Fashion influencer Lena Situations takes up running

It may come as a surprise coming from someone who readily admits in one of her videos: “ I wouldn’t even run for a bus.” Yet Lena Situations is sticking to it. Since August 1, 2025, the influencer has been running 1 km a day through August 31. Every kilometre she runs brings €1,000 to CéKeduBonheur, a charity working to improve the daily lives of hospitalised children and teenagers. In partnership with adidas, which has kitted her out from head to toe, the influencer has promised to see the challenge through come rain, wind or darkness. Her followers have accordingly watched the content creator run in all conditions while on holiday in Morocco. In episode 5, far removed from the glitz of the Met Gala, the Césars and the Oscars she has attended, Lena pulls on her running kit in a Casablanca car park and completes her kilometre with friends. That spontaneity and authenticity are undoubtedly what appeal to her 3.08 million YouTube subscribers. The challenge is all the more remarkable because, alongside it, she films her videos during the day, edits them at night and posts them at a precise time. Keeping up that schedule takes some doing.

The magic of social media

Every summer since 2016, Lena Mahfouf has published her “Vlogs d’août” on YouTube. Uploaded at 8:50 p.m. every day, the videos document her holidays, travels and time spent with her group of friends. The first video of season nine, uploaded on August 2, 2025, has already racked up 2.4 million views. It was in that episode that she revealed her new sporting challenge. The rules are simple: “It has to be outdoors. The gym doesn’t count, so get out of the house!” she explains. On TikTok, numerous users are sharing their “1 km a day” outings, recreating the YouTuber’s daily kilometre. Lena Situations’ enormous reach is being put to good use.

While the initiative has won over many fans and encouraged beginners to lace up their shoes, it has also attracted its share of mockery and malicious comments. Some users have taken aim at her appearance: “She should run some more” and “She’s got work to do” are among the comments beneath her videos. More hurtful still, some messages have implied that she is pregnant. Speaking directly to the camera, Lena Situations felt the need to respond: “It’s never pleasant to receive comments about your body when you’re a woman. It’s something you already deal with because of certain expectations, especially in the fashion industry. I really think we need to stop with the ‘you’re pregnant’ messages.” In episode 3 of her series, she added: “I don’t have a marathoner’s endurance. I’m running for a cause. If you have a problem with my face or my hair while I’m doing it, that’s your problem.”

 I don’t have a marathoner’s endurance. I’m running for a cause. If you have a problem with my face or my hair while I’m doing it, that’s your problem. 

Whether or not you enjoy her content, Lena Situations’ challenge reflects a broader trend: running is winning over more and more young urbanites, particularly through social media. By pairing a sporting goal with a charitable cause, the influencer is part of a movement that brings together personal achievement, social commitment and entertainment.

In September, she will line up for the La Parisienne 10K. Not to chase a time, but to show that even if you are starting from scratch and have a complicated relationship with running, it is still possible to take on a challenge.

The editorial team