LOLZLetter 322 | Do running influencers owe it to their followers to train smart?
Welcome,
I've had a couple of thoughts on my mind lately, and I finally was able to put them into words. I posted something shorter on Instagram on Saturday because I just "couldn't wait" until Monday to post. It's like when you finally finish something and you need to tell everyone...NOW. LOL, I digress.
It’s hard to scroll through Instagram these days without seeing a runner recovering from a marathon with a 10-mile “easy” jog two days later. Or someone casually running through a stress fracture while telling their followers to “listen to their bodies.” The thing is, these aren’t just random people. These are influencers: runners with tens of thousands (sometimes hundreds of thousands) of eyes on their every move.
So it’s worth asking: Do running influencers owe it to their followers to train smart? Or is it up to the audience to separate good advice from bad behavior?
The short answer is: I don't know, and I am a running influencer. I've been running for 15 years and can separate what you should and shouldn't do. But there are many new runners who don't know what they don't know.
This newsletter isn’t to argue how you “feel about influencers” or that they should just “go away” because that is happening…
The Rise of Running Influencers
Let’s start with the obvious: influencers are here to stay. Brands can get much higher return on investment from paying an influencer versus getting a billboard. From full-time creators with brand deals to weekend warriors who share daily recaps, the social media running world is massive. These runners often hold significant sway when it comes to gear choices, training methods, and recovery routines. Their content shapes what newer runners believe is “normal”...whether that’s good or bad.
They aren’t just posting for fun. Many have sponsorships, affiliate codes, and partnerships that depend on their engagement. So when they share a post-run selfie or a Strava map of their comeback from injury, it’s not just personal. It’s public influence. And that influence matters.
When “Inspiration” Becomes Irresponsible
There’s a fine line between being motivational and being reckless. And a lot (note: not everyone) of influencers are toeing that line...sometimes in carbon-plated shoes, two days after a marathon, with a lingering calf strain they’re trying to “shake out.”
This isn’t about shaming anyone for making mistakes. Every runner pushes the envelope now and then. We've all made dumb decisions. But when you’ve got a large following and your content reaches thousands of runners...some of whom are brand new to the sport...it’s not just your body at risk. It’s the people who look up to you, thinking this is what dedicated training looks like.
Because let’s be real: running through pain, skipping rest days, and bragging about “not needing recovery” isn’t a flex. It’s a red flag.
Something to add that I didn't on Instagram: every single person is different, with different goals. There might be a reason to do back-to-back marathons that isn't "bad." Is it smart to do that every weekend? Probably not. But are there special circumstances where maybe it's the right call for that runner? Sure.
The Problem with Oversharing (or Undersharing)
It’s easy to make your training look clean and linear when you only post the highlights. But that creates a false sense of what normal training looks like. All runners have bad days. Most people need more than one day off after a marathon. After my first marathon, it took me almost four months to want to run again. And that’s okay.
The danger is when followers see someone doing too much and think, “If they can do it, I should be able to too.” That’s how people get hurt. That’s how comparison spirals start. And it’s how we end up with more runners sidelined by overtraining or believing they’re not doing enough...even when they’re already maxed out.
Accountability Without Perfection
Do running influencers need to be perfect? Of course not. We've all made mistakes...myself included. But there is a level of responsibility that comes with a platform, especially in a sport where burnout, injury, and disordered thinking are common.
Smart training isn’t always flashy. It’s not the kind of content that goes viral. No one claps for someone who takes a full week off post-race or swaps a long run for a walk. But that’s exactly the kind of example newer runners need to see.
You don’t have to be a coach or expert to be influential, but if your posts regularly inspire others to train harder, faster, and longer, then yes, it’s worth asking: Are you showing smart, sustainable training or just doing what get likes online? Are you running 12 marathons a year for content or because you actually want to do that?
Followers Deserve More Than Just Hustle Culture
The running community is full of smart, thoughtful people. But it’s also flooded with toxic messaging about “no pain, no gain” and “real runners don’t rest.”
When someone with 50K followers skips recovery to “grind,” that message trickles down. The hustle culture of social media encourages overtraining and under-recovering, which ultimately hurts more runners than it helps. That’s not inspiration. That’s misinformation.
And while everyone has the right to train how they want, let’s not pretend that large platforms don’t come with weight. Your training choices do influence others...whether you like it or not.
Final Thoughts: Yes, Running Influencers Should Train Smart
Running influencers don’t need to be perfect, but they do need to be honest. They should normalize smart training, highlight recovery, and acknowledge when things don’t go to plan. That doesn’t mean every influencer has to coach their audience...but if your training is being watched, shared, and admired, you have a responsibility to show more than just the glory miles.
And if you’re a follower? Take everything you see with a grain of salt. Just because someone ran 10 marathons this year doesn’t mean it's the right move for you.
So next time you see a “post-marathon shakeout” at tempo pace, or a 20-mile week during recovery from stress fractures, just ask yourself: Is this real recovery, or is it just content?
I always appreciate when people share their their own thoughts so it doesn’t feel like I’m writing into a void.
What is Keeping Me Entertained?
Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2 Shoe Review: One of my most requested shoe reviews. The carbon plated model from Salomon.
Tailwind High Carb Fuel Review: With 90 grams of carbohydrates, I've been really enjoying this stuff.
2025 London Marathon: Tigst Assefa smashes women's-only world record: 2:15 is bonkers and the weather for the London Marathon was not ideal.
Faith Kipyegon Is Attempting to Become the First Woman to Run a Mile in Under Four Minutes: Just like with the Breaking 2 Project, Nike is now focusing on can a women run under 4 minutes in the mile.
I like reading running snark forums and people often call out when influencers are being irresponsible. But the really interesting thing is when they catch an influencer in a lie about it. I remember one where the woman woke up at 3am or whatever to get in her Peloton workout and post about before catching an early flight, but the workout was not logged in her activity stream. Or when people hide their total elapsed time on strava so we don't know how long the photo/video breaks were -- that hilly 10 miler sure would look different with a few 20" breaks in it ;) It's deceptive bc it creates the impression that these athletes don't need rest or breaks, and if followers train more rigidly and are disciplined enough we could get to that level of "fitness" too.
So to answer your question, if the influencer is just posting product reviews and inspirational photos, I think they have less responsibility to be honest about their training. But if they are giving any kind of their own training advice, esp if they offering coaching services, selling training plans, posting videos about PT/stretching/diet, I think there should be higher ethical standards for them. I have no ideas on how those could be enforced though.
And this is why you are one of my favorite running influencers!