When do you call yourself a runner?

tpittsley77

I have just gotten into running within the past few months. I ran my first mile ever in April before doing a dirty girl mud run. Then I stopped running. Now I am up to running 2.5 miles nonstop on my treadmill, mix in a bit if walking when on the road. Anyways, I still consider myself someone that is learning to run. At what point did you consider yourself a runner? What was the turning point for you?

camrunner

First time I won money in a race.

But really... that's a tough question. I think I just called myself a runner from the start and focused on trying to live up to it.

I think I'm comfortable with that appellation now because it does truly -- to an extent, anyway -- define my life. I plan my whole week around running, plan runs (races anyway) months in advance, etc.. Maybe the most significant thing for me is that getting better at running is actually more important to me than losing weight. For the past 9 years or so, that's something I haven't been able to say very often about anything.

tpittsley77

My first goal is to run the 2.35 mile circuit without stopping. The hills kill me. I can run longer on my treadmill, but I want to hit that distance outdoors. I think in my mind I will consider myself a runner when I conplete my first 5k. Right now, I am enjoying endomondo and beating my time every time I run.

Great loss btw. You are inspiring!

GnochhiGnomes

A runner for me is anyone who runs regularly. I run nearly every time I'm in the gym therefore I call myself a 'runner'. Longest I've ran continuously is 3k.

ashlinmarie

Read my ticker....

But I think when I got to the point in C25K when I was running straight without walking, I considered myself a runner.

mandypizzle

Never done a race but I LOVE to run! I only run 3-6 miles at a time and I don't usually run the entire time without walking for a min. I still call myself a runner because... I love to run!

gpstrucker

If you can run more than 50 yards without falling over then you're a runner

CassieLOL

I think anyone who enjoys running or just keeps up with running on a regular basis is allowed to call themselves a runner! I used to run in the gym as a warm-up but this summer I've started seriously training myself and building endurance. The most I've ever done continuously is 4.5 miles but normally I can do about 4. (:

daylily2005

I call myself a runner now, but if I'm talking to other seasoned runners I make sure to add in "beginning" so that they don't get all excited only to hear that I'm still forcing myself to run and only half enjoying it.

As for running outside, the hardest part is going to be learning to pace yourself, IMO. I used to run on a treadmill back in high school, and the first time I switched to outside....I couldn't run hardly 3 minutes straight. Pacing yourself in wide open spaces is a little difficult at first, but it's well worth it!

Also--just remember, you can run as slow as you need to....your body will compensate and when you have caught your breath etc you will notice that your pace begins to speed up a little. I'm just now getting comfortable running 3 miles (outside with hills), and am starting to train for a 10k.

I say call yourself a runner whenever you feel like it, because you can run more than the average person!

jeffrodgers1

Do you run with out being chased by grizzly bears, zombies, cops or rabid dogs?

If you run for the sake of enjoyment or fitness, you are a runner.

Welcome to the club!

EvgeniZyntx

Usually too early in the morning, I call out "you are a RUNNER" otherwise, my butt likes to stay warm and inside.
Sometimes when I want to stop, I say "Run you damn #&!%$ RUNNER"!

MireyGal76

When I started out... I used to call myself a jogger. I was training for a half marathon, running 3 x a week, and still called myself a jogger. I don't know when it happened, but all of a sudden it was like I felt I'd somehow arrived and caught myself calling myself a runner. (I think for me it was around the 20miles a week total mark - lol)

THAT SAID... I TOTALLY agree with ashlinmarie's ticker quote - speed, distance doesn't matter - you lace up and hit the road moving faster than a walk... you're a runner to me!

:drinker:

SelkieDiver

I didn't think of myself as a runner until I ran my first hour non-stop- I just thought of myself as someone enjoyed running. Now I'm a runner. for some reason 5k distances weren't enough for me to make that distinction. Very strange!

tpittsley77

Do you run with out being chased by grizzly bears, zombies, cops or rabid dogs?

If you run for the sake of enjoyment or fitness, you are a runner.

Welcome to the club!

