to all the real runners

Many runners (as in marathon and ironman competitors) live in regions where they cannot get their miles in during the winter, or wish to run in their basements with the heat cranked on to simulate Kona race conditions. They do a lot of treadmill running. Yet - they are real runners, make no mistake.

Here's Canadian Lori Bowden on her way to the first ever sub 3 marathon during the Ironman Championships. She likes the treadmill.

If you run, you're a runner. I don't think theres any need to further divide...

so you're saying that a marathon runner and a person doing three miles on three treadmill are the same?

Yes, Danny. Or is someone who benches 250# a lifter, but I'm not because I only can bench 80#?

If you run, you're a runner. Be it indoors on a treadmill, indoors on a track, outdoors on a track, the road, or a trail. I also think it had absolutely nothing to do with training for a race. Some just run for the sake of running. Some run to lose weight. Some run for speed. Some run to compete. Some run for all of those reasons and utilize all those modes.

They're all runners.

i personally agree with this. a runner is a runner. i would want to compare stats and records with someone, but never in a judgy kind of way. more like "this is my 5k/half marathon time and pace, fastest mile ever blah blah blah" more for the sake of my own personal competitiveness.

If you run, you're a runner. I don't think theres any need to further divide...

so you're saying that a marathon runner and a person doing three miles on three treadmill are the same?

Yes, I am. I can't think of any perceptible benefit of further subdividing the subculture of runners by making it some kind of exclusive club only accessible by those who meet the ever-changing requirements of it's other members. Im sure every single one of us who considers ourselves to be runners would find that there are other runners who don't think we qualify. And for what cause? Exclusivity?

this i don't agree with. you can be a person that runs a 5k in 18 minutes, and you can't be in the same esteem as a marathon runner. same goes for the reverse. it's comparing apples to oranges. lebron james and michael phelps are both olympic gold medalists. but you can't exactly compare them either.

I didn't say they're comparable. I just think that they're all part of this little club we call runners. There are plenty of ways to further divide within it you wanted to, but to say that you can't belong to the club at all if you don't run ultras, or if you don't run outside or inside or on the moon - not cool.

It's actually kind of interesting to think about...I lift primarily for the purpose of my fitness and not to much further end than that at this point...I perform many of the same movements as a body builder or a power lifter, but I would not consider myself either of those things...I simply lift for fitness.

I would similarly think there is a difference between someone who runs for the sake of their fitness, whether that be on a treadmill or on the road and a "runner" who participates in events and works at a competitive level that goes beyond just being kinda fit.

I personally wouldn't put a premium on competitive distance as I'm lucky if I can knock out 3 miles without needing about two weeks of recovery of my posterior tibial tendons, but I'm sure within the running community there are many layers of such snobbery. I know certainly within the cycling community, the layers of snobbery are tremendous...I ride around 100 miles per week and participate in events but there are any number of cyclists who just kinda sigh and nod and roll there eyes because I have no interest in doing more than 50 miles at a pop....also I'm a cat 5 so that pretty much automatically gets me a few eye rolls at any event.

Fitness can be a strange thing indeed.

Taking the identity of a runner is something that many newbies in the C25K group here ponder from time to time. Many feel it's awkward to call themselves runners and I struggled with the "label" in the beginning, too, but now my view is this: "Do you wear clothing you can run in? Running shoes? Maybe a heart-rate monitor and/or app/podcast to give you cues of some kind? Are you moving in a non-walking state? Yes? You're a runner." I hope this doesn't turn into a "walking is no exercise" discussion.

Many runners (as in marathon and ironman competitors) live in regions where they cannot get their miles in during the winter, or wish to run in their basements with the heat cranked on to simulate Kona race conditions. They do a lot of treadmill running. Yet - they are real runners, make no mistake.

Here's Canadian Lori Bowden on her way to the first ever sub 3 marathon during the Ironman Championships. She likes the treadmill.

i specifically said in my original post about excluding the time when extreme weather, either hot or cold, prevents one from running out doors.

Hmmm. OK then, at my last marathon, I did a warm up run on a treadmill the night before. Guess who else was pounding it out on a treadmill? One of the top women finishers. The weather outside was lovely.

Treadmill runners are runners. If you run, you are a runner. I don't see any reason to look your nose down on any runner, and I say this as a person who runs mainly out doors.

Why the heck judge anyone at all. Run your own race.

At least runners on a treadmill can't run away from me when I wave to them!!!

:noway:

Stupid Europeans and their dumb 'I won't greet you but only stare at you' - attitude when they pass me on the paths.

(Edit: I'm European. I just think Americans are much friendlier.
I'm going off topic. Sorry)

Why does it matter? Do what works for you. I've done an ultra marathon, but that doesn't make me a better runner than someone doing a 5K.

YES, YES IT DOES.
*bows down*

you're better than all of us.
:flowerforyou:

I only did it because someone said, if I can do it, you can do it. My ultimate goal is to run a 100 miler. I just don't have time to train right now. Thank you but I'm no one special.

I wouldn't say they are not a runner. To be honest, a runner to me is someone who trains for some form of race...whether it's 5k or marathon. I personally can't run on a treadmill because I find it a kind of torturous hell to go absolutely nowhere. I need to be out there seeing the world and seeing how far I've gone.
But it's all semantics...to be honest as long as someone is working towards being healthy, I'm happy.

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.

I am new to running, just started last year. Then I hurt my knee and well I am actually just getting back to. Another aspect to consider why treadmills are used is safety. My schedule only allows for early morning or late evening workouts, and our town is not the safest so I use the gym. If I did not regularly use the treadmill I would never get to extend my distances or increase my pace....Saturday's and Sundays just are not enough. That said I love when I do get to run outside!! Like the other person commented there really is a realization process when nature calls and facilities ars not available! Call me what you like...runner....not a runner....not a REAL runner....does not affect me. I started this process at 285 on the sofa....the fact that I completed my first 5k, running the whole distance in 33 mins....Well that is an accomplishment I am proud of.

I wouldn't say they are not a runner. To be honest, a runner to me is someone who trains for some form of race...whether it's 5k or marathon. I personally can't run on a treadmill because I find it a kind of torturous hell to go absolutely nowhere. I need to be out there seeing the world and seeing how far I've gone.
But it's all semantics...to be honest as long as someone is working towards being healthy, I'm happy.

Im sure some would say that a "real runner" feels no need to race - they only run for the pure unadulterated pleasure of the run itself.

Taking the identity of a runner is something that many newbies in the C25K group here ponder from time to time. Many feel it's awkward to call themselves runners and I struggled with the "label" in the beginning, too, but now my view is this: "Do you wear clothing you can run in? Running shoes? Maybe a heart-rate monitor and/or app/podcast to give you cues of some kind? Are you moving in a non-walking state? Yes? You're a runner." I hope this doesn't turn into a "walking is no exercise" discussion.

why would walking, the most popular form of movement on the planet, not be considered exercise?

Oh, it's not me who said it. There was an extensive discussion on that topic just a week or so ago here and my view was that walking is exercise. What I meant was I hope this doesn't turn into as ridiculous an exercise-shaming discussion as that one; "real" runners is sort of inviting to that direction and people, who haven't read the whole thread might jump to various conclusions.