As I sit in a crowded Starbucks on a hot Sunday October morning in Chicago, it just so happens that on the other side of the glass window, 45,000 people are running the Chicago marathon. I quickly realized that the term “running” only applies to an elite group, the rest are walking, jogging or at this point, 3.5 hours in, crawling. Although the attention should be on the runners, I can’t help but admire the large amount of people who are cheering on their friends and loved ones. I am not just talking about the people who came out to watch and cheer but the Facebook fan pages and wall posts supporting these devoted runners. Every few seconds someone else posts on the wall dedicated to the Chicago marathon.
The Chicago Marathon is a trending topic on Twitter at the moment with updates, pictures and personal support. On Foursquare at the moment, 157 people are checked in at Grant Park for the Chicago Marathon. You’re about to run 26.2 miles, it’s 80 degrees out, you’re nervous, you need to stretch but you just have to “check-in” on Foursquare. Kudos to you because that takes major social media dedication and you deserve a special badge for that. In actuality, it probably has nothing to do with staying on top of social media and more to do with earning praise. If your Twitter and Facebook status is “I’m at Chicago Marathon (Grant Park) w/157 others,” your network will take note and respond accordingly. With comments like “Good luck Ash, what a major accomplishment,” or “I didn’t know you were running, you go girl.” Not only will you get a medal at the finish line but you’ll come home to virtual praise that will never fade.
