Like any self-respecting “wise uncle,” I like to observe carefully and then draw conclusions. And this is true in everything, including running. I confess: I have been thinking about this post for some time but had not yet been able to find the right inspiration to put the words one after the other in a fairly complete and clear form.
We founded Runlovers in 2012 – it’s 10 years in a few months – and I’ve seen so many changes in the way we understand running and the attitudes of runners. Especially in the last few years, with the entrenchment of social media in our lives (we may be more or less influenced by it but it is there), I have witnessed a substantial change in the way running is communicated.
The requiem of sweat
I have been playing sports for 42 years and have always had a close relationship with sweat, but now it seems to have disappeared. It is not fashionable or trendy to be photographed sweaty, as if to deny the fatigue that – instead – in running there is.
Indeed there is.
The glamorous world of influencers has made him disappear, and often with him, the content has also disappeared. Or rather, the quality of the content has thus been lowered to the point of almost disappearing; because what matters are the likes and followers and therefore the concepts that are communicated are often superficial or trivial, to induce the viewer toward an instinctive and visceral reaction.
What matters most is the hair (to have) in place, the right filter, but, with running, it doesn’t have much to do with it.
On the other hand, the new publicity lies right in social media, you may not like it but that’s the way it is. It’s business, baby.
Simply put, authenticity is going down the drain. And, having been involved in communication for more than 25 years, I understand that most of the things I see are, quite simply, artificially constructed.
Mind you, I’m not talking about anyone in particular-it’s a trend that everyone from 100 to 100,000 followers has. Everyone tries to find their own little garden where they can increase their notoriety. And so you will see those who carry on the philosophy of “never give up,” of “my passion is more important than anything.” But also of “fight your cellulite,” “we are the best team in the world,” “take back your life,” or-what do I know-“Calabrian soppressata makes you run harder.” This last statement is perhaps the truest of all.
The only thing that is really important is to be wary of those who improvise themselves as experts on anything, coaches, motivators, all-rounders or online experts; those who dispense trivial, erroneous or baseless advice that can be bad for your health. Because passion is beautiful but health is worth a thousand times more. And those who say otherwise should perhaps replace the term passion with obsession. Ditto for those who say that if you don’t run, you go crazy: if you go crazy because you don’t run, you probably have other problems.
The hunt for followers
We then witness groups of people “sharing” followers by relaying posts to each other to the shout of “how cool we are, how good we are, we are the best.” Too bad that then, in the end, the followers are always the same.
We see the continued display of the bodies of fit men and women. And there are times when Instagram I think looks more like Tinder than a social media where you share visual experiences. It almost makes you think that you run just to sculpt abs or glutes instead of for all the benefits that running gives to your health, mind and life.
And, when that is not enough, we get listed by one or more regram accounts of 500,000-plus people to be regraded and thus reach even more potential followers.
What is wrong with this? Nothing. Simply, supply always meets demand. You just need to be aware of it.
Is this the race?
The short answer is: no. If anything, it is only the image of race that social media imposes on us. Running is made by people who get up at 5 a.m. to go running and avoid the heat, by people who want to feel good, improve themselves, take an hour a day off from daily life.
And, if you experience special moments in special places or have something to say, you share it. But you don’t do it at all costs, because running is mostly solitude and intimacy. And who cares if your face is purple from sweat, your shirt wet to the navel, or if you ran slower than usual. Or maybe you stayed home because it’s too hot and you don’t want to put your health at risk.
Exactly how compulsive sharing of daily workouts is not “running.” I’ll let you in on a secret: 1% of the people who see you are interested because “every performance is good to mamma soja.” If you are not an Olympic athlete, if you are not a professional, avoid. Because you are not an inspiration to anyone. And, if anyone says otherwise, it is only because they too are sharing screen shots.
Understandable as it may be, it is just a search for attention and visibility. It is performance exhibitionism.
So don’t be ashamed, show yourself as you are, show how beautiful running is. Even when sweaty and exhausted. Because every time we go out for a run, we come home different.
Listen to the uncle.
P.S.: I deliberately didn’t mention Runlovers because I don’t want to sound like I’m saying that we are the best, I have to say, however, that we-because we are aware of what’s going on in the running world-try to put as much authenticity into it as possible and shy away from these stereotypes. And if I sounded too harsh, that was not my intention: I’m not being argumentative, I’m not referring to anyone in particular; it’s just a stream of thoughts, sincere and unfiltered.
(Main image credits: lacheev on DepositPhotos.com)
