The true realistic runners of the world...

Three weeks ago I decided to join TikTok - which is very out of character for me as I do not have any other social media platform and actively despise it. Regardless, I joined solely to document my running journey as I train for the Chicago Marathon and raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. What started as a form of accountability and a creative outlet for myself has since turned into a realization that the running industry is disregarding a LARGE population of people.

Let me paint the picture for you... I just started running less than 2 years ago and before then I hated it. That said, my average mile time ranges from a 13 to 15-minute mile. I constantly beat myself up because I wasn't running faster or was comparing myself to the people I saw at running stores or at run clubs hosted by individuals, so I isolated myself. Yet, when I posted my first video on TikTok it blew up... I was overwhelmed with comments like "I feel seen," "I found my people," "I wish running stores could see this," and so much more. Keep in mind that this was the first video.

Ever since that video, I have continued to post and document my times and paces as I train for my second marathon - shame and judgment-free. This has since led to not one but TWO running groups on Facebook and Strava where we can support one another in our various goals.

Why am I telling you this? As someone who works with retailers, it would be a disservice not to share this information. People want to partake in this activity, yet they still don't feel welcome or that they can "be a runner" for whatever reason. So what is wrong? What are we missing as people in this industry? How can we make running accessible to everyone who wants to partake? And why are the true "realistic runners" not represented?

My TikTok: @makenzie.rink - The Realistic Runner

This video that started it all...