I have to start with the caveat that, unfortunately, there is not much local running content on social media other than posts and short reels on Facebook and Instagram.

In this regard, I can mention but one content creator who happens to be our assistant coach in WekenRun, Dean Ellison Cunanan (@heymisterdean) who has a Dailies series on Instagram.

For the past year, Dean has been coming up with daily short reels about training and the challenges, joys, and travails of being a runner. Here’s hoping that more local running enthusiasts will come up with longer form content — like vlogs and podcasts — this coming year.

Elsewhere, there are a few content creators I have gotten hooked to.

First on my list is Nick Bare, whose motto “go one more” resonates with every endurance athlete.

As far as influencers go, Nick has influenced me most with his content about hybrid training, chasing his marathon PBs, and his recent venture into Hyrox.

He is a 34-year-old US Army veteran who, in 2012 took out a $20,000 loan to start BPN, a business that primarily produces supplements and food products for athletes which has now turned into a massive empire that earns $50 million annually.

He has documented his personal journey and has interesting discussions with other runners, coaches, and other athletes in his YouTube channel.

I particularly learned from his interviews with his own running coach, Jeff Cunningham, and another running influencer, Ken Rideout, who is a 52-year-old World Marathon Champion.

Most recently, he featured his Hyrox competition in Dallas, Texas, and it was an excellent cinema quality short film, with crisp editing and impressive cinematography. As far as content goes, the production value of his films is definitely among the best in the platform.

The next on the list is ultrarunner and Cornell Law graduate Rich Roll.

His in-depth interviews with runners and health and lifestyle gurus are very cerebral and informative.

In 2012, he became a bestselling author with the publication of his inspirational memoir Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men and Discovering Myself.

In 2013, he began the Rich Roll Podcast which has consistently been in the iTunes Top Ten list. I have been inspired by at lot of his interviewees, including the likes of Chef Babette and William Goodge.

Next is perhaps my favorite running shoe reviewer on YouTube and that is Michael Ko, also known as Kofuzi.

From the first shoe review that I watched in 2019, I have been a fan. Maybe it helped that I learned he was then a practicing lawyer (in the Windy City), had a family, and called himself a non-elite runner, all of which I could relate to.

It was from him that I learned about running shoe stack height, drop, and EVA blends in midsoles.

Nowadays, the level of detail that goes into running shoe reviews is simply overwhelming but Kofuzi has managed to keep his reviews unintimidating. Now, before any running shoe purchase, I make sure to check at least his initial review.

Kofuzi also reviews races as he goes around the US and other countries to run marathons.

I particularly enjoyed the series documenting his quest to qualify for the Boston Marathon. He was the one who influenced me to run the California International Marathon in Sacramento and the Tunnel Marathon in Seattle.

To this day, he still produces some of the best running shoes and race content.

The next content creators worthy of mention are the trio behind Believe In the Run: Thomas, Meaghan and Robbie.

What makes their vlog interesting is the hosts are very different types of runners with different running shoe preferences. Of the three, I find I tend to agree with Meaghan more but when they do unanimously agree on the merits of one particular shoe — then they’re really worth the purchase.

Recently, they unanimously endorsed the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 so now I can’t wait to get my hands on a pair, especially since I personally loved the first version.

If you want to get really granular and technical running shoe reviews, you will enjoy Doctors of Running.

They have described themselves as a team of physiotherapists who are passionate about running and footwear and who provide clinical analysis and discussions on the art and science behind running as well as the shoes that runners wear.

Their unique perspective as “doctors” of running enable the viewer to look at running shoes from the perspective of what is most efficient, as well as optimal for avoiding injuries.

Writing this article, I have realized there is definitely a dearth of female running content creators. Here’s hoping this will change in 2025.