Running for Health or Lifestyle? A Sociological Perspective
Lately, running is no longer just a simple, inexpensive physical activity that anyone can do. In the era of social media, running has transformed into a complex cultural phenomenon. From the starter pack of runners now synonymous with the latest edition of expensive shoes, sophisticated smartwatches that monitor heart rate, to screenshots of the Strava app showing off speed and distance covered, everything has become part of a digital performance.
This phenomenon raises a big question that may often cross our minds: are we truly running for health, or solely for lifestyle and social media content? Behind the euphoria of these ‘kalcer’ runners lies a social symptom, namely the fear of missing out, or FOMO, which has now permeated the world of sports.
On one hand, this trend brings positive activity. Awareness of the importance of improving health, especially post-pandemic, has grown, and running is one of the most accessible sports. Many young people, particularly Generation Z, have started running, joined communities, and made it a routine to maintain fitness.
On the other hand, however, running has become part of a lifestyle defined by symbols and consumption. Running shoes are no longer just tools but symbols of status and identity. Consumers are willing to spend more on famous brands, not only for their function but because of the impression and self-image attached to them. Likewise, smartwatches and Strava uploads vividly illustrate how social validation has become an inseparable part of running activities.
This trend has given birth to what is called FOMO, the anxiety of being left behind by trends. Many young people start running not because they are aware of the importance of exercise, but because they are afraid of being considered outdated or unsociable. This phenomenon even reaches an ironic peak with the emergence of ‘Strava jockeys’. Strava is a sports tracking application that allows users to share their running results. Now, a service has emerged where someone can pay another person to run on their behalf, just to display impressive distance or speed on social media.
From the perspective of Karl Marx, there is alienation in this phenomenon. Alienation is a condition in which humans become detached from their human essence, particularly in relation to work and the products they produce. In the context of kalcer runners, we can see this alienation in the relationship between the runner and the activity of running itself. Initially, running was a pure and authentic activity for health or personal satisfaction. However, under the pressure of consumerist culture and social media, this activity has changed. Kalcer runners no longer run solely to feel and maintain health, but rather to produce content, likes, and validation from others.
Running becomes a commodity traded in the form of digital performance. They sell themselves, their activities, and their lifestyle to gain social recognition in the social media marketplace. Alienation occurs because runners lose control over the meaning of their own activity; that meaning is now determined by how many people see and acknowledge their uploads. This need for recognition ultimately leads to irrational consumerist behaviour, buying expensive equipment not out of necessity, but because of the compulsion to appear ‘existent’ in the eyes of society.
This phenomenon serves as a reminder of the importance of character education and critical literacy in the digital era. Education, especially in higher education, has a responsibility to instil critical awareness in the younger generation so they are not swept away by the currents of FOMO and consumerism. As posited by the thinking of Emile Durkheim, education is a means to instil values and norms, not merely a transfer of knowledge. However, the cultivation of solidarity must be balanced with critical awareness so that social impacts are not destructive.
Education must teach that exercising, including running, is an intrinsic need for health, not a tool to seek external validation. It is important for students and the younger generation to always examine the motive behind every action. Are they running because their body needs movement and health, or only because they are afraid of being considered behind the trend and losing social recognition?
The kalcer runner phenomenon is a reflection of an increasingly complex consumerist and digital society. Through the lens of Karl Marx, we can see how alienation seeps into even the most personal activities. However, this does not mean we must abandon social media or modern equipment. What is most important is how we can use them wisely, without letting these tools control the meaning and purpose of our lives.