Why do I have to run Races to be a runner?
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NoAnyone else de-motivated when thinking about races?
I dont know. Ask them. When I make a beer run does that count?Now, why do people tell me that I haven't run a half marathon then? It doesn't count? Apparently 13.1 miles on my treadmill isn't a real half-marathon either according to my husband. Don't understand why I have to be in the cattle stampede to be a runner!0 -
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You're a runner.
That said, just because you've run 13 miles doesn't mean you've run a half marathon.
^^This.
Wikipedia: The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres (26 miles and 385 yards),[1] that is usually run as a road race. The event was instituted in commemoration of the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens.
So by definition to run a marathon is to be in an event/race.
That said, just because you haven't run in one (or a half-marathon) does not mean you're not a runner. You run, therefore, you're a runner. By the way, mega props to all you runners that can go for that long of a distance!0 -
You don't have to do races to be a "runner". If you run, you're a runner. And if you ran 13.1 miles, you've run a half marathon. That's the definition, and it really doesn't matter if it's "official" or not. The beauty of running
Now, if you've never run a race, then you're simply not a "racer". You're a runner who doesn't race.
Which really isn't a bad thing. I don't know why people put so much stock in running races for defining who is or is not a runner.. I mostly do races with friends because it's just a fun way to celebrate big life things for me. I've also discovered the fun awesomeness of relay races, which makes running more of a teamwork thing. Definitely a lot more fun than dealing with traditional races.
You've run the distance of a half marathon, but you haven't run a half marathon. And I don't think anybody here is saying to be a runner you must run races.0 -
You don't have to.
I run races purely for the hoodie.0 -
You don't. The end.
If you run, you're a runner.0 -
NoAnyone else de-motivated when thinking about races?
I dont know. Ask them. When I make a beer run does that count?Now, why do people tell me that I haven't run a half marathon then? It doesn't count? Apparently 13.1 miles on my treadmill isn't a real half-marathon either according to my husband. Don't understand why I have to be in the cattle stampede to be a runner!
Re being in a cattle stampede - not all races are like this. I did a half marathon in February that had less than 100 runners. There are tons of small races that offer a more relaxed race atmosphere.
I don't think anyone thinks you aren't a runner but I kinda agree with the points on whether or not your ran a "half marathon". As someone already pointed out, it's an event, not just a distance.0 -
You don't!
Do what you want!
You get out and run from time to time? Then you are a runner! Don't let anyone tell you any different.
What I have found is that as I have become more involved in running, it becomes about some improvement from one time to the next. ie I ran 10k last summer @ 1:03:00, This summer my 10k time is in the 0:55:00 range. When you race, you get some form of "official" verification of this. Aside from that, I get as much if not more pleasure from getting out and running with my group and/or by my self as I do on race day.
Do what works for you and enjoy the experience and health benefits!0 -
You know, one of my favorite things about the running community is this strong sense of acceptance. It doesn't matter if you run outdoors, up and down mountains, on the sidewalk, in the bike lane or on a treadmill. As long as you get up off the couch and lace up those shoes, you're a runner. Races can be fun, but they're not for everyone. I think anyone who thinks you're only a runner if you compete has, unfortunately, missed the WHOLE EFFING point of being a runner.
You know what 13.1 miles on a treadmill is? Mental training. If you can run that long in one place on a treadmill, you can run 13.1 anywhere else. It takes tough mental discipline to stare at the same environment for that long. So kudos to you.
I disagree with comments that say you can't be called a "X-distance runner" without having competed in a race. A half marathon is simply a distance - 13.1 miles. Half the distance run by that famous Greek solider. A marathon is 26.2 miles. Does it matter where? Does it matter that you're the only one running it? NO.
I hate that people have tried to make running into this elitist, hierarchy. Pace, distance, "races" or non-races. It doesn't matter. What matters is you got up today and made a choice. And that's what makes you a Runner.
^^This. Oh, and this again!!0 -
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Steps to become a runner -
1. Run.
2. Congratulations, you're a runner.
You don't have to run races.0 -
You are a runner regardless of participating in races, but you can't
say you've done a half marathon or full marathon just because you
got on a treadmill and did the distance. I think you've missed the
whole point of why people do races. Just like everything you do
for a healthy lifestyle, it is an event that takes you out of your
controlled conditions and tests your ability to complete the goal.
