Good Morning! đđ»ââïž
Aaaaand we are back to the newsletter about running written by a guy who is currently not running. And he hates it.
Now I have some stupid inflamation in my left foot and I am limping more than walking, not to mention running.
To add insult to injury, I got moved from the waiting list to actually being able to sign up for a backyard ultra, but I donât think I will be running a really stupid long run at the end of May.
Oh well.
Anyhow, it feels springy out there and I hope I am getting back on my feet and into a better mood while writing about running. đ€
Enjoy these Five Things Running! đđ»ââïž
The Digital Treadmill
The rise of the âinfluencer runnerâ has reshaped aspirations within the sport. For many new runners, the goal isnât simply to improve. Itâs to become sponsored, to receive free gear, to join ambassador programs.
This shift from internal to external motivation has profound implications. Training decisions become influenced by what will generate engagement rather than what will generate results. Runners chase trends over training wisdom. The fundamental question âwhat will make me better?â gets replaced by âwhat will make me more marketable?â
I often think about this. It would make me sick to my stomach to constantly produce text, photos and videos to endorse something and show off my running form. It probably started as a nice thing and then some free shoes and all of a sudden youâre sucked into the influencer spiral where you constantly have to produce content, no matter what.
The Trail Running Investment Thesis
The room is skeptical. The investors see a niche outdoor sport, not a business opportunity. Trail running? Isnât that just glorified hiking?
Your job is to change their mind.
What follows is my attempt to help you do just that. A thought experiment that doubles as a genuine investment thesis. The format is a creative device, but the data and arguments are real.
Trail running is exploding. And itâs here to stay.
I have been tinkering with some ideas about this myself, so it is refreshing to see what others think. And yes, there is great potential in trail running!
Freshening
Where is there space for freshening up, for opening the window a bit and letting in new air, in the stoic practice? Where is the space for that in running practice? If your purpose is to increase your mental and physical fitness, which I imagine is most of the audience of this newsletter, how does that purpose have any variation beyond what is logical? How and when and to what extent do you break out of plans? Can you, even?
Well.
Why Some Runs Feel Effortless
The same legs, the same trail, the same level of fitness, but suddenly the run feels light. Your stride feels rhythmic. Thereâs a bounce to it. Instead of forcing yourself forward, it almost feels as if the ground is helping you along.
Many runners assume the difference must be fitness.
But often it isnât.
Very often the difference is elasticity.
I need to get there again.
âStravaLeaksâ: Franceâs aircraft carrier located in real time by Le Monde through fitness app
Arthur had a profile on the Strava fitness app that anyone could view, because it was set to "public." As a result, the young officer almost instantly revealed the exact location of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Mediterranean Sea as it traveled northwest of Cyprus, together with its escort, about 100 kilometers off the coast of Turkey, Le Monde found.
While I am surprised that people still accidently reveal their locations through Strava and other apps when they shouldnât, I am pretty sure that an aircraft carrier cannot sail across the oceans unnoticedâŠ
If you missed last weekâs edition, you can read it here:
Now, go running!
â Nico
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Thank you for the shout-out!đ