Sports
Pietra Palma on the Realities of Starting Out as a Runner
The creator reflects on her early days online, the lack of beginner role models, and dealing with comparison.
Speaking on Girls Who Run, Pietra Palma opens up about sharing her beginner running journey on social media. The creator highlights the need for relatable role models when starting from scratch and the impact of showing non-linear progress in sports.
In an episode of Girls Who Run, a project by the hub Stemma Sports that also explores lifestyle transitions and wellness, Pietra Palma recalled what it was like to start sharing her beginner runner routine online. Well before the recent boom of dedicated running accounts, she turned to social media—primarily TikTok—to document her journey into training.
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The search for relatable role models
When she looked for running content to guide her, Pietra found a scene dominated by seasoned runners tackling 21 km distances or pacing 25 km runs around 5 min/km. For someone starting out on the treadmill at 3 km in 40 minutes, the lack of relatability was evident. Realizing there were few references for true beginners motivated her to document her own journey organically.
The community's response came quickly. The creator, who holds a degree in journalism, shares that messages from followers saying her videos inspired them to get out of bed and face depression gave her content purpose. That feedback reinforced the value of documenting a journey spanning from her very first run to crossing 21 km finish lines.
Comparisons and the reality of ups and downs
As more creators entered the running space, feeds became filled with rapid progress and leaps straight to marathons after just a short time training. In contrast, Pietra's journey remained anchored in steady, organic growth, mirroring the reality of most amateur runners.
Even so, putting her routine online brought internal pressure. Pietra noted that she also struggled with comparison and anxiety over progress when gains were not linear. For her, it is vital to recognize that running comes in phases and that slowing down or easing up is a natural part of the journey—even if it is rarely shown on social media.
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