Why do many here not consider themselves runners despite running regularly?

MobyCarp

enterdanger wrote: »

I would be a runner if I'd stop getting this stupid stress fractures every time I run on pavement.

When I was on the couch with a stress fracture, I posted something to the effect that I once was a runner and would be a runner again. Several people commented to say I was a runner, I just happened to be injured at the moment.

That was then. I had a goal to run at least 20 minutes, at least 3 days a week. The longest streak I had put together was 16 weeks. Motivation did not fail me, but my body did. I kept getting injured. So . . . I made injury recovery and injury prevention my top running goal. I learned to back off sooner, to run slower, and to add miles more gradually.

The streak of running at least 3 days now stands at 64 weeks. And remaining uninjured, as defined by being able to run three days a week, at least 20 minutes, is my top running goal for 2016.

snikkins

starryeyedsnoozer wrote: »

I run 3-4 times a week. I've only been doing it a few months and I'm horribly slow. I really love it though (although at the time I think I'm going to die)
I can't refer to myself as a "runner" because I'm worried that if I do people who run marathons will consider it a huge insult to be bracketed with such a rookie as me, or mock me. Last night I was chatting to a good friend of mine who runs marathons, and I could feel myself getting redder and redder while he asked me about my run that day (it was 5 miles, so fairly respectable for me... But a mere warm up for him)
So I just say "I run" or even "I jog" that way, I look less of a tool.

I find faster runners to be really encouraging towards me, who is not fast to say the least. I've done a there and back trail marathon twice now. This last time, I was getting passed by people returning starting around mile 10. But, we'd wave and they'd say things like, "Keep it up!" or "Looking good!" It always makes me smile. I've found that runners are a good group, overall.

For me, I'm a runner. A slow one, but a runner nonetheless. I can run 22 miles non-stop. Maybe a full marathon, but this last one I did I had a blister pop, so I don't know for sure yet. But, the Hubster and I have a designation for the people a lot of you are talking about as qualifying as a runner - we call them serious runners! Haha

hekla90

mommarnurse wrote: »

moyer566 wrote: »

I don't think I am because I am still very slow. My perception is runners are 10 min milers

Why would pace matter at all? If you run at least once per week, I'd say you're a runner. That's like saying you're not a driver because you drive slow. You're still driving.

Because much slower than that and it's walking not running.

Kirky_V2

When I started running I totally remember not being able to make it to the end of the street, then having to run walk 2 miles between lamp-posts and having it feel like a massive achievement. Was I a runner? Nah, I don't think so.

Even now, after 5 marathons, an ultra 70 mile run, countless halfs, am I a runner? Maybe, but I'm not one of those club runners with about 1% body fat, veins popping out of their legs, that 1000yd stare.... I'm just a guy who bimbles merrily at 9 min/mile for as long as I like.

However, I say if you regularly put one foot in front of the other, as fast as you can, and for as long as you can, you're a runner.

And that about sums it up, pace and distance don't matter, challenging yourself does.

Next stop, London Marathon.....

T1DCarnivoreRunner

dewd2 wrote: »

glevinso wrote: »

Leyshinka wrote: »

When is one considered a runner? Or rather when would you consider yourself a runner?

I consider anyone who has either succeeded in sh*tting themselves in the middle of a run, or at least been forced to pull over and take care of the problem behind a bush, to be a real runner. Until you have that experience, I am not sure I can call you a "real runner" yet.

If that is the definition of a real runner I can say that I am not and never will be a real runner. I am not "that" dedicated.

I don't know if it is really about dedication... it just happens when it happens. I got runner's "runs" much more often when I was a newbie runner. I'm still very much a newbie, but for the first few months of running after not running for years, it was a frequent problem. I even had that happen once while I was just hiking and I had maybe trail run for about a minute while out on a day hike.

aarar

I think like some of the others have said, if you run then you're a runner.

For me though it took a long time to actually feel like one. For the first year+, despite having run several races including a marathon, I felt like I was faking it and felt very intimidated around other runners. Maybe because I had never committed to any sport or physical activity longer than a few weeks/months is why I felt that way, I don't know. I'm nearly 3 years in now and it's just a part of my life.

Stoshew71

I don't consider myself an employee because I don't like to work. I only do it because I have these bills I have to pay. And I am really not that good at my job.

PeachyCarol

glevinso wrote: »

Leyshinka wrote: »

When is one considered a runner? Or rather when would you consider yourself a runner?

I consider anyone who has either succeeded in sh*tting themselves in the middle of a run, or at least been forced to pull over and take care of the problem behind a bush, to be a real runner. Until you have that experience, I am not sure I can call you a "real runner" yet.

I will never be a real runner, then. It's always taken care of right before I go out in the morning

I don't know that I'll ever think of myself as "a runner" rather than someone who likes to run. I've always wanted to do it, and I've started. I've just finished week 7 of C25K now and plan on transitioning to the 10K trainer when I've finished with this. I have goals of just ... running for an hour. No plans for speed, or entering races or anything like that. It's just a fitness thing I enjoy because it feels wonderful and ... I don't know, I like it. It's meditative or something.

I'll just jog along without putting a name to what I do and enjoy the sense of accomplishment.

GaijinAdrian

If you run and love it, you're a runner. You don't need to *kitten* in the middle of a marathon or throw up at the end to be considered a runner. Only the snobby elitists would say such things. I met someone who said she never did a 5k or 10k because they're not worth her time. Whateve!

MeanderingMammal

GaijinAdrian wrote: »

I met someone who said she never did a 5k or 10k because they're not worth her time.

Training for a competitive 5K and training for longer distances are completely different things. For me, spending my time training to get down to a 20 minute 5K would completely disrupt marathon training.

In that sense I can see the point of the statement. Less so 10K as it becomes a hard training run to race that, given that it's the minimum length of a training session now.

3dogsrunning

MeanderingMammal wrote: »

GaijinAdrian wrote: »

I met someone who said she never did a 5k or 10k because they're not worth her time.

Training for a competitive 5K and training for longer distances are completely different things. For me, spending my time training to get down to a 20 minute 5K would completely disrupt marathon training.

In that sense I can see the point of the statement. Less so 10K as it becomes a hard training run to race that, given that it's the minimum length of a training session now.

I loved this article. Especially where dude tells a professional 5k runner to keep at it, she'll get there someday.

http://www.runnersworld.com/5k/10-reasons-the-5k-is-freaking-awesome

MelodyandBarbells

GaijinAdrian wrote: »

If you run and love it, you're a runner. You don't need to *kitten* in the middle of a marathon or throw up at the end to be considered a runner. Only the snobby elitists would say such things. I met someone who said she never did a 5k or 10k because they're not worth her time. Whateve!

Reminds me of the discussion about the not thin runner on a magazine cover. There was a comment to the effect of, "look at her calves, they're not even defined. They could have at least put a real runner on the cover", and a number of people agreed. I don't know if they were right and the woman never ran a single mile, ever, or if they just didn't feel she did enough to call herself a runner. I think that's the sort of thing some are trying to avoid, where if you don't do enough or look the part, you shouldn't call yourself a runner

FitGirl0123

I don't consider myself a runner anymore. I would like to get back to it, but I don't think I will ever be a marathoner again. I always did consider myself a runner when I was running regularly though, and you all should too!