Are You A Serious Runner?
Here’s something– some of my running blog friends are SERIOUS about their running. They are out there slicing time off their PRs, and they are training with intense regimens. That is SO awesome. You all rock hard!
Some of my other running blog friends are running, and they’re enjoying it, and they’re trying hard to stay in the game. But they feel worried that they’re not serious enough. That they’re not “real” runners. I’ve seen this before in other lifestyle choices I used to embrace.
There are circles within circles. It exists in ALL avenues of life, I’m starting to believe.
In this world, runners are newbies when they’re out there whacking the sidewalk with inappropriate shoes, and when they can barely get from one phone pole to the other without wanting to walk. Hack, hack, hack.
Runners get a little more respect when they hit some distance goal within their own mind. For some, it’s running three miles. For others, a full hour out there hacking away on the distance. And for others, it’s a race.
You get that first 5K and you feel jubilation for just finishing! If you somehow manage to place, in your age, for left-handed females wearing purple that day, whatever, you are even happier still. You’ve raced, so now you’re a serious runner, right?
But wait. That guy’s done a marathon. That 64-year-old woman has finished FOUR marathons in times you can’t imagine getting. You must still not be a serious runner.
Do you own technical clothing? Do you know what wicking does? Can you set the pace mechanism on your supercomputer wristwatch? Do you now own tights, even though you’re still not officially a superhero? Getting serious now, aren’t we?
No!
Just like the old scenes I’ve been involved with, there are always a plethora of ways in which the scene itself conspires to make you feel like you’re “in”, but not that in. You’re not in that inner circle within all the other rings. You’re on the edge.
Well, I’d like to grant you all special dispensation. You are officially hereby considered an official, bona-fide, definitely not kidding here runner. If you throw your shoes away, quit racing, and start hanging out at Krispy Kreme waiting for the HOT light to come on, you can still belong. You’re in the tribe forever. Yep. Congratulations! You’re in!
Now, why do you run? I imagine you’ll tell me you started with something to prove. Maybe you wanted to lose weight. Hell, you might’ve taken it up in school and just carried on, sharing our secret addiction.
But if you’re running to belong, is that a problem?
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Comments
{Pamalamadingdong}
I started running to lose weight, but now I run out of some sort of weird compulsion. It’s become my social life as well. I have friend who’s injured right now and she emails me after every one of my runs for details. About the RUN. Not gossip. RUN details. It’s addictive and obsessive.
(and you’re right I’ve never felt like a “real” runner)
and I am TOTALLY a super hero.
That is a great post Chris. I think I’m a runner because of all the reasons you mentioned plus probably some more. For me, I just feel like running “has me” - kinda like the matrix “has you”.
I think what you are saying is that if YOU think you are a runner, you ARE a runner!
Good stuff.
One thing I would like to add about runners in general is that we tend to be pretty accepting of wherever other runners are with their running. Most speed/distance veterans I’ve met are not elitist. Why? Because they had to learn the ropes too!
I’m in? Whooohoo! Was wondering how long that would take.
I think I officially became a runner when I bought my first pair of overpriced shoes, one size too big.
I am not running yet because it’s still just way too painful (my weight it hard), but the reason I want to run so desperately is because of the way it makes me feel. I have lived so much of my life feeling like a plodding, heavy bi-pod who lumbers through life smashing things under my feet. Running makes me feel like a gazelle or something even lighter and more fleet of foot. It’s as though I just glide over the surface of the Earth. For a fat girl like me, that’s the ultimate in happiness.
proper shoes for my stride - Check!
Coolmax Shirts, Shorts, Sock AND underwear - Check!
Nutrition/Energy Bars replace candy bars - Che–er– almost
Run because I can be alone - Check!
Run because I can run with others - Check!
Increases my stamina for doing laps on the track, in the pool and under the sheets - Check!
First thing I do when I know I am going to another city is to see if there is a race during my visit - Check!
I would say that I am a true runner, it affects me in just about everything I do. Some people run to belong, but then again, that is so much work just to have people like you. I beleive that some people run because it massages their ego, especially those with natural talent. I plan on running for as long as possible, I do get into non-running slumps, but I believe that everything has its own cycles.
Yay! I’m in! I run just because I can. I enjoy it and it hasn’t ever felt like a chore. That and it’s a great way to meet new neighbors.
For me, there are a couple of other stages as well - I’ve been thinking about races though. Most people’s first race is done to “finish.” Even if its a 5K. And if they do it, well, that’s a big step in becoming “serious.” Next, you transition to “running.” You want to move from start to finish with some kind of pacing strategy - even if its “Run 12:00 pace and walk every 8 minutes.” That’s still running. The big one that I’m looking at right now is transitioning from “running” to “racing”. There are many others, as well, in all sorts of different areas - pick the ones you want, and go for them.
But hey, if you’re serious about running then, in my book, you’re a serious runner. That’s the only criteria.
I had all these brilliant thoughts running through my brain as I read this wonderful post Chris…but you know what? I absolutely LOVE reading your work, you are a new ‘ringing in the silence of alone’ for me my friend. I simply run because it’s part of what I am so it’s okay that I do it in my strange, little, wierd way. :)
I run because I can.