Red Bandana: Should You Tweet and Run?

Read the latest Red Bandana: Marathon Training Begins (Slowly)


Line me up in a race against the fastest runners on the planet, say, Usain Bolt (Jamaica, 100 meter world record) or Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia, marathon world record), and I haven’t a chance to compete. On Twitter, however, I have an opportunity to connect with them on a level playing field.

Just as with any other celebrity, Twitter allows ordinary folks like you and I to mingle with famous people. The great thing about runners is most are not too big for their britches and actually maintain their own Twitter accounts.

It is not just the current runners who are using this unique medium. Carl Lewis and Joan Benoit Samuelson, both gold medal winners in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, are on there. So is writer Hal Higdon.

Some rarely post. Others are full of themselves. A few are promoting causes, books, or their organization. Some, however, just want to talk about their dog, the great run they just had, or how good the steak was last night. Many love to engage with fans.

This interaction can help you keep the fire going, realizing even the most elite runner gets tired, or listens to the same music as they run.

Check out those listed below, and of course, follow me: http://twitter.com/anthonytrendl

Adams, Jenny — http://twitter.com/jennyadams78
Batcho, Zach — http://twitter.com/ZachBatcho
Bingham, John ‘Penguin’ — http://twitter.com/jjbingham
Bolt, Usain — http://twitter.com/usainbolt
Burkhalter, Brooke — http://twitter.com/BrookeBurkhalte
Chambers, Dwain — http://twitter.com/dwainchambers
Clark, Hazel — http://twitter.com/hazelclark154
Clay, Bryan — http://twitter.com/bryanclay
Clement, Kerron — http://twitter.com/KerronClement
Cool Running — http://twitter.com/Cool_Running
Cox, Josh — http://twitter.com/iJoshCox
Demus, Lashinda — http://twitter.com/LashindaDemus
ELITETRACK — http://twitter.com/elitetrack
Falise, Franciso — http://twitter.com/aivala
Felix, Allyson — http://twitter.com/allysonfelix
Fleshman, Lauren — http://twitter.com/laurenfleshman
FloTrack — http://twitter.com/Flotrack
Gay, Tyson — http://twitter.com/TysonLGay
Gebrselassie, Haile — http://twitter.com/HaileGebr
Gill Athletics — http://twitter.com/gillathletics
Glenn, Brianna — http://twitter.com/briannaglenn
Goucher, Kara — http://twitter.com/karagoucher
Hall, Ryan — http://twitter.com/RyanHall3 
Hall, Sara — http://twitter.com/SaraHall3
Hardee, Trey — http://twitter.com/treyhardee
Harris, Tora — http://twitter.com/toraharris 
Hastings, Natasha — http://twitter.com/natashahastings
Hayes, Joanna — http://twitter.com/joannadhayes
Hemingway, Matt — http://twitter.com/matthemingway
Higdon, Hal — http://twitter.com/higdonmarathon
Hurlebaus, Josh — http://twitter.com/Josh_Hurlebaus
Jones, Lolo — http://twitter.com/followlolo
Keflezighi, Meb — http://twitter.com/runmeb
Lagat, Bernard — http://twitter.com/Lagat1500
Lewis, Carl — http://twitter.com/Carl_Lewis
Mason, Germaine — http://twitter.com/GermaineMasonHJ
McKinney, Akiba — http://twitter.com/MsAkiba
Merritt, Aries — http://twitter.com/amhurdlestar
Mort, Ashley — http://twitter.com/mortac8
Norquist, Matt — http://twitter.com/norquist
Pole Vault Power — http://twitter.com/polevaultpower
PreRace Jitters — http://twitter.com/PreRaceJitters
Radcliffe, Paula — http://twitter.com/paulajradcliffe
Ramzy, Bashir — http://twitter.com/b_ramzy
Richards, Sanya — http://twitter.com/SanyaRichiRoss
Ritzenhein, Dathan — http://twitter.com/djritzenhein
Rowbury, Shannon — http://twitter.com/ShannonRowbury
Run Blog Run — http://twitter.com/RunBlogRun
Runner Space — http://twitter.com/RunnerSpace_com
Runners Tribe — http://twitter.com/runnerstribe
Runner’s World — http://twitter.com/runnersworld
Rupp, Galen — http://twitter.com/G_Rupp
Samuelson, Joan Benoit — http://twitter.com/JBSamuelson
Smith, Christian — http://twitter.com/christiansmith8
Sotherton, Kelly — http://twitter.com/kellysotherton
Starkey, Dean — http://twitter.com/deanstarkey
Strang, John — http://twitter.com/JohnStrang
Taylor, Angelo — http://twitter.com/Angelo_Taylor
Teter, Nicole — http://twitter.com/colteter
Thompson, Richard — http://twitter.com/Torpedo989
Track and Field News — http://twitter.com/tandfn
Track Blogs — http://twitter.com/track_blogs
Track Jabber — http://twitter.com/trackjabber
Track News — http://twitter.com/track_news
UCS Spirit — http://twitter.com/UCSSPIRIT
USATF — http://twitter.com/USATrack_Field
Waltz, Ian — http://twitter.com/ianwaltz
Washington, Tyree — http://twitter.com/SNIPEREYES
Williamson, Darold — http://twitter.com/DWill400
Wineberg, Mary — http://twitter.com/wineberg400 

Running Playlist Song of the Week
“Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley
This choice makes it in a sneaky way. At first, it sounds like there is this easy groove, the kind found during long late night drives. Then, it gets going, and you might yourself doing the cubicle strut. Take that strut and run a few miles.

I remember when, I remember
I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place
Even your emotions have an echo
In so much space

(sources: elitetrack.com, letsrun.com, twitter.com)

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Writer Anthony Trendl loves social media, but admits Tweeting is not as much fun as running. Contact me to send your favorite tips, songs, recipes, or to tell me about your road race. See http://anthonytrendl.com/.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/anthonytrendl
Blog: http://anthonytrendl.blogspot.com/
Running blog: http://runnersdilemma.blogspot.com/