The phrase is closely tied to Sonic the Hedgehog, the famously fast blue video game character whose need for speed became a running joke across gaming and internet culture. Short clips of the line have been shared for years in edits, speedruns and reaction videos, where the stretched delivery turns a simple catchphrase into a punchline. Like why are you running, it works because the audience understands the joke instantly, and it still appears whenever a creator needs a quick, recognisable burst of cartoon urgency.