Is Running Cool Now?
Scroll on social media for any amount of time and you probably see some kind of running video, like the classic run with me where people take the audience on a run and provide mile by mile updates.
These running videos are all over Instagram and TikTok, at least on my feed. If you do any kind of running, have an interest or are just getting into the running scene chances are your algorithm knows it, maybe even before you realize it yourself. That said, more and more people are getting into running. This past year it seems every week I see someone new posting about a race they ran. Is running becoming cool?
Running communities are having a moment, with lots of people flocking to run clubs. This has been fueled in a major way by social media content and the presence some run clubs are commanding. One that comes to mind is Cooldown running, with large run clubs in several large cities in the US. These clubs offer a way to be social and meet new people with at times hundreds of people showing up for a single run.
Trail running has also seen a spike in participation in recent years. According to running insights trail running has grown 291% from 2012 to 2022. Trail running makes up a smaller percentage of race finishers but can't be discounted with its growth.
The running boom is happening with younger runners 20 and 30 year olds are finding it more appealing. Strava reported that the majority of users on their app were of Gen Z. More and more young people, including peers of mine, are celebrating milestones of completing a marathon more frequently than having children, which was more popular with previous generations at younger ages.
Social media memes are also pushing the popularity of running like the idea that strava is the newest dating app for runners.
Memes are a popular way to capture attention in culture. It is no different in the running world. And with younger people active on social media it stands to potentially be more influential with more people.
Another reason I think people are turning to training for races and running in general, is the idea that people want to keep up their image for social media. Keeping friends, family, and peers updated on life, people want to paint themselves in their best light, which can mean physically too.
Running is a great way to stay active with a very low barrier to entry. While it can be seen as vain to care about image on social media it is natural to put your best foot forward. As we evolved those who were able to protect and provide for their tribe were praised. Historically that meant being physically strong and fit, able to ward off enemies and provide for the tribe. We now have built a world where it is not as essential to be physically strong. But social media can be a way of sharing our status and identity in a harmless way.
All this to say, running is taking off in popularity and I'm here for the ride.