Sharing it all on social media
Has social media stopped sparking joy? Did it ever? Who knows how to maintain a healthy relationship with either the internet OR running?
It’s either happenstance or its a reflection of the current mood in the camp, but two of the newsletters I regularly read posted this week about the slow but definite ebb away from social media.
I recently went a whole two weeks between grid posts on Instagram. It’s really the only channel I use to ‘promote’ this publication, even though I’ve actually got about 50% more subscribers to this newsletter than followers on Instagram. It’s not the normal way around.
Either way, Twitter died as soon as I began this trip of writing about running. I tried Threads but it’s just brands talking amongst themselves (and I count as a brand in this instance). Bluesky kinda feels like Old Twitter, but I just don’t have the 2007-level energy required to build that up.
IG’s algorithms are janky, but I still get enough good stuff for myself to keep it a worthwhile venture. Sure, it took three days to get my wife’s latest post in my feed (even though I was in it), but I did get to stay on top of the latest edition of The Speed Project almost in real time.
Runners, I feel, still like to hang out on Instagram. We share photos from our runs. We post us wearing new bits of kit. We pore over the latest race results. We look at how other runners, friends, are running all over the world. It’s all very in the moment, very connected, and very visual. It’s a nice way of keeping in touch with the whole sport fairly passively.
And it’s kinda that. I get enough stuff for me on IG, but I think I’ve always curated my feed pretty well. Those Twitter/X trolls that actively annoyed everyone else? Never really got ‘em. I was mainly on there for the comedians workshopping their jokes. I also knew how to sort my feed chronologically, and I guess little bits of technical knowhow like that helped, but I believe it’s more the intent that I was primarily building something for me and only me to consume.
On the creator side, this week, after appearing on the For The Long Run podcast with Jonathan Levitt (more on that below), I received a few really lovely interactions on IG from people who found me on there after listening to the podcast. Shoutouts to Juliana, Shariq, and Ross, but especially to fellow -ziq Haziq.
It’s good to reassess every so often, but I’m currently happy with writing here, and watching/posting on Intagram.
Back to those other newsletter posts, then. Both are by runners, but neither writes explicitly about running. I had a good moment last week, but all three of us are coming from the same starting point of being thoroughly exhausted with the relentlessness of it all.
Those of us who are around 40 years old are the first generation to have spent their whole adult lives online. We are the canaries down the coalmine, so it’s expected that we might struggle. There were no best practices when we came along. There was no playbook. If we understand social media better now, it’s because of us, and the mistakes we’ve made along the way.
As the platforms continue to evolve, and people learn how to use (and abuse) them, we pivot accordingly. Mirroring many a millennial’s stance on the economy, however, a lot of us are giving up. We need a break, at least. There’s seemingly not enough value in it all.
You may know
from Believe In The Run, but with his newsletter, he blends some brilliant metaphors around the rest of his life. I love this one, and I know he’s going to figure out his best path.The next one is from
, whose newsletter is the one I have the most readership crossover with. It makes sense that I’m a fan. Anne goes into our relationship with social media the perfect amount. She always does this.I’m happiest that you smashed the subscribe button on here. Thanks for reading. But feel free smash that follow button on Instagram as well.
How to judge your year in sport
Unless you’re planning on running more miles, more elevation, for more time, and more frequently every year for the rest of your life (something that is very, very, very, very unlikely) I suggest that you try to temper judging your year in sport.
As an incredibly risk-averse person, I always think about the year that I got those downwards-pointing arrows next to my stats. Right now, I’m maybe in the strongest moment ever in terms of my running, but it won’t last — it can’t — and I want that inevitable, permanent turning point to be as painless as possible.
With that said, don’t worry if you haven’t shared your Strava Year in Sport results on social media yet. Those stats will keep on compiling until December 31st, so you can still get those extra 3 miles in.
Last week on Running Sucks
I got to say to Chris McBride that I had a back injury earlier this year, so had real-life experience and empathy for his plight. I can’t relate to the running 100 miles part of his story at all, of course, but that’s the joy of storytelling. I love telling them. I hope you enjoy reading them.
An appearance on the For The Long Run podcast
It’s a chance for you to hear my voice! It was an absolute pleasure to speak to Jonathan Levitt about…
running for joy, rather than to grind out performance metrics
several facets of my specialty subject of run clubs
how you can (and should) build your own running community, if you don’t see one ready for you to join
how writing and running are linked in my life
my journey into running as an adult escaping the constant stream of music-industry-related alcohol
Jonathan’s a great interviewer. It makes sense - he’s been around the block in terms of speaking to top, top talent. He made me think on the spot a few times, so even if you’re a long-time reader of Running Sucks, there’s some new stuff in here from me.
If you haven’t listened to For The Long Run before, get yourself to your friendly podcast provider. The Molly Seidel interview is one of the best around.
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Last year on Running Sucks
I was already doing the annual recaps by now, but I think I’ll write one more long-read this Thursday, and then I’ve got a really fun music-related end-of-year piece to post in that hinterland week between Christmas and New Year. They’ll be in your inbox!
If you know someone who’s about to start running, send them this piece. It might help them!
Elsewhere on the internet
As your local run club expert, I’ve been fascinated by Rawdawg Run Club in Austin, Texas. It’s what run clubs purists hate. It was started by four influencers and they attract 100s of equally beautiful people in order to sell physical product. Those crowds ruffled enough feathers (by blocking intersections etc) for the City of Austin to shut them down. It makes sense — it’s far more a business than a community endeavor.
Rawdawg consistently ignore my emailed pleas for an interview, but I couldn’t have done better than this feature by Lauren Peck in the Austin Chronicle. I love me some good journalism.
Running Sucks Haiku of the Week
December weather rules
I’ll run in it forever
I’ll even wear gloves
The sun is out in Los Angeles, but those blue skies mean it’s still a bit cold in the mornings. It’s not like I’m in frostbite country or even in danger of my toes getting wet, but I’ll still wear a pair of gloves for a few weeks. It’s the first (and only) bit of winter gear I need.
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Thanks for reading
- Raz
Running in LA is a different world and one that I am enjoying.
Cold enough to not be dripping the moment you take that first step but don’t need a beanie, gloves and a balakalava…….the post run coffee/tea can still be iced!!!
On your comment around judging your year in sport, I'm curious if you subscribe to SWAP on Patreon (the Rosches)? His article this week was on stacking stresses and the impact on athletic performance. When you made a comment on the long-term trajectory of an athlete in an ideal world essentially meaning more miles/time as time goes on, I wonder if that isn't necessary, as in general most people's lives add new/different stressors as they get older. Things like promotions, adding children to the mix, etc... So in theory, we don't need to add more miles because we're adding more stress in different ways. Food for thought!