gunna, consistency isn’t optional.
When asked what would happen if he slacked off, he paused to look at the ocean after finishing an upper-body workout and beach sprints in Malibu.
Honestly… I would feel like a failure.
That’s the mindset driving him forward. Discipline in fitness fuels discipline everywhere else.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Building a Wellness Empire
Gunna’s commitment extends beyond personal training and run clubs.
He’s co-owner of Flerish, a watermelon-based electrolyte drink marketed as having “no fake stuff.” He also has ownership in Cymbiotika Wellness Bar, where he created a signature protein smoothie.
These ventures aren’t just business moves—they’re extensions of his mission to make wellness accessible and appealing to his community.
What’s Next: Marathons, Triathlons, and Beyond
Gunna isn’t stopping at 5Ks.
He’s eyeing longer distances, joking about hosting a “Wunnathon.” He’s picked up tennis recently and expressed curiosity about triathlons and Hyrox competitions.
The rapper doesn’t claim to know exactly where this fitness journey leads. But he’s learned to trust the process.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Sometimes you do things and you don’t know the purpose till later.
What started as one man seeking discipline during life’s darkest moment has become a movement inspiring thousands to discover their own strength.
Gunna proves fitness isn’t reserved for athletes or the already fit. It’s for anyone willing to lace up and take that first step—even when life feels chaotic, especially then.
For the hip-hop titan who once needed running to survive, fitness and creativity now fuel each other. And he’s bringing his entire community along for the ride, one mile at a time.