For fitness, yes. I cannot say I am exactly enjoying it yet! Every time I am out there, mentally I am cursing myself out for deciding to take up running. Lol.... Then I hear the endomondo lady tell me my pace at my first mile, and it brings me joy that I am beating my last time. Then I get home and definitely experience that runner's high. Its the same with golf for me.

So at what point do you start completely enjoying it?

tpittsley77

I didn't think of myself as a runner until I ran my first hour non-stop- I just thought of myself as someone enjoyed running. Now I'm a runner. for some reason 5k distances weren't enough for me to make that distinction. Very strange!

An hour nonstop? Holy lord I wouldn't be able to consider myself a runner for ever! Awesome job running!

tpittsley77

I call myself a runner now, but if I'm talking to other seasoned runners I make sure to add in "beginning" so that they don't get all excited only to hear that I'm still forcing myself to run and only half enjoying it.

As for running outside, the hardest part is going to be learning to pace yourself, IMO. I used to run on a treadmill back in high school, and the first time I switched to outside....I couldn't run hardly 3 minutes straight. Pacing yourself in wide open spaces is a little difficult at first, but it's well worth it!

Also--just remember, you can run as slow as you need to....your body will compensate and when you have caught your breath etc you will notice that your pace begins to speed up a little. I'm just now getting comfortable running 3 miles (outside with hills), and am starting to train for a 10k.

I so agree with you, pacing myself is hard, and I definitely think I start out running too fast and get winded quicker. I am at the point where I can take my first mile nonstop, then I ended walking for a wee bit before running again.

MireyGal76

oh another trigger was when I realized that I was getting cranky and irritable because I HADN'T gone running... when it seemed to become a NEED rather than an I have to...

krisiepoo

I call myself a runner as soon as my foot first hits the pavement time and distance don't matter

InTheInbetween

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." ~John Bingham

I know someone already said it but I just needed to emphasize it. Whenever I get down on myself or feel like i'm not fast enough or going far enough I remind myself of this quote.

wolfchild59

I've run a 5-K, a 7-K, a 10-K, a 12-K, and a half marathon and am currently training for my second half marathon on Sep 2 (with a 5-K fun run on Sep 1).

I've had my running stride evaluated and bought shoes based on how my legs and feet need shoes to run.

I have the gear, hydration belt, wicking clothes, heart rate monitor, good socks, shot bloks for energy, etc.

I've yet to ever call myself a runner. I'll tell people that I run, or that I've done some races, but I've never once been able to bring myself to call myself a runner. I know that part of it is that despite all of the running and the training behind every race coupled with eating as cleanly and as well as possible based on about five bazillion different things I've read on eating while running for different distances and maintaining a supposed caloric deficit according to my BodyMedia Fit for the entire time, I've put back on 30 pounds since I started running/training for races, of the 50 I'd lost prior to starting running.

So I feel like some sort of fraud running freak and am convinced that people will look at me like I'm insane if I try to say the phrase "I'm a runner." Like they'll look at my fat legs and round middle and just laugh at the mere thought of me even trying to drag myself out on a trail or across a finish line.

On the other hand, I have a friend that started running about a month ago and tells everyone she sees now that she's a runner, and I don't fault her that at all, now matter how I feel about myself.

It's all in how you feel and what you consider yourself. If you feel like a runner, then you're a runner.

gogophers

Once you start running you can call yourself a runner.

Personally, I run close to everyday now, but when someone asks if I'm a runner, I say "I run" (I got this from someone else). Same thing goes for weight lifting. I personally don't want those to be defining qualities for me. There's nothing wrong with it, I just wouldn't want someone saying "this is ______, he's a runner".

As for how long it took to enjoy it, I'm not sure of the exact time I started to enjoy it, but I've been running for about 2 months now. I started at 2 miles and hated it. I'm up to doing 6 miles on the treadmill or 4.25 on the street and I enjoy running. I know some people have mentioned that you go from hating running to being addicted to it to enjoying it.

