The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word COMMENTARIES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
C
O
M
M
E
N
T
A
R
I
E
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "They may be running" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case they may be running = commentaries.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does COMMENTARIES mean?
COMMENTARIES noun- A series of comments or annotations; especially, a book of explanations or expositions on the whole or a part of some other work
- (usually in the plural) a brief account of transactions or events written hastily, as if for a memorandum
- An oral relation of an event, especially broadcast by television or radio, as it occurs