I feel like it's a good thing that people are getting out and exercising more, and I am happy to see so many people running in the parks and trails around my city. On the other hand, tons of races have gotten super pricey and hard to get into. The runfluencer culture that has popped up in the past couple years is also very grating.
I feel like it's a good thing that people are getting out and exercising more, and I am happy to see so many people running in the parks and trails around my city. On the other hand, tons of races have gotten super pricey and hard to get into. The runfluencer culture that has popped up in the past couple years is also very grating.
If I were drawing up a plan, would I have people get interested in running? Yes.
Would I have them get interested in running in ways that are different from what I commonly see? Yes.
if lots of people are not following my preferred path, does it follow that the outcome is bad? Not necessarily.
are you right about there being problems with races getting pricey? Sure.
Since participation in races wasn’t the be-all, end-all for me anyway, I can go off and run by myself and keep trying to enjoy the sport/activity/lifestyle in my own way. That was never likely to change much.
And if other people are deriving joy from something that is basically good for them, count me in as a supporter.
That’s about their running. I’m basically opposed to the way people live their lives on social media for the most part, in spite of some good things that some people do. but I don’t think the social media aspect of running does enough to undermine all of the good aspects of people running if more and more people participate earnestly.
If I were drawing up a plan, would I have people get interested in running? Yes.
Would I have them get interested in running in ways that are different from what I commonly see? Yes.
if lots of people are not following my preferred path, does it follow that the outcome is bad? Not necessarily.
are you right about there being problems with races getting pricey? Sure.
Since participation in races wasn’t the be-all, end-all for me anyway, I can go off and run by myself and keep trying to enjoy the sport/activity/lifestyle in my own way. That was never likely to change much.
And if other people are deriving joy from something that is basically good for them, count me in as a supporter.
God no. I run Marathons/Ultras, lots of them. Love it. A lot of these Marathons wouldn't happen without the half, the popular distance. The more the merrier! Also, I love seeing people running instead of sitting on the couch. Too expensive for you? Check out Ultras.
Weekend in the life of a sheep: Hey look at me! (Posts instagram of a boring lunch). Next day. Hey look at me! "Runs" a marathon in 4.5 hours. Next day. Posts that everyone needs 10 booster shots and if you don't, you're selfish because they told me so on TV. Likes 10 posts to feel better about self. Makes post attacking someone better than them for manufactured validation. Counts sheep and goes to sleep. Monday, back to the matrix.
Ya, it really sucks that more and more people are becoming fans of the sport I have loved for decades. But the worst part is when the National Guard kicks down my door, ties me to my computer chair, and forces me to watch annoying runfluencer videos for hours on end. And before they leave, they unregister me from my $2 park run and tell me they are going to arrest me if I don't show up to the next $100 downtown charity run full of thousands of annoying hobbyjoggers. I blame Trump.
I feel like it's a good thing that people are getting out and exercising more, and I am happy to see so many people running in the parks and trails around my city. On the other hand, tons of races have gotten super pricey and hard to get into. The runfluencer culture that has popped up in the past couple years is also very grating.
You must be on angel dust. Not only is running unpopular, but the pimple faced practitioners are considered the bottom of the barrel nerdy rejects.
The runfluencer culture that has popped up in the past couple years is also very grating.
Just wait until you find out about the boom in the “Hybrid Athlete” influencer space. It’s the hyper-masculinized “bro” subculture of the runfluencer movement.
Fueled by copious amounts of whey protein, pre-workout, and 17 cocktails of testosterone booster to train for Hyrox (because CrossFit is sooo not it anymore, brah), Ironman triathlons, and sub 2:30 marathons while weighing in at 220lbs of solid muscle at 5’9”.
On one hand, it’s great that meathead gym rats are finally coming around to the importance of cardio as part of a healthy & active “athlete” lifestyle training program. On the other hand, most of the Hybrid Athlete influencers are doped to the gills on testosterone, grinding out unbelievable workout regiments to post on social media, and pushing a wide range of iffy supplements to their impressionable audience, who will never feel adequate when looking in the mirror as they aspire to reach an unattainable physique and level of fitness.
I'm glad more people are running -- althought I haven't witnessed this "trend" at all. I don't live on social media so idk. BUT I don't care for how insane road races have become. There are 5K runs out here charging over $50 and I'm talking crappy 5Ks not the well known ones.
It's not at all trendy. I'm 68 and that happened in the 70's with Bill Bowerman's book on jogging and Jim Fixx's book on Running and Frank and Bill Rogers killing marathons. OMG anybody and there mother was out jogging, it was a status symbol and the cool thing to do. A famous phrase was "do you marathon". And then major TV caught on and all of a sudden the NY City Marathon was TV gold esp with Alberto Salazar. Even President's of the United States started inviting marathoners to the White House and State dinners , Carter for Rogers and Reagan for Salazar. Reporters even asked Salazar in Reagan's presence about the economy and he said loud and clear "Stay the course". No ,running is no place near trendy now compared to the late 70's an early 80's!