Instagram Hashtag Guide: Everything You Need to Know as a Runner in 2025

Hey there!

As a fellow runner and Instagram enthusiast, I know you‘re always looking for ways to build your presence and connect with more like-minded athletes on the platform.

And I‘m sure you‘ve heard how important hashtags are.

But how exactly do you master Instagram hashtags as a runner in 2025?

Well, you‘ve come to the right place my friend!

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll be sharing everything I‘ve learned about maximizing hashtags as an Instagram-savvy runner like you.

We‘ll cover:

Why hashtags should be an essential part of your Instagram strategy
How many hashtags to use for different types of posts
The best and most effective hashtags for runners to try
Creative ways to find relevant new hashtags
Key placement tips and common mistakes to avoid
My best practices for getting your posts to trend

Plus plenty of specific examples tailored to the runner community!

Let‘s get started…

Why You Absolutely Should Use Hashtags as a Runner

I get it. Some people think hashtags seem spammy or unnecessary.

But I‘m here to convince you that when used correctly, Instagram hashtags are the single most powerful tactic every runner should be using.

Here are four key reasons why:

1. Increased Visibility & Discovery for Your Profile

With over 1 billion monthly active users on Instagram, there‘s a ton of content flooding people‘s feeds every day.

But hashtags make you stand out.

When you add relevant hashtags to your posts, you appear in dedicated hashtag feed pages. This exposes your content to tons of new users who don‘t already follow you but have tapped on those hashtags.

Suddenly, your beautiful running photos and inspiring videos are reaching runners, fitness lovers and potential new fans outside of just your current following.

It‘s an amazing tool for discovery!

2. You Can Connect With Niche Communities

The running community on Instagram is massive.

But it can feel scattered and hard to break into at times, right?

This is where hashtags become your best friend.

By using niche hashtags like #runnersofinstagram, #marathontraining, #runnershigh, you can easily join and engage with different interest-based communities on Instagram.

It helps you surround yourself with fellow runners who are sure to appreciate your content and cheer you on!

3. You‘ll See a Boost in Likes, Comments & Other Engagement

We all love those exciting notifications of new followers, likes and comments on our posts!

And hashtagging makes it happen more often.

Posts with at least one hashtag get 12-25% more engagement on average than posts without any hashtags.

By putting your content in front of more targeted, interested eyeballs, you make it more likely to get engagements that will keep your posts‘ visibility and momentum high!

4. Hashtags Help You Analyze Performance

Here‘s an insider tip:

Every Instagram hashtag has an associated page that shows you the top posts for that tag recently.

You can use this to study different hashtags and see which are driving the most engagement within your niche.

This allows you to learn what types of content resonates best with fellow runners. You‘ll also spot popular trends and keep up with changing tastes.

It‘s an invaluable source of intel to refine your Instagram strategy!

So in summary – do use hashtags if you want more followers, engagement and insights as a runner on Instagram.

Now let‘s get into the specifics of how to choose and use hashtags for maximum impact…

What‘s the Optimal Number of Hashtags to Use on Instagram?

First things first – how many hashtags should you actually use in an Instagram post?

The average across industries is about 10-12 hashtags per post.

But when it comes to individuals and influencers in the running space, you‘ve got more flexibility.

My recommendation is to test out a range from 5 to 15 hashtags per post to see what works best for your profile.

The key is finding the sweet spot between visibility and avoiding looking spammy.

Here are a few best practices to keep in mind:

Single photo posts look best with 7-12 hashtags
You can push it up to 12-15 hashtags for multi-photo carousels and long videos
Use only 3-5 hashtags for Stories since space is limited
Mix up the hashtags across your posts instead of repeating the same ones
Prioritize relevant, targeted hashtags over generic ones

The most important thing is to track hashtag performance regularly.

See which tags and volumes are driving the most likes, comments, follows and saves for your account specifically. Then optimize accordingly!

Now let‘s explore some of the best running-related hashtags to test out.

The Best Instagram Hashtags for Runners

Choosing the right mix of popular and niche hashtags tailored to your personal brand and goals is so important.

Let’s look at different types of top hashtags runners should focus on:

Broad Generic Running Hashtags

These widely used general tags are great for tapping into the masses and getting on runners‘ radar in a broad way:

More Specific Running Community Hashtags

Now let‘s get more targeted with hashtags for dedicated niches like trail runners, marathoners, etc:

Health and Fitness Lifestyle Hashtags

Expand your reach to the wider fitness audience interested in running as a lifestyle:

Gear or Running Event Hashtags

Show some love to your favorite gear brands and big races:

Location-Based Running Hashtags

Increase local discovery by adding tags for cities and routes near you:

As you can see, there’s an awesome variety of hashtag options at your disposal as a runner!

Curate your selection based on your particular goals and audience. I suggest starting with a core of 5-8 hashtags you include in every post, and then complementing those with a rotating selection of others.

