"Run for Your Life" is a song by the British singer-songwriter Matt Cardle. It was released on 9 October 2011 as the lead single from his first studio album, Letters (2011). The song was written and produced by Gary Barlow, and was the last song that Cardle recorded for the album. It reached number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Run for Your Life" was written by the Take That frontman Gary Barlow after he took over the role of head judge on The X Factor, of which Cardle won the seventh series. During an interview with The Sun, Cardle discussed the track. "I'm really, really happy to have had Gary Barlow write a song for me. We had 90% of the album written, and then really late in the process, Gary sent the song through. I really related to it. I've been in that position many times, you know, that the song is talking about. It's about not being good enough for the person you're with and not being able to give enough, I was nearly in tears recording the vocals. I've actually been trying to write that kind of song for a long time – it's putting yourself down in a clever way. Gary nailed it, and then he let me have a go at singing it, I couldn't pass it up, so I'm really happy about that."

On 19 August 2011, a 30-second snippet was posted by Cardle on his Facebook page. On 5 September 2011, the song received its first radio airplay by Chris Moyles on BBC Radio 1. The video for the song was premiered on the same day on Cardle's YouTube channel. The song was officially released via digital download on 9 October 2011, with a CD single release following the next day.

"Run for Your Life" was met with generally negative reviews. Robert Copsey of Digital Spy rated it 3/5, stating: "X Factor winners of the male variety have never had it easy. Steve Brookstein and Leon Jackson barely made it past a second single, while Shayne Ward and Joe McElderry were more recently banished from the Syco clique after failing to match the bar set by Leona and Alexandra. Fortunately for Matt Cardle, his anti-talent show image during last year's competition gave him a more promising outlook – but is it enough to buck the boys' worrying trend? Judging by 'Run For Your Life', it looks like he's finally succumbed to the peer pressure. Over an anaemic guitar-pop melody, he confesses he's not worthy of his kindly lass, admitting: 'You need someone to walk you back/ Someone to love you too before you ask – before launching into the arm-waving, Gary Barlow-penned chorus. While Matt's famous falsetto manages a brief appearance, it's about the only distinguishable feature that remains from his once-rebellious nature." Copsey also called the single a "disappointing start".

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