Would you still run if no one knew about it?

This is a funny subject for me. I used to run to compete. Now I just run and try to find places where nobody would see me like old trails, etc. So, I guess I am a yes to the question seeing as that is what I try to do anyway.

Heck yes. For me, running is mostly intrinsically motivated.

Now, the young me who wore his college XC sweater everywhere he went might have answered your question differently!

Yea thats the best way to be

Yea, I agree

In this scenario, I am either scraping by on survival or putting all my efforts to escaping this Island. I am not built socially to survive with only my family, I'd go insane.

On another note, theoretically if I wasn't losing my gourd (big if). Yes I would still run, though running with people and racing makes it much more enjoyable. I don't really give a rat's ass who knows what my training or times are, but I like racing and running with people. I like competition, its fun.

More realistically, lets say we lived in an era prior to accurate timekeeping and social media. Which I think is more what you mean (or what you are after here). If running was a thing society could sustain, then yeah I'd be doing it. Would I be as fast training barefoot or in sandals/socks. No. But pretty confident I'd still slap a sub 5min mi easily, like I'd still run and race. Though we might not realize what the time actually is I guess.

Running helps regulate my eating and sleeping. I'm sure other exercise could fill that role, but I enjoy running for a lot of reasons. It's fun mostly.

No one knows I run now. What's the difference? How many people not on Letsrun actually knows who the world mile record holder is? LMFAO!

outside of a few neewbie high schoolers, probably everyone here…

Yes, I would still run, because I enjoy it and it makes me feel good. I wouldn't time myself, obviously, if I lived on a deserted island. I'd just run by feel. And maybe that's the purest form of running of all. Like a wild stallion, running across an endless field. Running, because running is what stallions do, to feel like a stallion.

No one really cares about my running but I do it anyway.

I would probably stop "racing" (more time trialing in that case). I am too competitive and I don't think I could stay motivated if I was only racing myself. It's not about ego or being known as nobody care about it now, I just strive to be better than my peers. I will always run though.

Absolutely. I found that every day was a bit better for having run and if I'm going to run why not see what sorts of times I can manage.

yes sir

Honestly I would rather not have anyone know about my run or running. I'd rather be anonymous when out running. I'd run a race under a fake name for all I care, regardless of what shape I'm in. I guess people admire the notoriety and validation, personal and from others, that race results bring too.

I know.

Nobody cares when or if I run now and fully know I do. The same will go for probably a majority of all runners. The only people who care if we run are ourselves unless we make a living off of it. So it’s probably appropriate to think most people would still run if nobody knew they were. Or atleast they still should; aware of what we’re doing or not shouldn’t determine what we do for fun and Personal health

It’s strange you even ask this on a running form. Most runners are runners because they like to run. An injury is doubly frustrating coz they can’t run and most runners can’t wait to run again. I don’t think this part about running for joy is different between pros and hobbyists, but in the island scenario, the pros like hobbyists would probably just run for fun and push themselves less to the extreme coz if no one’s watching and there are no races to assess competitiveness, you have little idea of how fast is how good.

i have been running since the 80s, so yes.

Why would anyone run if you couldn’t post it on instagram or Facebook, along with the requisite selfie?

I would definitely run. Not sure if I'd 'train' hard or at all though.