The First Step

The sport of running is commonly associated with punishment or poor performance in grade school sports. Penalty laps and sprints are methods coaches will typically use to condition athletes. "Why would anyone ever run for fun?" is a common phrase I always heard growing up. If my 8 years of running have taught me anything its that running can be an enjoyable process. I strongly believe many are starting to discover this same truth as the rise of social media influencers have given a voice to a dying sport, showing how running can actually be something of enjoyment. I hope to use this blog as a way to connect my peers to the sport of running and show its great potential.

Runner carries an American flag for 10 miles during the EQT Pittsburgh 10 mile race downtown.

The sport of running has become a lifestyle for many including myself. We consume ourselves with various types of digital media everyday from podcasts to online articles and social media accounts, all to stay motivated and better our performance. Running is a result driven sport and athletes will do whatever it takes to shave off a few seconds in a race that lasts hours. Blogs are one type of digital media that give every day runners a voice in now what is a large industry. They share their war stories to help better someone else. My personal favorites are podcasts because they are great for any type of setting, including your run! My number one podcast right now is Running Rogue, two guys based out of Austin, Texas who are really passionate about coaching and helping athletes maximize their potential. They go back and forth between running related news to helpful tips and tricks to use on your next run.

My top influencers on social media are all professional runners from across the globe. At the top of my rankings is Sarah Hall. I really enjoy the way she carries herself, humanizes her brand by engaging with fans, and shares her running secrets. Other content of hers includes a blog on her personal website, which is unique to her because she is one of the first professional athletes to have this. Following athletes like her keep me motivated and drive me to strive for higher goals. The account I admire the most would have to be P3R (Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon Inc.). P3R does an exceptional job at understanding who their audience is and putting out content that they can relate to. When I interned their in the marketing department I was surprised to see how strong their engagement was. Runners of all ages engage heavily with their tweets, Facebook posts and Instagram photos. Finally, I enjoy the consistent positive message P3R abides to across all social media platforms. Their messages are always clear and have an encouraging message tied to them.

What I love most about the sport of running is that anyone can enjoy it! Your height or size doesn't play a factor into how great of a runner you can become. My goal is change the perspective of running in the fact that its something we can all enjoy.