¶ Transforming Social Media With Running Influencer
So you're thinking about running but not sure how to take the first step . My name is Brian Patterson and I'm here to help . Welcome to Brian's RunPod and I'm your host , brian Patterson . And today we're diving right back into our conversation with the incredible Carleith Keyes , a running influencer with over 150,000 followers .
If you've missed part one , I highly recommend going back and giving it a listen . You won't want to miss a single moment of Carleith's journey .
In part two of our chat , we're getting into the nitty gritty of how Carleith transformed her social media presence from creating stunning cinematic cityscape videos to becoming a beloved figure in the running community on Instagram .
Well , we'll explore a simple shift in focus , spark phenomenal follower engagement , leading to a thriving online hub for long distance runners and marathon enthusiasts .
Carleith shares some amazing insights from the Instagram's creator tools , showing how she tailored her content to fit her audience needs , from showcasing scenic routes , as we've said , and discussing gear preferences to sharing expert running tips . And it's not just about the content .
We'll hear about the genuine connections she's made through personal interactions and DMs , turning simple followers into close friends and shared aspirations . In this episode , we'll also immense ourselves in powerful stories of resilience and transformation from within her running community .
From a young man's inspiring weight loss journey shedding over 400 pounds or being 400 pounds to chase the six-star marathon challenge to the emotional impact of a father's annual tribute to his late son through the New York City Marathon and these stories are just sure to tug at the heartstrings We'll discover the global reach of the Carleith Run community and how it
continues to foster a robust community spirit even when personal setbacks , like surgery , have kept Carleith from running . This heartfelt conversation truly underscores the power of running to unite people and drive personal growth , even in the face of adversity .
So lace up your running shoes and get comfortable and join us as we dive into part two of our incredible journey with Carly's Keys and , as I said , if you haven't listened to the first part , please do and also all our other exciting interviews . So , listening to Brian's run put , this is the episode that you just don't want to miss .
So I realized that people started following me , not because of my beautiful cinematic videos about the city . What about me running ? yeah and I realized I didn't want to see and I said , well , probably I can do like a cinematic video of the place I'm running in . So no , people didn't want to see this . You , you know the scenic route that I'm running .
They wanted to see me running , how I run , what I feel , what I use for running . So all these you know little details of people get curious about like , oh , because I'm starting to run too . So I really need to know what she's wearing , what shoes she prefers , and why is she wearing that vest instead of that one ?
Why is she wearing that vest this way and not that way ? Why the hat ? Why not the glasses ? So many questions that people started asking and that's how I started engaging with other runners .
You know , like me , yeah , and did you sort of , was it like , because you kind of built up the momentum , you started what posting sort of on a daily basis , or two or three times a day , or did that help how many times you posted ?
Well , I found out , once you get to know your audience , that's how it starts , by engaging with them , what kind of questions they ask themselves , or they ask you what they're curious about , and they see that there's a pattern , like they want to see more content , like on a daily basis , and it's just a trial and error .
You know , I guess it don't happen very organically just by knowing your audience , where they come from . So right now , the main 50% are from the U ? S , the other 50 are from all over the world , like I will say , probably London , the UK , australia and Canada are the other big ones that have followers , maybe English speaking , believe it or not .
Even I'm a Venezuelan . My main language is Spanish , but now I've been , you know , forced to do all my content in English because that's what my base is . So , yeah , it's just like you get to know your audience and you adapt to your audience , to what they want to see . And then I realized that it wasn't all about running .
I mean , it's just this particular aspect of running , that is , long distance , more specifically , marathons , more specifically people who are chasing the six stars . You know they were major marathons . So you start to niche down your own audience . You know , it's just like all right , it's not .
That's the secret , it's just people around my age that are seeking goals after having a successful career . Whatever you know , maybe not successful , but you know . You know you want to escape your reality or do something else aside from being a mom or a dad or going to work nine to five . You want to achieve something for yourself .
That's pretty much the audience I'm speaking to .
