Fitfluencers: why you shouldn’t listen to training advice from internet personalities

In today’s age of TikTok and social media influencers, there are a lot of people online who want your attention. No matter what you’re interested in, there is an influencer who has based their entire Internet presence on that topic. Triathlon is no different, and there are many people out there who make content around training, nutrition, racing, gear, and more.

Some of these influencers might be great triathletes with lots of knowledge and experience in the sport, but there are a lot who just look the part. That’s why it’s important to be weary of influencers’ advice, whether that’s about training, products, nutrition plans, or whatever else. You can certainly listen to some pieces of advice, but just be sure you don’t buy into everything these people say just because they have a lot of followers and likes on their videos.

What’s their priority?

There are some people on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or wherever else you consume triathlon media who are genuinely well-informed in the sport. They might be coaches who want to share training advice and stories with the triathlon community, or perhaps they are elite or pro athletes looking to help age groupers. These content creators are generally trustworthy sources, because their priorities lie in the sport. They genuinely want to help you get better.

Influencers, however, have a different priority. Unlike a coach or a pro triathlete, an influencer’s content is their only source of income in the sport. That means that they have to generate engaging and entertaining content every day. Their priority is not helping you, it is getting you to watch. Because of this, they will talk about “crazy” or “unbelievable” workouts they’ve done that are sure to catch your eye and they will go on and on about how certain products are “amazing” and “must-have” pieces of gear.

You could get hurt

Not every bit of training advice you get from influencers will be bad. Some could be great, but you have to remember that most of these people are not certified coaches. They don’t know your training load, your body, or your history in the sport. They are recommending one workout to an entire world of athletes, and although they might be able to do it, it doesn’t mean that you can or should.

Plus, many influencers could be lying. They claim to swim, bike, or run however far, but all they show are a few clips from these workouts. For all you know, they’re recommending a monster training session that they have never actually completed themselves. If you’re going to take training advice from anyone, make it someone who knows what you need, not someone who needs you for views.

Brand partnerships

Influencers get the bulk of their money from brand deals. A nutrition company will pay a triathlete to push their gel or their protein powder. The influencer will say it’s “the best” nutrition they’ve ever used and that you “need” to add it to your next shopping haul. Or maybe there’s a training aid that this influencer swears by. Well, if they say they can’t live without it and then tell you to buy it at the link in their bio, they might not have the best of intentions. Same as with training advice, some products that influencers recommend could be great. You just have to be careful when you choose what to believe.

Nothing personal

If you’re a content creator with a focus on triathlon, we aren’t trying to attack you. If your intentions are pure and you simply want to share your training and racing journey with your followers, that’s wonderful. But there are a lot of people online who just want attention, likes, and money, which is why you have to be at least a tad skeptical when you see triathlon influencers at work. They might be worth a follow, but don’t put all of your trust in them.