Once you start running farther, you can enjoy it more (even if you have to slow down to do so). The first .75 miles for me still is not fun, but once my body gets into it I can kind of get into a zone and just keep going. When I'm on the treadmill I have to force myself to stop at 6 miles because I want to take my increases slowly so as to not injure myself, but even at that point, I feel like I can continue running indefinitely.

sjohnny

I started a couch to 5K ish program in November of last year. Since then I have run at least three times a week, I've run four 5k races and one 10k. I've dropped my 5k time down from my first race in Febraury of 27:47 to 24:03. I'm signed up for two half-marathons and a couple more shorter races. I love running and look forward to every run. I've run a longest distance of just over 9 miles. I have called in late to work when I've woken up too late to do my morning run and still make it to work on time.

I'm a guy who runs but I still don't consider myself a "runner". I don't know why not and I don't think others should not consider themselves runners who do less or more than I do. I think it's an individual thing but I just don't feel like I've "earned it" (which seems lame but that's how I feel). I love the quote above but I don't apply it to myself. I'm sure at some point it will "click" and I'll consider myself a runner but I'm not there yet.

jenn_pugh

I would say you call yourself a true runner if you LOVE to run...it is your favorite cardio exercise, and if on a beautiful day, all you can think of is "what a great day for a run", then you are a true runner. You don't have to run a certain amount each week, run a marathon, or even completed a 5k; although, if you are a true runner, you will most likely have accomplished some of these thing because...well...you love you run If you couldn't tell already, I consider myself a runner because I get excited even talking about running. I just took a Zumba class tonight, and all through the class, all I could think of was "I should have just gone for a run".

ka97

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." ~John Bingham

^^^^ LOVE Bingham!
To the OP - read "The Courage to Start"; will help you think of yourself differently.

For me, I never could get around to calling myself a runner. Yes I ran, but it never seemed long or fast enough for me to call myself a runner. Then last year, I got appendicitis. Had some little complications when going home after my surgery, and upon my return trip to the hospital lots of questions and tests, cardio and neuro consults. (Everything turned out fine) Anyways, between the orginal surgery, the return trip, and then of course all the follow up dr visits I had my vitals taken A LOT, and my resting heartrate was always low. Over and over I heard "you must be a runner" or from one medical professional to another "it's ok she's a runner." At first I tried to explain, I'm not really a runner, I just run a few times a week. Eventually I just gave in and agreed, "yep I'm a runner." So I guess that's when I finally started.

Emerald_Jen

I'm not a runner and I doubt I ever will be.

I run for a mile, walk a bit, and run for another mile, and walk a bit.. And I'll do that for an entire half-marathon or the running portion of an Olympic-distance triathlon.

But I'm not a runner. Even if I go out and use my legs to cover a ten mile or fifteen mile distance. Even if I run or jog a part of that. I'm not a runner.

I'm a ... well. I don't know. I'm not really an athlete, I'm not really a triathlete. I'm just someone who refuses to give up when I cross that start line.

I'm stubborn - that's what I am.

fairc3jam

I have just gotten into running within the past few months. I ran my first mile ever in April before doing a dirty girl mud run. Then I stopped running. Now I am up to running 2.5 miles nonstop on my treadmill, mix in a bit if walking when on the road. Anyways, I still consider myself someone that is learning to run. At what point did you consider yourself a runner? What was the turning point for you?

When I was training for a half marathon and during.. I had to keep telling myself I AM A RUNNER. Probably couldnt have done it otherwise.

shanae727

Read my ticker....

But I think when I got to the point in C25K when I was running straight without walking, I considered myself a runner.

Love your ticker. The second you start running, you're a runner! Simple.

runbyme

As soon as I slipped on my running shoes!

jillybeanruns

If you are committed to it and run regularly, you're a runner. No excuses, no bullsh*t. Just a continuous dedication and practice of it.

But the defining characteristic is the commitment.

Hezzietiger1

Do you run with out being chased by grizzly bears, zombies, cops or rabid dogs?

If you run for the sake of enjoyment or fitness, you are a runner.

Welcome to the club!

Probably this...

If you want me to run with you.. give a clown a knife and tell him to chase us! I hate running! LOL

drgndancer

I totally stole that Bingham quote for my profile. Running is about love of sport, not ability or skill. For all you guys that won't call yourselves runners, the rest of us know you are. We can wait for you to realize it.