You’ve decided to start running. Maybe you’ve seen the relentless online enthusiasm for its life-changing benefits, or perhaps you were inspired watching people crush races, from a local 5K to a full-blown Marathon. You wanted a piece of that feeling, so you laced up your shoes and hit the road.
Those first short distances felt like a huge win. You turned a sporadic effort into a solid habit, and before you knew it, you completed your very first 5K. Now, the natural question bubbles up: What’s next? Run longer, or run faster?
Eager for guidance, you dive into the online world—running forums, Facebook groups, and Reddit communities. You’re looking for camaraderie and tips, but what you find is a sudden, jarring immersion into a sea of intimidation.
You’re scrolling through passionate debates about carbon-plated super shoes for a casual 5K, detailed 50-mile training plans, and a blizzard of incomprehensible acronyms. People are humble-bragging about their “slow” long run pace that’s a full minute per kilometer faster than your maximum sprint.
Your initial excitement curdles into a knot of doubt. That little voice whispers: “I guess I’m not a real runner.”
If this is you, I’m here to tell you two things that matter more than any pace chart:
- You are a real runner. The moment you decided to run, you joined the club. Full stop.
- It’s not you, it’s them. Online running communities can accidentally become echo chambers for the dedicated, data-obsessed, and experienced runners that may have lost the joy of a simple run.
The problem with these spaces isn’t the people in them—many are wonderfully supportive—but the culture that can form. It can make the simple, joyful act of putting one foot in front of the other feel like a complex science project requiring a PhD in biomechanics and a personal nutritionist.
The Antidote to Anxiety: Go Laugh on r/runningcirclejerk
Before you quit and trade your running shoes for a pair of house slippers, we have an alternative for you. If the mainstream forums are making you feel inadequate, it’s time to laugh at the absurdity of it all. The antidote to running intimidation isn’t another training plan—it’s r/runningcirclejerk on Reddit.
The name sounds strange, I know. “Circlejerk” is internet slang for a group parodying its own obsession. And that’s exactly what this subreddit is: a hilarious, self-aware parody of running culture. It’s a place where runners go to laugh at the very things that can make online running spaces so intimidating. It’s the perfect antidote to the seriousness.
Here’s what you’ll find in r/RunningCirclejerk:
- The Glorification of the Slow Run: While other forums fret about pace, RCJ has one universal piece of advice: SLOW DOWN. The mantra is repeated so often it’s a religion. It’s a hilarious (and genuinely good) reminder that running doesn’t have to be about speed.
- Parodies of Humble Brags: Someone posts, “Just ran a casual 2:45 marathon, so disappointed.” On RCJ, you’ll find the satirical version: “I just went to my mailbox and came back. Should I carb-load for this tomorrow?”
- A Simplification of Gear Obsession: The ultimate shoe isn’t a $300 Vaporfly; it’s the Saucony Endorphin Speed (a good shoe that has become the sub’s unofficial mascot). The only mandatory fuel? GU. For everything. A 5k? GU. A road trip? GU. A tough day at the office? GU.
r/RunningCirclejerk isn’t making fun of you; it’s making fun of the culture that makes you feel inadequate.
For a beginner, it’s a breath of fresh air. It’s a community that understands that sometimes, the most profound running truth is that it’s just about getting out the door. It reminds you not to take it all so seriously. Laughter, as it turns out, is the best recovery tool.
So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by a training plan you can’t pronounce or a pace chart that makes your legs ache just looking at it, take a break. Head over to r/RunningCirclejerk, have a laugh, and remember why you started in the first place.
Because at the end of the day, whether you’re chasing a Marathon Qualifying time or just chasing the feeling of the wind on your face, we’re all just runners. And sometimes, the best way to take running seriously is to not take it seriously at all.