Is social media ruining running?

SOCIAL MEDIA can motivate, but it can also encourage habits that keep you from RUNNING YOUR BEST. It can be annoying, too...

‘ALTERNATIVE FACTS’ have fooled many in the social media age, and ill-informed or disingenuous statements aren't limited to politics. Any blogger or influencer can post, tweet or snap training advice that may seems legit – but is it? ‘You can put out some really dodgy information and get it perpetuated,’ says exercise physiologist and coach Janet Hamilton.

While inaccuracies spread more swiftly than ever, you can also use the internet to vet your sources. ‘Take that extra step and ask, “OK, where's this coming from?”’ says Ryan Warrenburg, head coach for ZAP Fitness Coaching in North Carolina, US. ‘That's easier than it has been in the past, too.’ Being a discerning consumer of online running information can prevent plateaus, overtraining and injuries. Here, Hamilton and Warrenburg lay down the actual facts about four misguided training trends that have been fuelled by social media.