One could say that Maniac Magee, in the novel Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli, was a runner in two different understandings of the word—though both are relevant to Maniac and his story.

Early in the book, Maniac runs away from his Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan because he can't stand to live any longer in a loveless home. Throughout the book, he is constantly running away in search of a better environment for himself.

However, when Maniac runs away, that's not just a figure of speech. He is literally running almost all of the time. Maniac uses running as a way to escape the pain that he feels as a result of his less-than-ideal life. At least while he is running, he is able to somehow escape from the problems of his life.

The process of running actually helps Maniac ultimately find a resolution to the pain of loneliness he feels. Mars Bar starts to run with him, which eventually leads to the blossoming of a great friendship.