Don't get so caught up in labels. You're doing the same thing by
going against those that do races.0 -
I keep seeing people refer to a marathon as a race. It is not. A marathon is a long distance run, IT IS NOT A RACE. Google it if you want to educate yourself on what a marathon traditionally is. Now, it is mostly thought of as a race, but is not really what it is. Also, the distance of the race is not really a marathon. In the Greek days, the distance was often much farther than 26.2 miles. That is a random number and not really a marathon, in the traditional sense, it was much longer before. They just settled on that number for race purposes.
I did google it. Guess what came up? Wikipedia. Guess what wikipedia says?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_(disambiguation)
A marathon is a distance race of 42.195 km (26 miles 385 yards) and, by extension, in general speech a lengthy, arduous or time-consuming undertaking.
Or perhaps this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres (26 miles and 385 yards),[1] that is usually run as a road race. The event was instituted in commemoration of the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens.
The marathon was one of the original modern Olympic events in 1896, though the distance did not become standardized until 1921. More than 500 marathons are held throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes. Smaller marathons, such as the Stanley Marathon, can have just dozens of participants,[2] while larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants.
Or maybe this:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/marathon?s=t
mar·a·thon [mar-uh-thon, -thuhn]
noun
1.
a foot race over a course measuring 26 mi. 385 yards (42 km 195 meters).
2.
any long-distance race.
3.
any contest, event, or the like, of great, or greater than normal, length or duration or requiring exceptional endurance: a dance marathon; a sales marathon.
Hmmm. Maybe I'll try to specifically ask google "what is a marathon". Guess what comes up?
mar·a·thon
ˈmarəˌTHän/Submit
noun
1.
a long-distance running race, strictly one of 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 km).
Ok, I'll try one more link to see what it says:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-marathon.htm
A marathon is an endurance foot race which covers 26 miles, 385 yards (42.2 kilometers). It is named after the Greek Battle of Marathon, which occurred in 490 BCE. In addition to being an Olympic event for both men and women, marathons are run all over the world on a variety of terrain types by athletes at various skill levels. To perform well in a marathon, an athlete undergoes a vigorous period of training to develop stamina and learn his or her physical limitations.
Well damn, I guess even as you tell us to google it, all signs point to yes, a marathon is a race/event.0 -
I'm a racer. It's what I do for fun. Nobody I know who is a racer thinks people who run but don't race are not also "runners". Two different things.
Personally, I wouldn't say I'd "done a marathon" unless I registered for one and finished. Very few people only run 26.2 miles in a marathon of 13.1 in a half marathon. Inability to run perfect tangents due to crowd and other reasons typically make it a bit longer. But then again, I'm a racer, so I identify with the race itself. And if someone runs 13.1 on a treadmill and feels proud to have done the distance and wants to say they did a half marathon, I'm fine with that. It's their accomplishment and their definition. No rules around that.0 -
Honey, please! If you run you're a runner. Period. Don't worry about what others say. Run on sister!0
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If you run you are a runner, but consider doing a race. There is a reason people pay money for them. The experience is so different than running alone. They don't have to be expensive. I can find small half marathons around me in the summer for 30-40$. If you run the big ones, it will cost you.
Plus, guh running a half on a treadmill? I was forced to run 12 on a treadmill this weekend. Never again, if I can help it.0 -
And, that the distances were not 26 miles, but actually much further. It wasn't until maybe the 70's where they settled on 26.2.
That one line made me giggle. At first i thought you must be really young where the 1970s would be ancient history, but we're about the same age! It was May 1921 when the distance was formally implemented.
For the Olympics only, previous distances had ranged between 24.85 and 26.56.
Your point may well be very valid that people used marathon to describe long runs of varying distances and not races. I'm personally pretty racing centric, so that's how I tend to see things.0 -
OP is this about being a runner or that you can't claim completion of a half marathon?0
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You don't.0
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You don't have to. I stopped racing years ago due to injury and I am certainly still a runner. I've run hundreds of races over a 20 years period, often up to 15 a year. Nowadays people only think of half marathons or full, but running 5k, 8k, 10k are incredible challenges that I really miss.
But I will say that races are an important part of the experience so I would not sell them short. You run faster in races, you test yourself and find out what your limits are and there is a shared experience being out there that cannot be replicated simply running training efforts. The idea of running is to get better and faster and the best way to prove that is to put a # on.
But if you don't want to, it doesn't mean you aren't a runner. It is just part of the experience and quite frankly one of the most enriching and satisfying.0 -
Is there a reason you don't want to try a race?0
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By definition a marathon is a race not just a distance. But either way you are still a runner.
