This question was answered by Wizkids before the new 2017 rules releaed http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?t=576836
But I was wondering if it is still possible to activate a characters charge or running shot and not attack anyone?

Short answer:Yes.

Yes, you can Running Shot or Charge and choose not to make an attack.

Both powers read the same:

POWER: Halve speed. Move, then CLOSE (or RANGE in the case of RS): at no cost.

If you follow the attack sequence on page 13, the abbreviated version is that you give the action type, find the target, then continue... with how it's written, you can give an attacking type action (RANGE or CLOSE) without having a valid target. Without a target, the remainder of the action has nowhere to go so it resolves without an attack.

And an easy example to hopefully clarify is running shot (or charge) vs a figure with Shape-Change.

I give Iron Man a POWER to move half his speed.

Then I choose Skrull 1 as my target.

Skrull 1 rolls a 6 for Shape-Change.

Iron Man has no other figures to target.

The action resolves with the movement portion completed but no attack was made.

(A common mistake is when players will say, "I'm going to running shot at Firestorm" when it most accurately would be: "I'm going to Running Shot to this square and then I will choose Firestorm as my target." While it may seem the same not seeing the subtle difference is where the confusion occurs with these kinds of questions.)

Thanks for the answers guys. I mostly asked this question because some older figures give some type of improved movement when activating charge or running shot and I wanted to know if I could choose to target no one even if there are available targets. Thanks again.

This is a big play right now with the prevalence of Hawkeye. Moving 4 squares after hitting last target can make all the diff.

Prime Vulture and the new Chase Captain Marvel too.

At a recent open I was running Vulture with the Octopus Arms (Flurry). I sent Drago in and KO'd all but one figure on the opposing team, but he had made a Shape Change roll and left me with no valid targets for my 3 remaining charges, so Vulture got to fall back 15 squares to rest up