Is anyone annoyed by how trendy running has become?

I guess my version of the way running should be is in the episode called “Justice” from Star Trek TNG. Everyone is fit, hot, scantily clad, and happy. There are no vehicles and everyone jogs absolutely everywhere. There is NO WALKING. Running is not “a thing”, it’s just a normal way to go places.

Of course, um, they kill you for any infraction, no matter how small.

It will die down again. People will get bored, injured and start jogging less. I see it at the local clubs. Most people only run in groups. The only people logging miles week after week on their own are men.

Parkrun will be forced to take action if numbers continue to grow. There are always incidents. A buggy turned over at the start of a local event (probably because everyone sets off hard, mainly the dumb slow runners who shouldn't be at the front), faster runners swearing at people getting in the way on multi lap courses. My local course was threatened with closure because runners are churning up the football pitch. Parkrunners swearing at volunteer car park marshals..

Once a test of grit and guts, road racing has devolved into a mobile influencer convention. Hobby joggers shuffle through 5Ks with the urgency of a brunch line, while runfluencers clog the course filming motivational monologues between walk breaks. PRs? Please. It’s all about the perfect Garmin screenshot and a caption about “the journey.” The sport didn’t evolve, it sold out. Now it’s less about racing and more about being seen, preferably in coordinated gear with a discount code. If you’re still chasing splits and silence, good luck dodging the ring lights and TikTok pep talks.

I know what you mean. There are aspects that bother me.

Example, I have a friend who's completed 4 marathons all in 5:58 - 6:02.

That's walking.

She got into Chicago this year and has run about once a week at most. She'll have no training and about 3 weeks before will post - I guess I better get training but she won't.

Ok she paid her money and got in the lottery.

But I know people who train hard and run decent times and didn't get in.

That's kind of off putting. She'll brag and show off her medal and what's worse is that she'll walk into the last 100 meters and sprint and talk about her great kick.

That just violates the spirit of the process.

I can't think of a single way the popularity of the sport has prevented me from enjoying it. Only ways in which it allows me to enjoy it more. More races, more shoe choices, better nutrition options, etc, all because of the opportunity for people to get their share of the pie and make a buck.

I suppose if I'm REALLY picking nits, it'd be long lines at packet pickup because of the crowds/sold out races. I'm the type that wants to get in and out as fast as humanly possible. I'm a horribly impatient person. But that's probably more of a personality fault than something I can really blame on the sport.

I think social media running has gotten more trendy but “training” hasn’t. I’m talking high level hobby jogging/ kinda competitive level is still not popular.

I saw an article about strava and the average runner runs about an 11:00 per mile pace. So Most runners suck at running but that’s ok.

It is great that run clubs, park runs etc are getting more popular. The more the better.

The one thing I dislike is how expensive races have gotten. It sucks to pay 150 for a 10k road race. I don’t need 7 timing mats on the course, a medal, T shirt, photo backgrounds set up etc. I think these cater to the very bottom tier of runners (but that is where most folks are)

If you are annoyed by running becoming popular, then you should stop:

-running

-calling yourself a runner

-posting on LetsRun

This, 100%. If you tell someone you ran a sub 4:10 mile now they’ll think you’re a legend.

But seriously, how can this be anything but good for the sport? People on this board are constantly complaining that track has no fans and pro runners don’t make any money. Running getting more popular is good for all runners

My cousin just got into running after returning from abroad. I think it’s kind of cool? He’s gotten super into it, met some new friends through the run club, and I have new people to nerd out with.

I don’t think this running “boom” of sorts has as many tutus or color runs, mainly bc covid killed a lot of those kind of events.

LetsRunners being curmudgeon as usual.

I take it you weren't around during the 70's. Frank Shorter "Boston Billy" Rogers.

At my group run this week another runner said that he liked running in a particular park because it looked good on Strava. That's lame.

Sounds like a party

Forrest Gump

Yeah it's annoying to some degree but I run alone 99% of the time. Nothing has changed for me. I have no interest in taking selfies, putting stuff in IG and joining Kofuzi club.

But 97% of them don't care about T&F. It's a participation activity for them. Like doing yoga. It's not a sport to them. Some don't go beyond following Kipchoge and his sub 2 stunt.

Can’t we all just agree to “Go One More”