LOLZLetter 329 | Not Every Mile Needs a Caption
Welcome,
First, Happy Fathers Day! As a runner and content creator, I’ve gotten used to showing up. I’ve documented training cycles, reviewed shoes, posted race recaps, and shared my highs and lows with thousands of people who follow along. But lately? I haven’t wanted to write anything. Not a caption. Not a blog post. Not even a training update.
It’s not that I don’t care. I do. I care a lot. But sometimes the well just dries up and when it does, it’s not just writer’s block. It’s social media burnout. Writing the newsletter excites me and writing shoe reviews excite me. But the rest? I haven't been posting. Sharing workouts, filming runs...it just hasn't really been exciting and honestly, with all of the current events…sharing the miles I ran feels…trivial.
The Pressure to Perform (On and Off the Road)
Running is already a sport that invites comparison....splits, pace, race times, PRs. Add in social media, and suddenly your easy run has to be aesthetic, your long run needs a Strava screenshot, and your post-race thoughts must be digestible in 2,200 characters or less. It’s a lot.
I used to lace up just to run. Now, I catch myself wondering mid-workout: Should I record this? Is this interesting enough to share? And don’t even get me started on product reviews. I genuinely like writing them, but when you’re burned out, even describing a shoe you actually liked feels exhausting. It's a privilege and I know that.
When Social Media Feels Like a Chore, Not a Joy
I built a lot of my online presence through writing...sharing honest reviews, running thoughts, race stories, and the occasional snark. I'm really moving away from sponsored instagram posts and I went from 15ish a year to in 2025, I've done 2.
But when social media burnout hits, the idea of writing and posting anything feels like a chore. Not because I’ve run out of things to say, but because I’m mentally tapped out from always saying things.
It’s not just about posting. It’s the behind-the-scenes mental noise. The planning. The editing. The replying. The pressure to say the right thing in the right tone at the right time.
There’s real joy in connecting with people who share your passions. But it’s also okay to admit when you’re tired of performing. Especially when you’re used to turning your daily life...your miles, your gear, your thoughts...into content.
I've taken a huge step back from posting daily runs and what I consider fluff online. I work fulltime...in an office, I have outside of running hobbies, and I want to spend time with family and friends (and the cats). Where does that leave social media? In the very small cracks in between.
The World is Heavy
Sometimes burnout isn’t just about training or posting too much...it’s about everything else happening around us. The world feels heavy right now. From heartbreaking headlines to the constant noise online, it’s a lot to carry. Even if you love running, even if you love creating, there’s only so much mental and emotional space you can give. It’s okay if you don’t have the energy to document your miles or share your thoughts. It doesn’t mean you’re unmotivated....it means you’re human.
The Metrics and the Mind Games
If I post a race recap and it doesn’t get engagement, did the race even happen? Kidding...sort of.
That’s the trap. As a runner, you train for the long game. But on social media, everything is short-term. Attention spans are short. Algorithms shift. And when your best post of the month is a reel of you slipping on a trail (true story), it’s easy to feel like your thoughtful content isn’t good enough. The best engaged post I've had is this treadmill post followed by some newsletter clips I've started posting.
This is what social media burnout feels like: not just tired, but doubting everything you create. Wondering if people even care. And worst of all, wondering why you care so much.
What’s Helped Me Lately (And It’s Not “Just Take a Break”)
The typical advice when you're burned out is “take a break,” but that doesn’t always apply when content is part of your identity...or your income. I'm lucky these days that while I still generate some income it's a fraction of the past. But for some, posting isn’t optional. It's tied to sponsorships, SEO, freelance work, or a community we’ve worked hard to build.
So here’s what’s actually helped me:
Writing only for myself: Not every thought has to become a caption. Not every run needs a recap. I’ve started jotting things down privately...unfiltered notes that no one else will see. It’s a relief to write with zero pressure. This is where I've come up with some of my best newsletter ideas. It comes to me and I do it. I'm not being forced to think of something the day before writing.
Letting inconsistency be the strategy: I’ve stopped posting every day. I don’t force blog posts. I post shoe reviews, some product reviews, and whatever else I feel like it. When I show up now, it’s because I have something to say...not because I’m afraid of losing relevance. Turns out, people don’t forget you after a week.
Muting the noise: I’ve unfollowed or muted accounts that made me feel like I wasn’t doing enough. It’s not personal...it’s just necessary. Sometimes, you have to clear space to hear your own thoughts again.
You’re Not Lazy. You’re Burned Out.
If you’re a runner who shares your story online, and lately you’ve been feeling like you don’t want to write anything, please know this: it doesn’t mean you’re lazy or uninspired. It means your brain (and maybe your heart) needs a reset.
You’re allowed to just run. You don’t need to turn every moment into content.
Because social media burnout is real. It sneaks in when you feel like you always have to be “on.” But you don’t. You’re not a machine. You’re a person...with stories, yes...but also limits.
Your creativity will come back. So will the words. Until then, rest. Run. Log off when you need to. The internet will still be here when you’re ready.
As always, I love to hear your thoughts!
What is Keeping Me Entertained?
rabbit Dream Chaser 2.0 Shoe Review
Corona Del Mar Scenic 5k (20:25)
Salomon Adv Skin 5 Race Flag Pack Review
Michael Johnson explains why he cancelled Grand Slam Track meet in LA: I hoped to go so this was disappointing.
Just run , write if you want . It is not your day job . Social Media is really overrated. If I would see you at a race I would say hello . But I don’t know you and that’s that . Enjoy your laps around this globe . Stay healthy, stay involved. Be you . Ignore the bad as best one can .
Muting the noise <- THIS.
It’s necessary. Lori and I have a saying: if it’s not a hell yes it’s a no.
If what I’m seeing isn’t making me say hell yes more of that and is bringing anxiety and stress then it gets muted or unfollowed.
Life is too short to feel anxious because of some by else’s posts.