This keeps it diverse and personalized.

Now let me reveal some pro tips for researching even more winning hashtags…

Creative Ways to Discover New Relevant Hashtags

While I just shared a bunch of top hashtags to get you started, you‘ll want to continuously find fresh ones too.

Here are some of my favorite insider tricks for discovering relevant new hashtags as a runner on Instagram:

Check Competitor & Influencer Hashtags

Look at 2-3 other top runners similar to you and analyze the hashtags they use regularly. Draw inspiration but don‘t copy verbatim.

Leverage Instagram’s Suggested Hashtags

When you type a hashtag in a new post, Instagram suggests related ones. Great starting point!

Use UGC Hashtag Searches

Search a hashtag, then click the tags people are using in those posts to find hidden connections.

Stay on top of popular moments like the Boston Marathon to add timely hashtags.

Use Hashtag Research Tools

Sites like Display Purposes and RiteTag analyze tags to surface popular options.

Turn Top Keywords Into Hashtags

Brainstorm keywords people search for in your niche and make them tags!

Ask Your Audience

Survey your followers or run a contest for people to share their favorite running hashtags.

See what I mean by getting creative? With a little research, the possibilities are endless.

Now let‘s get into hashtag placement…

Should You Put Hashtags in Captions or Comments?

You have two options for where to place your hashtags:

Directly in your main Instagram caption copy
In a separate comment below your caption

So which is best practice?

Let me share the pros and cons of each approach:

Hashtags in Captions

Pros:

Looks tidier as one seamless caption
Hashtags are clickable when users tap ‘more‘ to expand

Cons:

Can make long caption text feel cluttered

Hashtags in Comments

Pros:

Keeps caption content cleaner without hashtags

Cons:

Requires an extra step to see the hashtags
Additional comments may get overlooked

My verdict?

Choose based on what looks better to you visually!

Recent Instagram updates have minimized any differences between captions vs comments when it comes to algorithmic impact.

You really can’t go wrong either way. Do what makes your post look the nicest.

But one tip: if your caption is very long, placing hashtags in a comment instead can improve readability.

At the end of the day, what matters most is using the right mix of relevant hashtags. Placement is just user preference!

Now let‘s get into the exciting part – getting your post in the top spots for hashtags…

Imagine opening Instagram and seeing YOUR post ranked at the top for a popular running hashtag!

The rush of endorphins seeing that would be even better than a runner‘s high, right?

Now, scoring those coveted top spots takes skill. But it is possible with the right approach.

Here are my best tips for boosting your chances:

Tie your post to hot trendsing topics like a new shoe launch or major marathon.

Post at Peak Times

For most hashtags, early mornings and evenings Mon-Fri see highest engagement.

Encourage Engagement

Remind your followers to like, comment and save to build momentum.

Partner with Nano or Micro Influencers

Collaborations and shoutouts from credible accounts go a long way.

Optimize Visual Aesthetic

Eye-catching photos and quality video stand out in crowded feeds.

Use a Mix of Popular and Niche Tags

Balance volume and targeting to cast a wide but targeted net.

Post More Consistently

The more content you put out, the more potential to trend.

Gaining traction requires patience and being strategic. But with commitment to these best practices, you can absolutely land top hashtag spots as a runner!

Which brings me to my next point – mistakes to avoid at all costs…

Biggest Hashtag Mistakes to Avoid

While hashtags are amazing when used properly, there are also some rookie moves that can backfire:

Using Too Many Hashtags

Stuffing a post with 20+ tags looks spammy and desperate. Stick to your optimal range.

Only Using Huge Generic Tags

Balance popular tags with niche ones tailored to your personal brand.

Not Tracking Performance

Analyze tag usage regularly to base decisions on hard data.

Using Completely Random Tags

All hashtags should directly relate to your post content.

Copying Competitors‘ Tags

Do your own research to find ones that work for YOUR audience.

Forgetting Branded Hashtags

Create 1-2 custom hashtags to promote your name.

See how some strategic tweaks will optimize your approach and help avoid common pitfalls?

Now let‘s drive it all home with a quick recap…

Key Takeaways: How to Crush Hashtags as a Runner

Use hashtags on all Instagram posts – they are essential for discovery!
Determine your ideal hashtag volume through testing, likely 5-15 per post.
Mix general running tags with niche community tags and branded hashtags.
Refresh hashtags continuously using research tools and competitor analysis.
Placement in captions vs comments doesn‘t impact reach.
Encourage engagement and post at peak times to trend.
Avoid stuffing posts with too many irrelevant hashtags.

Phew, we covered a lot!

The key is to be patient, keep experimenting with what works for your account, and have fun with it!

Now you‘ve got this – go show the Instagram running community what you‘re made of!

Let me know if you have any other hashtag questions. Happy running and ‘gramming!