And so that's something you kind of learned along the way . As to the makeup of , and so that's something you kind of learned along the way as to the makeup of and and and . Was that kind of by accident or were you sort of looking for ?
You know what helped around that time that Instagram decided to implement , you know , the program of being a creator versus having a personal or business account . So by giving you the choice of you turning your account into a creator account , you get access to all these insights .
And then I realized that , where my followers have come from , what the age range are , and that's when I realized I can map out , okay , what kind of people are following me right now .
So you could get analytics in terms of yeah , you know , oh , that's interesting yeah , that's how I started to , and , and just by talking to them too , I mean they all dm me and I answer as I can . You know , right now it's kind of crazy to almost 160 000 people there , but yeah , that's a bit difficult .
Before I could have like a straight conversation , like I could answer a DM probably in the next 10 minutes , and now it just takes me probably four to five days because it's just a long list . But I always take time to talk to them . Oh , that's good . So I know where they come from and what they want .
And just because I'm general , you know , curious too , I want to know who's watching my videos , what kind of audience I'm attracted to , to my account I've got , I've got down here .
Are there any notable stories of your followers who've inspired you ? Of my followers yeah , are there any stories that I mean ? If you say no , you don't know , it's difficult to know .
But no , no , I , I , you know , interesting enough that along all this , you know I've been doing this for three years and some of my followers , especially from the early years , they have become my friends , very close friends , and because we , we , you know , we meet at races and then it's repetitive , just like we see each other in races and at the start line
we pretty much run the same time , so also the finish line we race the same races around the world . So we kind of make plans together to to go to those races together , so they become my friends and they they're my source of inspiration too , friends and they they're my source of
¶ Running Community and Inspiring Stories
inspiration too . Man I've , I've run with this kid .
Who is I mean he ?
was , I would say , probably 400 pounds . Okay , he started running and , uh , this boy , right now he's just kicking butt . You know like he's going . You know he's chasing his six stars too , and I've seen his change in his body shape , you know , throughout the years and he's doing amazing . That's something that I'm very proud of him , because he never quit once .
When we did all these trainings together in group trainings , you know , in new york city , he was always the last one to . You know , know he was . Everybody was running probably at like a standard pace . He was always the slowest .
Yeah .
But he never quit . He never let that to put him down . You know , he was actually was fuel for him to get better and better and better . And I look at him right now it's just like , wow , what a transformation , something that he worked on for so long and he never hesitated to continue , you know . So that's the type of stories that I love , yeah , people .
For example , there's another follower who became a really close friend . He's been running the new york city marathon every single year since 2007 when his , his son died .
It was a promise , okay , on his bedside he died On his bedside .
He died in New York City . He's from Texas but for whatever reason , he took his son to be examined in New York City .
Yeah .
And it just so happened that he died around the time that , you know , the New York City Marathon was happening and that's how he started running . So we just kind of like , you know , for him , he clicked . He's like now I'm gonna run this race every year in the name of my son . So yeah , he's been doing it year after year just to remember his son .
And well , like , that's so many stories I don't know you're coming out of car actually but there's so many beautiful stories . Mine is nothing . You know . I've met people along the way that you know have achieved so much just by running and chasing their own goals .
Yeah , I suppose that's . The beauty of it is that you get energy from the people who follow you as well as you providing the advice and you know to those people . And you know to those people because I know looking I was looking today when I was at work on your Instagram that you have this kind of running community thing .
Can you tell us a little bit more about that ?
Oh , the Carletch Run Club . Yes yes , it actually started , as I was , you know , going to different cities to run either races or just because I was vacationing there . So I started this group on Strava and also , like , when they do like the channels how to call it the broker channels in Instagram .
So it was a way for me to tell them hey , I'm going to be in this city , I would love to run with you , with the followers in that city , so that I would meet different people in portugal . I was in valley , like last year , last summer , also run with people in valley there .
So it's just like , whatever I go , that that's what I call the current run club , but then , of course , now I can't run , so I'm not .
Oh yeah , sorry yeah because my surgery .
