The 65th Edition

Let’s have a think about how your social media use is impacting your relationship with running…

Social media can be a tool for connection, but it can just as easily become a trap that erodes your running joy.

Something to Think About

Every scroll is a choice between presence and distraction

Something to Ask Yourself

Is social media shaping your running in a way that serves you or in a way that steals from you?

Article of the Week

Expect a clear breakdown of what research actually says about social media’s effect on mental health—both the risks and the potential benefits. You’ll learn where the science is conclusive, where it’s still uncertain, and what questions researchers are asking next. A useful read if you want to separate headlines from evidence.

Personal Lesson

I never thought I’d struggle with social media. For years I hated it. Then, when I first became a personal trainer, I forced myself to start posting as a way to attract clients. Later, when I went back into a corporate job, I kept posting. Partly with the hope of one day actually giving myself freedom to leave the 9-5, partly because I’d grown to enjoy the process of creating and helping strangers with their running. Now, with my own business to grow, posting isn’t optional. It’s necessary.

That’s been both a gift and a problem. On one hand, I’ve built connections, opportunities, and even a community I’m proud of. On the other, I’ve noticed how easy it is to get sucked into scrolling. I open the app to post, and 20 minutes later I’m still there, half-distracted, comparing myself to strangers who, to be honest, I don’t even care about.

My relationship with running has shifted because of it. Social media has sharpened my ability to reflect, share and celebrate the sport. But it’s also added pressure and noise that didn’t exist before. Sometimes I miss the days when running was just running, when there was no thought of capturing it or framing it. Then I remind myself of everything social media has given me, and I sit in that tension. It’s not simple. It’s not all good. It’s not all bad.

Running – Life’s Metaphor

Running teaches you to notice what fuels you and what drains you. Social media is no different… it can be a tail wind or a weight on your shoulders.

Final Thoughts

It’s worth remembering that social media is built to keep you there. Each scroll and notification, every moment you say “just one more” is by design. That doesn’t make it evil, but it does mean you need to be conscious. If you’re not, it will quietly rewrite your relationship with the things you love – including running.

The comparison trap is real. The misinformation is endless. And the presence that running usually brings can be stolen in seconds by a feed designed for dopamine hits. You don’t have to swear off social media forever, but you do need to ask: is this tool serving me, or am I serving it?

Plenty of people who’ve taken breaks from social media report feeling lighter, clearer, more alive. That shouldn’t be surprising. Less noise means more space for your own thoughts. And running thrives on that kind of mental clarity.

So maybe it’s time to experiment. Take a week. Delete the app. Leave your run undocumented. Notice how it feels. You may discover a better balance, one that keeps the good while leaving behind the rest. And if you do, your running might thank you. 

Thanks again for reading and subscribing.

Run the runnable, and keep showing up for yourself!

Tommy 🙂