When Martinus asked me to write a guest post for “beginner runners,” it took me awhile to even admit that I myself am a runner.
My journey started 3 years ago and 80 lbs heavier. Since then…
I’ve run many 5Ks.
Ran a half-marathon.
Just yesterday I ran 2.5 miles.
And yet… I still have trouble calling myself a “runner.”
So that made me think… What constitutes a runner?
It’s a debate that has been ongoing for a while. Some feel that a runner is a person who has 10:00 per mile pacing or less. They complete 5Ks, marathons, and many many miles each week. The argument could be made that anyone else is just a “jogger.”
I’ve thought about this for a while and here are, in my opinion, the three things that make a person a runner.
1. Passion. A person who is a runner is passionate about all things running. They talk about it. The shop for it. They get excited to wake up and go for a run. When they overhear a conversation at a party about running they’re eager to get involved.
2. Perseverance. A person who is a runner preservers through the pain, the sweat, and the sluggish days. They sometimes take a break to get some variety, but they always come back. Runners always come back home to running.
3. Performance. A person who is a runner is just that – they run! You don’t have to be a marathoner or a speed demon. Whether it’s a jogging pace or intermittent with walking. If you go outside with your shoes on and run then you are a runner.
In my opinion, in life, anyone who has passion, perseverance, and performance for anything they do, I would never doubt them for a second. If a runner has all three then, by golly – you’re a runner. So start calling yourself one.
DubyaWife blogs on www.dubyawife.com where she talks about her healthy journey. Her motto is to take each day as a moment to be better than the next. Through healthy eating, plenty of exercise, and being kind to oneself – life just tends to fall in place. You can find her on twitter @DubyaWife where she graces the world with her snark and love.