So I just wanted to keep that momentum , that community sense of us running together just by sharing my expertise in a more intimate level outside of , you know , instagram .
So because sometimes I feel as you grow in the platform you kind of lose , like I was saying , it's just hard for me to keep track of everybody trying to communicate with me , so getting so late on my DMs , and so I'm like , okay , I'm going to just need to move this community aside .
Whoever wants to keep in touch with me and get more advice , you know for for their races , because you know , as I'm training , I'm also giving a lot of advice for everybody who's training for the same race .
You know , for people who are training for Berlin , for Chicago , for New York city , so but since I'm not in any of those races , but I have all the knowledge , I would love to share them too .
Yeah , because I know when I listened to one of the podcasts that you were on , that you said that , although you're not , you know , an affiliated coach , but you have people you know who was , I think , a strength person , nutritionist or something , and then they can they , they provide the advice to you know whoever wants it .
Yeah , we did that , but last year for when we were training for London . That's when we launched the Trunk Club officially , because a lot of people were training for the same race as I was . So I wanted to you know , kind of , why don't we train together ?
So I had my coach who was actually planning the whole training for London , training for for London , and and I thought it was a great idea to share this , this plan , with the rest of the people who are running London , who are following me and want to , you know . You know , follow the same plan I'm doing . So that's what we did for London .
So it was fun . That's how , how we created the London community , the London marathon community . But then , yeah , like I said , like I had to do the surgery right after London .
So I'm not training , but at least I maintain the the run club do you mind me asking as to how you're coping with not running at the moment ?
I'm going crazy . All right , yeah , it's hard . It's really hard , is there ?
light at the end of the tunnel .
Well , yes , it's kind of discouraging when I see myself that I can't even walk straight yet . I still depend on a crutch . Okay , and it's been seven weeks . So , yeah , it's hard for me to cope with the fact that , after running for five years straight , yeah , yeah . And now I'm kind of like useless .
You know , and it doesn't help to open , you know , your instagram and then see everybody's doing all these races and everybody's running but you and it's very discouraging , but that's why , you know , it helps me to maintain , you know , the courage front club . You know , keep me busy .
And and also I decided to just jump into the YouTube also to see if I can gather other type of community , because I've realized that people don't like to see me suffering on Instagram . They're used to me running , happy and you know it , just like people .
When they see me in crutches and going through that pain and they see me crying in pain , I mean they just they kind of like it's a shock to them . So I'm like , okay , so I'm going to take all my drama to YouTube . So whoever wants to watch it , so fine , if you don't , okay , we'll continue doing something different here on IG .
It's funny how people you know they they let you , or you , they just put you in this box that no , you are the happy runner that I know . I don't like to see you , you know , suffering like the rest of us , because I know I'm not the only one with a knee surgery , you know , yeah exactly .
Well , I mean , you know , I mean top athletes . You know professionals have this all the time .
If I had a… . Well , don't talk about their struggles . Yeah , I know .
I mean I was . I mean , although I'm not anywhere , I don't do as much mileage , you know , not as much as I used to , but you know I've been suffering with policeman's heel , you know plantar and even you know , even though I'm on a very smaller scale , I'm not doing any running , I'm just doing the cross trainer and in the gym and that kind of thing .
But I kind running , I'm just doing the cross trainer and in the gym and that kind of thing , but I kind of look longingly at the treadmills , you know , looking forward to the time when I can start running or go following a program , that kind of thing . So I feel , in a way , I feel your pain . So , yeah , thank you .
And I just wanted to say , before we finished , I think you've , you've thank you . Do you have any sporting heroes ?
Oh , Kipchoge , of course . I mean he's like the man , I mean like it's my dream to one day get to meet him and he has so much wisdom , and yeah , I just want to kind of get close to him and see if I can get some of his you know , energy and vibes and strength and everything and good knees .
I don't know it's gonna help it , but yeah , of course I live , keep chugging to me . It's just like you know , the biggest star of the goats yeah , so are you ?
what do you think you'd be , or will you be , in new york , or you , at the time of the olympics , or do you have you have an opportunity to get tickets for Paris or not ?
