This book focuses on language and identity online within the context of running from an interdisciplinary perspective. It brings together digital ethnography, existential phenomenology, interpretative phenomenological analysis and sporting embodiment in the pursuit to explore runners’ lived experiences and identities online. Language, identity and identity online are often studied in broader social contexts such as education, culture and politics, and running is intimately related to key issues in contemporary society, such as health and exercise, sport and nationalism, embracing a variety of discourse types and having implications more generally for our identity as human beings. The evolving online media through which people make sense of who they are and which groups they belong to are enabling new ways of realising identities and relationships. This book will be of interest to applied linguists, discourse analysts, as well as those interested in sports, sports psychology, and identity enactment.
Author(s): Nur Kurtoğlu-Hooton
Edition: 1
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 224
Acknowledgements
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Exploring Runners’ Digital Lives: An Introduction
Introduction
A Brief History of Running
Literature on Running
Sporting Embodiment
Social Media and the Discourse of Runners
My Research
Identity and Researching Identity
Theory and Methods
Digital Ethnography
Embodied Practice, Sensuous Scholarship and Phenomenology
Selection of the Time Period for the Research Projects
Ethical Considerations
Map of the Book
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
References
2 Researching Online Discourses in an Ultrarunning Group
Introduction
Studying Communities Online
Running Communities on Facebook and FCFU
The Research
Ethical Considerations
Findings
Participation Structure
Participant Characteristics / Demographics, Gender, Age, Occupation
Purpose
Norms
Code
FCFU as a Tool, as a Space and as a Way of Being
FCFU as a Tool
FCFU as a Space
FCFU as a Way of Being
Summing Up
References
3 ‘Ways of Being’ Online: The Case of an Ultrarunning Group
Introduction
The ‘What’ and the ‘Which’: Asking for Recommendations
The ‘How To’?: Asking for Practical Tips and / or Reassurance
Sharing Factual Information: Race-Related Posts
Offering a Review
Asking for Views / Opinions
Invitation to Have Entertainment
Promoting a Company, a Product, Services, Events
Sharing and Commenting on Weblinks
Invitation to Have a Discussion
A Discussion Link to an Article Posted to the Site
A Thread on Women Representation in Ultrarunning
Sharing Personal Experiences
Making an Announcement
Summing up
References
4 “In Doing This Research, I Find My Runner Identity Is Compromised”: Researching the Instarunning Community
Introduction
Instarunnerblogs
Using Narratives
Instagram and the Spectacle Page
Instagram and Hashtags
My Research
Embodied Stance
Visual Content
Observation and Researcher’s Diary
Digital Survey
Summing Up
References
5 Exploring Lived Experiences and Runnerblogging on Instagram
Introduction
Instarunnerblogs About the Instarunning Community
Instarunnerblogs that Introduce Other Runners to Followers
Instarunnerblogs about parkrun
Instarunnerblogs About Volunteering at Running Events
Instarunnerblogs About Training / the Experience of Running / Running for Fun / Cross Training / Preparing for Races
Instarunnerblogs Announcing Upcoming Events / Instarunnerblogs About Participating in Running Events / Instarunnerblogs About Race Experiences
Instarunnerblogs About Running Achievement/s
Instarunnerblogs About Running and Mental Health
Instarunnerblogs About Running Not Going to Plan / Losing Motivation
Instarunnerblogs About the Influence of the Sport of Running on Self
Instarunnerblogs that Promote a Product
Instarunnerblogs About Running During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Instarunnerblogs that Are in Memory of Someone
Instarunnerblogs About Running Injuries
Instarunnerblogs that Are About the Body and Body Image
Instarunnerblogs About Transformation Stories
Summing Up
References
6 On Motivational Currents and Becoming a Runner
Introduction
Runner’s High and Flow
Directed Motivational Currents
The Dataset
Personal Narrative
Transformation Stories on Instagram and the Case Study of Jenny
Summing Up
References
7 From Running a Mile or Two to Running Ultras: An Autoethnographic Study
Introduction
Theoretical Background
Using Social Media to Share Posts About My Running
My Instagram Account
The Dataset
How My Running Journey Began
Analysis and the Findings
Hashtags
Themes in the Data
Playful Language
Reward
Therapy
Sensory Experiences
Nature
Promoting parkrun
Announcing/Talking About an Injury
Reflections on a Major Injury
Summing Up
References
Epilogue
References
Index
