Desperate Brits are cheating on their jogs to outdo mates on running apps, new research reveals. Over-competitive runners are going to extraordinary lengths to boost their stats online, with many admitting they are caught up in a relentless battle of the run routes against friends, family, and colleagues.
Pressure to Impress Online
The poll of 1,000 runners found that half (49%) now feel pressure to make their workouts look more impressive once uploaded online. Nearly two-thirds (61%) confess they regularly compare their running activity with people they follow on fitness apps.
Some are willing to bend the rules in pursuit of fitness glory. A third (35%) admit they have jogged on the spot simply to boost their step count, while 21% have waved their wrist around to trick their tracker into logging extra steps.
Creative Cheating Methods
- 14% have posed for Instagram in running gear before immediately taking off their trainers.
- 14% have enlisted friends or family to wear their step watch on a run.
- 16% confess to attaching their phone or fitness watch to their dog to clock up extra steps.
- 8% admit they have jumped in a car to speed up their run.
- 7% have used their vehicle to cover more miles.
Running as a Public Performance
The findings suggest running is no longer just about fitness but about keeping up appearances online. Half (50%) agree that fitness apps and sharing workouts have made people more competitive. A whopping 89% believe tracking and sharing runs has transformed running from a solo activity into a public one.
Half (50%) enjoy the feeling of having run further or longer than someone else, while one in five (20%) get a warm glow whenever someone comments on or likes their runs online. A third (32%) say seeing others' runs motivates them to exercise.
Community and Competition
The findings were released to celebrate the launch of Crowns for Causes, a challenge from Postcode Lottery on Strava, aiming to unlock £5 million for charities including Hospice UK, Mind, Guide Dogs, Royal British Legion, and Cancer Research UK.
Nearly two-thirds (59%) admit they have run further than intended just to tick over to the next mile or kilometre. The average runner heads out three times a week, with two-thirds (65%) sticking to the same time of day. More than two-thirds (69%) follow the same routes, with 38% keeping the same circuit for up to a year.
Four in ten (42%) always track runs using a watch or app, while almost one in five (19%) regularly share them online. Davina McCall, 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. Lace up, get out there, and let's make every mile count for something more.'
Across June, July, and August, the first 30,000 participants will unlock £50 for charity with each completed challenge. Thereafter, people can nominate a charity for a £100,000 bonus, with the collective goal of unlocking £5 million for good causes.
