I've started doing Parkrun this year which has been interesting. I did high school cross country, consistently in the top ten but rarely in the top three, and the metrics stressed me out. In response, I've run regularly - more days than not - for the past eight years and never paid attention to the time. But there's something playful about Parkrun, and how it is and isn't a competition, it makes me want to excel and not just have a nice long think as my body moves up and down hills and gets sweaty. I like that there are kids and dogs and old people and people walking, and it makes me feel happy to be in the middle of others, each challenged in their own way. It's not something I want to do all the time (I would rather have hills and/or solitude) but I think it opens me up to others a little. I'm sure Instagram clubs do that for some people, but perhaps they're a little emptier, because the performance is the point.
I like Parkrun too! It’s nice. I think it’s just the Instagram clubs that skeeve me out because they brand build the same way as multilevel marketing schemes or churches, which Instagram as a platform is uniquely suited for.
I've started doing Parkrun this year which has been interesting. I did high school cross country, consistently in the top ten but rarely in the top three, and the metrics stressed me out. In response, I've run regularly - more days than not - for the past eight years and never paid attention to the time. But there's something playful about Parkrun, and how it is and isn't a competition, it makes me want to excel and not just have a nice long think as my body moves up and down hills and gets sweaty. I like that there are kids and dogs and old people and people walking, and it makes me feel happy to be in the middle of others, each challenged in their own way. It's not something I want to do all the time (I would rather have hills and/or solitude) but I think it opens me up to others a little. I'm sure Instagram clubs do that for some people, but perhaps they're a little emptier, because the performance is the point.
I like Parkrun too! It’s nice. I think it’s just the Instagram clubs that skeeve me out because they brand build the same way as multilevel marketing schemes or churches, which Instagram as a platform is uniquely suited for.