Romanticizing Running: The Important Role of Social Media in Glamorizing Physical Activity

OpinionsRomanticizing Running: The Important Role of Social Media in Glamorizing Physical ActivityThe increasing social media presence of running has made the sport more social and diversified, encouraging beginners to run and reap its physical and mental benefits.Reading Time: 3 minutesBy Isla BroadbentIssue 5, Volume 117 || 2026-2027By Sooha Park The smell of morning dew blankets the damp air. Glancing to my side, I see trees in bursting shades of red, orange, and yellow dotting the horizon. On a Saturday when I should be in bed sleeping, I find myself gearing up to run six miles with my friends and teammates. Nothing makes me happier when we begin our runs in Central Park than seeing fellow runners, kids, parents, and seniors putting on their running shoes, picking up their earbuds, and heading out for a run. Recently, the number of runners across the United States has increased to over 50 million, largely due to the sport’s increasing social media presence.

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