These “Marathon Moonlighters” Run For Themselves, Not Social Media

Marathon moonlighters are among us (and you probably don't even know it). After completing 26.2 miles, the majority of people might feel inclined to post a selfie from the finish line. Maybe they text the groupchat, show off their medal, or take to social media to detail their marathon experience. But there's people on the other side of the spectrum who would rather you didn't know they ran at all . . . also known as marathon moonlighters.

Marathons can definitely have a "pics or it didn't happen" vibe, but not everyone wants to make running such a public declaration. Just look at Harry Styles, who finished the Berlin marathon with an impressive sub-three-hour time . . . and a fake name. Styles is a prime example of what we're calling "marathon moonlighters." These are the types of runners who prefer to keep their accomplishments lowkey. In fact, the people in their lives might be surprised to find out they're runners at all.

To learn more about this marathon moonlighting mindset, we spoke with five people who prefer to run in private. Read on to learn why they do it, and whether they'd recommend marathon moonlighting to others.

Why Would Anyone Become a Marathon Moonlighter?

It can be hard to understand marathon moonlighting if you haven't done it yourself. For Rachel* — someone who runs half marathons, but never posts her time or talks about how the race went — it's all about internal validation. "I choose to keep it more personal because I'm very much a self-motivated individual," she tells Popsugar. "My only competition is myself and my pace."

This is a sentiment Diana* can relate to, having often run half marathons without telling anyone. "There's this unexplainable connection and feeling you get from yourself," she says. "It's not the accomplishment of the race, it's the sense of power you have." For her, that's worth more than photos and accolades.

For others, marathon moonlighting is also a good way to stay focused. "Honestly, keeping it more private lets me stay focused on the 'why' behind it in the first place," says runner *Beatrice. "Once it becomes about other people's reactions, it loses a bit of the magic." Runner *Arleen feels similarly, saying she much prefers to engage with the running community offline. "A lot of the running content I used to engage with felt more like a clique," she says. "Since I am not a fast runner, I often feel underrepresented. And honestly, I would just rather engage with the running community in 'real life.'"

*Hannah agrees she gets enough validation from the race itself. But there might be a deeper reason behind her marathon moonlighting too. "Running for me is very personal — almost like a relationship; you don't want to tell anyone about it until you know it's real," she says. "Maybe some of it is also fear of being judged. Say I tell people I'm preparing to run this ungodly distance, but for whatever reason don't end up actually doing it. The shame around that so-called failure can be disheartening."

What Happens When People Find Out?

When asked if anyone has ever been surprised to learn about their running, our marathon moonlighters responded with a resounding yes. "All I know is when I see [a half marathon], I run it. My family, even, does not have any idea that I am running," Diana says. It seems a bit of secrecy is key for most marathon moonlighters — but that doesn't mean they don't enjoy surprising some people with a reveal. "The response is usually a mix of shock and confusion," Rachel says. "It can be a fun easter egg if others happen to find out organically and you get a true 'wait . . . WHAT?!'"

This rings true for both family and friends. "The first time I told my friends back home that I ran a half marathon they were quite surprised," Hannah says. "My father was very impressed — he was like, 'There's no way you ran 13 miles . . . Do you know how much endurance and stamina that takes?' I was like '. . . Uhh yes, I did it.'"

Is Marathon Moonlighting Right For You?

The bottom line is that you deserve to celebrate your wins — whatever that may look like for you. But if marathon moonlighting helps you feel more connected to your goals, don't feel pressured to share that experience with the world. "I think it depends on the person. A lot of people like to tell others because they are more extroverted," Arleen says. "I don't know that I would recommend it, but I know that it works for me."

For Beatrice, it's empowering to do a race just for yourself. Instead of getting distracted by outside influences, you can tap into the drive, the challenge, and the personal growth it takes to finish strong. "You get to enjoy the process without all the external noise or pressure, and that makes crossing the finish line feel even more meaningful," Beatrice says. Depending on your goals, Rachel agrees. "If you're a self-motivator, there's not much more you need than that feeling after you finish a great race, knowing it's something you put the effort in for and controlled all of the variables you could," she says.

But at the end of the day, marathon moonlighting is still a very personal choice, and it's OK if you enjoy sharing your journey with others. Evidently, both methods work well for different people. "I think to each their own," Hannah says. "If someone wants to run and tell the world about it, that's great, and if someone just wants to moonlight, that's fine too."

*Names have been changed or edited to protect the identity of sources.

Chandler Plante (she/her) is a social producer and staff writer for the Health & Fitness team at Popsugar. She has over five years of industry experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine, a social media manager for Millie magazine, and a contributor for Bustle Digital Group. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and is based in Los Angeles.