Ellie Goulding’s Inspiring Passion for Fitness – Shape Magazine

At 27, Ellie Goulding‘s stardom is blooming. The British powerhouse, who is set to perform at the MTV Movie Awards this Sunday, has sold more than four million albums and 15 million singles worldwide. Beyoncé has sung her praises. And her A-list fan base continues to grow (think: Taylor Swift, President Obama, and Kate Middleton). Oh yeah, and us.

See, aside from her music—which absolutely fuels our sweat sessions—we love the electro-pop princess for another reason: her love of fitness. The chart-topper is a diehard runner—she hits the pavement with regular six-mile runs even while on tour and invites fans to join her on her Facebook page. Last April, she completed her fourth half-marathon in Washington D.C., clocking in at an impressive one hour, 41 minutes. “For me, exercise is a crucial part of being alive. It’s like breathing,” she says. Ahead, 10 more reasons we love Goulding.