And this is why I should delete Instagram

I love how Instagram gives me "stories" and "feed." I love that I can review my progress as both moving images and a static grid. I love putting the captions on my photos and reels. Lately, I've been dictating into Voice Recorder and having it create a transcript and AI summary. I love taking my stories and turning them into reels (when it works) at the end of a training cycle.

But I don't love how Instagram gives runners unrealistic expectations for what the "expo day" should look like, and the perfect expo-day outfit and matching hair bow. It also sets unrealistic expectations for amazing race photos for "finish line Friday." Not drenched in sweat and dying, but gloriously bounding across the finish line. I don't love how people post curated "medal Monday" photos, in a separate $100+ outfit. I mean, good for them, happy if they are happy with it. What I don't like is feeling pressured to do the same.

One good tip I got from a former RunClub participant about how to reduce the number of ads in your feed:

• Click on the three lines at the top, then scroll down to the section called "Content preferences"
• Toggle "ON" the "Snooze suggested posts in feed" 

The bad news is it only lasts 30 days, and then I guess you have to go back and turn it on again. The good news is that it tells you how many days you have left. Like I've snoozed it for 15 days because I have 15 days left. And the algorithm is way better. I see a LOT more content from friends and people I follow and a lot fewer ads. Thank you, Kady!

I do think writing can be a form of meditation. I also think dictating your thoughts is a good practice. Dean Karnazes said he wrote all his books that way. I can take a thought that is kicking around in my head, causing me grief, and put it to rest by writing about it.

I like how https://www.instagram.com/mariasortofruns has a pinned post about an introduction.

1) Allow me to introduce myself (photo of her running happily)

2) I'm Maria (with 6 fun facts, e.g. wife and mom, loves audiobooks, has a job, loves coffee, born in Miami, somehow a content creator)

3) I'm a runner (sort of). Run walk, party pace, glitter. It all counts.

4) Running lore (history, duration, injuries, biggest accomplishment, current race)

5) Currently Training For: All the future races upcoming

6) The Side Quest: collecting Run Clubs

7) What you'll find here: glitter, audiobooks, inspiration, cheerleader, perimenopause complaints, race recaps, cute outfits, coffee, questionable life decisions, geriatric millenial humor

8) Before you follow: I will enable you to... take photos, sign up for races, book a vacation, wear a cute outfit, buy the shoes, launch the run club, romanticize your life

9) My WHY: I'm choosing friendships, finish lines, crazy outfits. Because I don't have to, I get to.

10) Anyway Hi, Welcome. I'm Maria. You're welcome here.

Well, I wrote to her and asked for permission to write something similar about myself.