In a competitive field, #GirlRun has been described as social media's 'most positive trend'. 

Whether a woman is going for a ‘hot girl run’, a ‘slow girl run’ or just a ‘lazy run’ there is no denying that more and more women are pulling on their trainers and pounding the pavements the length and breadth of the country. 

One of them is personal trainer Natalie Lennon; growing up, she described herself as “never good at sport” but is amazed at how popular running has become with women who might previously never have enjoyed sport. 

“It’s really taken off in the last couple of months,” she told Sarah Madden for Newstalk Breakfast. 

“[#GirlRun] is the most positive trend I have ever seen take off on social media.” 

Part of the reason, she believes, is because running is one of the few ways left to enjoy a complete digital detox. 

“You’re not on your phone when you’re doing these runs,” she said. 

“You’re taking that break from social media and online; you’re just running and having organic natural chats with people. 

“I think people are longing for that."

#GirlRun: Running, tea and chats

Aisling Moore and Sophie Hamilton are two friends who decided to join a group called Slow Girl Run. 

It is non-competitive and the post run tea and chats are just as important as the actual exercise itself. 

“Younger people are trying to focus on socialising outside of drinking,” they said. 

“Everything has gotten so much more expensive and running is free and I think there are a couple of hundred people who joined the group just in the last few weeks.” 

Marathon training

Other people take it much more seriously and research suggests women are racing competitively in increasingly large numbers. 

Not long ago, Celina Stephenson described herself as a a couch potato but was “sick of feeling sick”. 

“I randomly signed myself up for the London Marathon and I know that sounds crazy but I’m so goal driven,” she said. 

“So, if I give myself a big goal, I know I’ll be able to do it.” 

Since she began documenting her marathon journey, she has gained 100,000 followers on Instagram. 

“I think people just see themselves in me,” she said. 

“I think people see the journey that I’ve gone on and they think, ‘I could do that!’

“It’s more of a realistic journey.”

Main image: Two young women running in the park. Picture by: Alamy.com