Going for a run? Don’t forget your ring light. If you’re on run-Tok, you’ve seen how some running influencers make even their longest runs look effortless. They’re like the Nara Smiths of the athletic realm – except instead of baking homemade sourdough in couture gowns, they’re flashing a sweat-free smile to the camera on mile nine. Even at an impressive pace, they speak to their followers with ease, holding the phone from the perfect overhead angle as picturesque scenery flies by in the background. They only ever break a socially acceptable amount of sweat – glowing, but never dripping – until they proudly report back, having completed double-digit miles in record time.
You may be familiar with the people who do this, but the question of how they film this level of athleticism in such an aesthetically pleasing way remains a mystery. In fact, some people on social media are so fed up with this phenomenon, they feel it warrants further investigation. One such user, Gabriela Galavis (or @marigabitere), is convinced these running “fitfluencers” are lying, and she’s on a mission to prove it to you.