Yes. This. I have been a runner for about three years. But I have never run a race. It intimidates me. Maybe I will someday. . . .0 -
You don't. I find races hella fun, but their not everyone's cuppa. :drinker:0
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I agree you don't have to run races but your description of races is a little overly dramatic. After I finished the C25K I ran my one and only 5k race. I showed up 10 minutes before it started, ran it, got my banana, and left. Obviously there's more time invested in a half marathon but you've already put in hours of training so you'd think one more day wouldn't be THAT big of a deal.0
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You don't HAVE to run in races to be a runner. But races are fun. If you don't think they're fun, then don't run in them. Problem solved.
Running on a treadmill is not the same thing. You can do 13 miles on a treadmill, but probably only half that on the pavement. The treadmill moves your feet for you. On the ground, you have to jump forward to move your feet. It's very different. It's not a bad thing, it is what it is. No worries. Just enjoy your run.
Everyday there are posts similar to this one, the main theme is worrying about what other people say or think about you. If you're happy running on your treadmill, who cares what other people say. Does it really matter what they think?
Quoting this because I would encourage adding some road work to your training (if you don't already).
I was running 5-6 miles on my treadmill all winter as I learned how to run, and the first time I actually hit the road, I was a) faster and b) I couldn't walk for a week. Apparently you use your muscles quite differently, and you will feel that accordingly.
Now. If all you ever want to do is run on the treadmill, then all the power to you. You are still a runner. But your body may thank you for switching between road and treaddy from time to time (again, that's only if you don't already).
As for the 13.1 miles solo vs I ran a half... It clearly depends on who you ask.
But if you can do it, or want to do it, you can look for smaller less popular races so that it still feels like you are running solo, you get the shirt / medal, and you can say you did run a half marathon race.
personally... I love the energy, comraderie, cheering, and feel of a race. I don't go in it to win (I never will), but I love seeing all the people in varying shapes and fitness levels, all working toward the same goal. *happy sigh*0 -
There's nothing that says you're not a runner if you don't run races.
As far as the 13.1 miles: If you run that on your own then you can say you ran a half marathon DISTANCE. However I don't believe in saying you ran an actual half marathon unless you have run the race because that's what the definition of a half marathon is:
Web definitions:
A half marathon is a road running event of 21,097.5 meters, or miles, about 13.1 miles0 -
I keep seeing people refer to a marathon as a race. It is not. A marathon is a long distance run, IT IS NOT A RACE. Google it if you want to educate yourself on what a marathon traditionally is. Now, it is mostly thought of as a race, but is not really what it is. Also, the distance of the race is not really a marathon. In the Greek days, the distance was often much farther than 26.2 miles. That is a random number and not really a marathon, in the traditional sense, it was much longer before. They just settled on that number for race purposes.
This is incorrect on so many levels it is mind boggling. When you put on a #, it is a race. When it is scored and there are awards, it is a race. When the fastest person wins, it is a race.
Unreal.
Some may run it as an event, but trust me, it is a race.0 -
You don't have to do races to be a "runner". If you run, you're a runner. And if you ran 13.1 miles, you've run a half marathon. That's the definition, and it really doesn't matter if it's "official" or not. The beauty of running
Now, if you've never run a race, then you're simply not a "racer". You're a runner who doesn't race.
Which really isn't a bad thing. I don't know why people put so much stock in running races for defining who is or is not a runner.. I mostly do races with friends because it's just a fun way to celebrate big life things for me. I've also discovered the fun awesomeness of relay races, which makes running more of a teamwork thing. Definitely a lot more fun than dealing with traditional races.
You've run the distance of a half marathon, but you haven't run a half marathon. And I don't think anybody here is saying to be a runner you must run races.
I'm really confused as to why there is a distinction with that. It's not like a marathon is defined as being in a certain place, time, and having to be run by a certain amount of people or anything else. It's simply 26.2 miles, and you can put that distance in any time or place you want. To have run one, you simply have to run the distance. The only difference with doing it in a race setting is you do it with other people around, pay money, and have someone else measure the miles for you.
Fundamentally, "running the distance of a half marathon" and "running a half-marathon" are not different at all. Because if you change the time, setting, people, price, and everything else, you're left with the one constant: The distance.0 -
OP I'm sympathetic. But like others have said, if you are going faster than you walk, then you are running and therefore are a runner!
I only do about 1 5k a year now, but run 15-20 miles a week on my own. Some people are motivated by the competition. Sometimes when I see someone WALKING the same direction as me it disheartens me and makes me want to slow down or give up, it's kind of a lot of effort to get around people who honestly aren't walking too much slower than I can run :laugh:
I've enjoyed the couple 5ks I've done, but totally get why not everyone would want to do them. The parking/logistics/money can be their own stressful aspect, though I usually enjoy the race itself just fine.0
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