I don't think I'm going to Paris . I will have a busy summer with the kids . Yeah , sure , yeah , I'm actually heading to New York in the next two days to see my people over there . I don't know how it's going to be , because every time I go to the city it's just too long with my friends .
I miss them so much and right now I'm not in condition to be running , so I don't know how it's going to be . But you know , at least I'm going to get fit from all their energy and goodbye .
I was going to ask you about your training and your schedule , but maybe it's not the right time , seeing as that you're injured at the moment .
Well , it's funny that you ask , because I just saw my doctor yesterday and and I'm like sometimes I I look at the calendar and I say , well , japan is , tokyo is in eight months away , um , and I'm still not working , right , I mean it's even possible . I'm not gonna make it .
My doctor said , you know , it's just like you have to see it with a different light and different lenses or perspective . I mean , it's just like you have to modify your training . It's not about running anymore .
Now you have to get your cardio and your heart rate through other methods , like you have to incorporate more biking or swimming or something else that doesn't require you to do long runs like that , because otherwise , you know , it's not going to be possible for me to even get to the start line of japan .
So okay , I have to do a different type of training that probably I'm going to start in november , but it might not entail running right , okay this is going to be a complete different process for me and it's going to be to me .
It's going to be fun to , to prove that you can run a marathon without actually running , or maybe not okay , but at least I said I try it okay , okay so it will be .
It will be interesting to see if that is actually possible I know you spent time , spent time in Jamaica recently and you've got you're wearing the Jamaican , you know t-shirts , something like that . How was that ? Because I remember you .
I think I saw you on the one of their track and field events , I mean it was amazing because , I mean , I got to meet a lot of track athletes from the island and some of them are heading to Paris .
That's right .
We hung out with Usain Bolt and also with the second fastest man also . So they were there . They're very humble people and they teach you . They're very humble people and they teach you . Like we were like a bunch of creators , like moms and dads and people day by day , people that they don't do this professionally .
We're just creators and it was like two different worlds . You know the track athletes who have been dedicated their entire entire life to running and to to be represented country and all that , and all the amateurs you know .
Yeah , so they were teaching us how to run , how to do huddles , how to do you know speed track workouts and it was fun to you know to kind of have that exchange because it's it's like a I don't know , it's just like a disease .
I mean , it's like you know , in in jamaica , you know , sprint , sprint running is massive , it's a big thing isn't it ?
I mean , to me it was mind-blowing because people you would go to a bar or restaurant they had like these big TV screens , when usually here in Spain you see all these soccer matches or football matches yeah , that's right . In the US would be American football In Jamaica . It's literally track and field . You don't see any other stuff , just track and field .
So it was like wow , yeah maybe cricket this is what I want to watch . So yeah , clearly I wanted to say they're living . So yeah , so that they breed really , you know good athletes and and you can tell they're built for that , you know they're . They're really big people , beautiful bodies .
I mean they're like wow the sprinters , beautiful legs , amazing legs amazing knees , I mean all right .
Well , I just like to say a massive thank you for coming on to the podcast . Sorry about the little technical glitches . I was speaking to someone from Canada the other day and I was having the same sort of issues then , so I don't know whether it's me or I don't know someone up there . But thank you very much , carly .
Do you want to just give a how I mean how we can reach you on Instagram , sort of like some links ?
Oh , yeah , just like my namelette Key C-A-R-L-E-T-H , k-u-y-s
¶ Social Media Influencer Multichannel Update
. All together . That's my IG , my TikTok Also . I'm on Shorts in YouTube and YouTube you can find me too . Carlette Keys , just like my name .
Right , okay , well , I hope you've enjoyed today and , as I said , thank you big , thank you very much . Thank you Big thanks for coming on the podcast and I hope , I'm sure everything will be fine and I'm sure you'll make Tokyo . However way you're going to be training , I'm sure I'm sure you'll make it .
Thank you . I'll keep you posted If you follow my YouTube channel with all my struggles .
Yes , Will do All right . Thanks very much .