You Call Yourself a Runner?
Do you have to beat the qualifying time for the Boston Marathon to consider yourself a runner? When can you say you officially meet the requirements?
In 2001, I ran 26.2 miles in Chicago at about a 12-mile-per-hour pace. I had trained six long months in New York City for that day in early October.
And still, if you had asked me, I would not have called myself a runner.
I ran about five days a week during that time, including a long (up to 20 miles) run on Saturdays with a group. But I was not a runner.
I ran in the rain and in the steamy concrete-jungle heat of the city summer. I ran even when I felt like crying and taking my ball and going home. But still, I wasn’t a runner.
Why wasn’t I a runner? I mean, after all, I ran a damn marathon, people! What was going through my head? Let’s see a sample of those thoughts:
The only reason I stuck it out is because I started dating my coach halfway through the training. I wasn’t that fast; I would never win any races. I didn’t belong to the city running club, I didn’t hang with running friends (coach aside). A few months before I started training, I was a night-life hellion and didn’t do more than walk to the subway, so how could I be so presumptuous as to think of myself as an athlete of any kind?
I was a runner but I never gave myself credit for any of it. It wasn’t just physical hard work; it was also a major mental and social challenge. A few of my friends thought I was insane (”Wait, you’re not going out with us tonight because you have to run 16 miles tomorrow? WTF?!”), and my family sometimes worried I would injure myself. I busted my butt, so I’m retroactively giving myself credit!
What does it take to be a runner? Well, you have to run, and you have to keep at it. There’s no speed qualifier for that.
meli500 replied:
I just remembered O.S.!
You are a runner. I remember I came to visit you and you got up all early to go and run 50 miles with your group! Dedication!
I don’t run unless someone is chasing me
Apr 24, 2008 at 4:06 pm. Permalink.
Alissa replied:
Joggers are people who run one mile or less per run. And they do it like once a month when they want to feel good about themselves. Nothing wrong with that, just sayin’ you are most definitely a runner! Congrats! Ever thought about doing it again?
Apr 24, 2008 at 4:29 pm. Permalink.
Happy replied:
I just ran my first 5k, and I was waffling about calling myself a runner. But then I realized that before I’d started running, if I knew someone who trained for and ran a 5k, I’d have considered them a runner. Why not give myself the same credit I’d give someone else.
And heck, 16 miles … you’re DEFINITELY a runner.
Apr 24, 2008 at 5:28 pm. Permalink.
charlotte replied:
You did a marathon? You are an AMAZING runner, girl!!
I think a big part of the problem is the snobbery of other runners. I can’t tell you how many times at a race I’ve heard stuff like “if you run slower than a 9-mile and hour pace then you’re just a jogger.” It’s like they think that giving other people any credit will somehow diminish their own accomplishments. Or that they can only be good if they’re better than someone else.
I hate that. I don’t care if all you do is run slowly around your block 4 mornings a week. If you lace up, get out there and do anything but walk you can call yourself a runner in my book
Apr 25, 2008 at 7:28 am. Permalink.
Lady Shanny replied:
I don’t call myself a runner or a jogger and I do a little over 2.5 miles 5 days a week. I don’t know how fast I go and I don’t much care. I’ve never felt the need to actually call myself something because of the exercise that I do. My vote is that you can call yourself Cinderella if you want to, it’s just a title.
Hunh! Definitely something I will be pondering today.
Apr 25, 2008 at 7:53 am. Permalink.
Fat Grl replied:
GoGo, you are a runner and a goddess! And a million other things………
Apr 27, 2008 at 3:47 pm. Permalink.
Zandria replied:
I’m totally feeling you on this one! Isn’t it crazy that we can run regularly and not feel like a “real” runner, like you have a marathon or something in order to deserve that title? So crazy…
Apr 27, 2008 at 8:49 pm. Permalink.
Stephanie Quilao replied:
You ran a marathon. Woo-hoo! You most certainly are a runner. I’ve been running for 15 years and have never run a marathon. I’m built more for short bursts of speed.
If you put on your shoes, go some miles and make some good sweat, than you’re a runner in my book.
Apr 29, 2008 at 1:59 am. Permalink.