A new poll has found that some Brits are going to extraordinary lengths to make their workouts look more impressive on running fitness apps, with some attaching their fitness tracker to their dog to clock up extra steps
Today’s runners are embroiled in an unofficial digital arms race as they vie to clock up greater distances, quicker times and more eye-catching routes than their peers.
Fresh research has uncovered that Britain’s runners are taking extraordinary measures to inflate their online statistics – with many acknowledging they’re trapped in a relentless “battle of the run routes” against friends, family and work colleagues.
The survey of 1,000 runners discovered that half now feel under pressure to make their exercise sessions appear more spectacular once posted online, while nearly two thirds admit they routinely measure their running performance against people they track on fitness apps.
And it seems some are prepared to stretch the rules in their quest for fitness bragging rights. A third acknowledge they’ve jogged on the spot purely to inflate their step tally, while 21% have brazenly waved their wrist about in a bid to fool their tracker into recording additional steps.
Some have pushed things considerably further. More than one in ten have snapped Instagram photos in their running kit before promptly removing their trainers and abandoning the workout.
The same proportion have even recruited friends or relatives to wear their fitness watch on a run for them, according to the study by Postcode Lottery. Meanwhile, one in six confess to attaching their mobile phone or fitness watch to their DOG in a bid to clock up extra steps.
And for a determined minority, even that isn’t enough. Nearly one in ten admit they have jumped in the car to speed up their run, while 7% have used their vehicle to help them cover more miles.
The results suggest that for many people, running is no longer purely about keeping fit – it’s about maintaining an image online. In fact, 50% agree that the rise of fitness apps and sharing workouts online has made people more competitive when it comes to running.
A whopping 89% believe that tracking and sharing runs has transformed running from a solo activity into a public one. And while many might deny having a competitive streak, the numbers paint a rather different picture.
Half admit they enjoy the feeling of having run further or longer than someone else, while one in five say they get a warm glow whenever someone comments on or likes one of their runs online. A third say seeing other people upload runs online motivates them to get out and exercise themselves.
The findings have been released to celebrate the launch of Crowns for Causes, a challenge from Postcode Lottery on Strava, aiming to unlock £5 million for good causes, Hospice UK, Mind, Guide Dogs, Royal British Legion and Cancer Research UK.
The challenge taps into the growing sense of community spirit behind fitness – though Britain’s competitive nature appears to be very much alive and kicking.
Nearly two thirds confess they’ve ended up running further than planned simply because they wanted their app to register the next mile or kilometre. The typical runner now goes out three times a week, with two thirds sticking rigidly to the same time of day for their runs.
More than two thirds follow the same routes, with 38% keeping to the exact same running circuit for up to a year. Four in ten always ensure their runs are tracked using a watch or mobile app, while almost one in five regularly share them online for others to see.
Davina McCall, a passionate runner and Postcode Lottery ambassador, said: “I’ve always believed that getting active should feel good, not like a chore.
“What I love about Crowns for Causes is that it meets you exactly where you are. Whether you’re running 5KM or 50KM, your everyday activity can now unlock real money for charities that genuinely change lives – and that’s exactly why I’m so proud to be a Postcode Lottery ambassador. Lace up, get out there, and let’s make every mile count for something more.”
Throughout June, July and August, the first 30,000 participants will unlock £50 for charity with each completed challenge. After that, people can nominate a charity for a £100,000 bonus, with the collective aim of unlocking £5 million for good causes.