In the vast world of social media, where hashtags lead to stories and photos bridge distances, I stumbled upon a connection that would redefine my understanding of friendship. It wasn’t about likes or follows; it was about finding my tribe.
Let me take you back to a time when I felt adrift, lost in the whirlwind of motherhood and longing for a sense of belonging. It was in motherhood’s chaos that running became my sanctuary. It was a solitary escape, where each step brought solace and strength. Yet, despite the joy it brought, I couldn’t shake the loneliness that lingered. Amidst the rhythm of my feet against the pavement, I craved connection—a tribe to share in the highs and lows of the journey.
Social Media’s Surprising Gift
In 2019 I decided to register for the Lululemon 10K in Toronto. It was then that I discovered the power of social media to foster connections. It began with a simple hashtag search after completing the race. It was there, among the sea of photos, I found an image of a woman at the same race as me wearing the same shoes as me. I took the leap and left a comment on @littlerunnermom’s post. This small interaction marked the beginning of a profound friendship.
From Virtual Connection to Lifelong Friendship
A comment led to a follow, and soon, our virtual connection blossomed into a real-life friendship. Despite living hours apart, our shared experiences of motherhood and running created an instant bond. Little did we know, this connection would be the foundation of something extraordinary.
As the pandemic swept across the world, our virtual bond became a lifeline. We supported each other through the uncertainty, sharing miles and moments of triumph and despair. What started as a duo expanded into a tight-knit group of moms, spanning from Kingston to Ottawa, united by our love for running.
The Joy of Meeting in Person
Finally, in August 2020, we gathered for the first time, running a virtual half marathon in Ottawa. The miles we ran together solidified our bond, and since then, we’ve made it a tradition to meet 2-3 times a year, celebrating milestones and supporting each other through life’s ups and downs.
Beyond Running: Embracing the Essence of True Friendship
What started as a chance encounter on social media has blossomed into the most authentic and fulfilling friendship I’ve ever known. We’ve laughed, cried, and grown together, supporting each other through thick and thin. Our connection goes beyond running; it’s about showing up for each other, whether in person or virtually, and knowing that we’re never alone.
Share Your Social Media Friendship Stories
In a world where social media is often criticized for fostering shallow connections, our story stands as a testament to its power to bring people together. Through hashtags and photos, we found our tribe, and for that, I’ll forever be grateful.
What’s your experience with forming meaningful connections through social media? Share your stories below and join the conversation!
Facebook Post: Check out my latest blog post “Finding My Tribe: How Social Media Forged Lifelong Bonds Among 8 Mother Runners”, where I share my journey from solitary runs to a tight-knit group of running moms who have become my closest friends. Dive into our story of virtual connections turned real-life friendships.
Join the conversation and share your experiences with forming meaningful connections through social media in the comments below.
Instagram Post: From hashtags to lifelong bonds, discover how social media brought 8 mother runners together. Read our journey on The Everyday Stride blog #ChicksWithKicks #SocialMediaConnections #MotherRunners
Algonquin College Social Media Certificate Program 
Wow! This was an amazing post to read! I really loved how personal you made it and the fact that at the end you called others to join as well.
This is a touching post about finding true friendship through social media. I really liked the style and voice of the writing. The author writes engagingly and interestingly. I agree that we all need friends with similar interests, to our souls. Unfortunately, our second half does not always share your interests. And sometimes we need a rest from the family (mothers would understand me for sure). That’s why we need friends. We need a tribe. And I wish I could find mine.
You shared a very touching story that I enjoyed reading. It’s indeed a wonder these days what kind of connections we can make through social media. Just recently, I reconnected on Facebook with my childhood friend from Romania whom I have not spoken to or seen in 30 years. She is again part of my tribe 🙂 I am just curious…what kind of marathon is a “virtual half-marathon”?
This is such a great story!! I really liked how you used a very personal experience to highlight how social media can help us build community and find other like minded people. I have definitely formed connections through social media – my favourite aspect of it is being able to connect with friends who are far away. Social media makes it so easy to stay connected, and to reconnect with friends and communities we may have otherwise lost touch with!
Amazing story! I myself ran the 5k Ottawa Race weekend a couple days ago. After posting on social media, and showing some of my coworkers pictures, they are now motivated to come run the next Ottawa Race marathon weekend in summer time. I’m glad I did the 5k now to get ready for the 10k. I’m still recovering, I wanted to stay and support the other races but I was very tired as the first run pain hit! I went home and followed the results on Instagram instead. Social media allows us to be in the moment even from home
Congratulations on running 5K at Race Weekend!!! Your comment is timely as I prepare my next blog post which stems from Tamarack Race Weekend 🙂