I am not a runner. I cant tell you how many times my friends say this... after just having completed a run. There is no magic number of runs that makes you a runner. There is no minimum pace, no mileage threshold, no number of medals, no I ran in bad weather badge. I say youre a runner the second your foot hits the pavement. Youve chosen to get out there, to put one foot in front of the other and hope for the best. And thats all that matters. You dont have to PR every run. You dont have to place. You dont have to sign up for a half marathon or a 5k or any competitive race. You dont have to look like a runner. You dont have to eat energy bars and buy funny looking shoes. You dont have to do anything extraordinary. You just have to run. And it doesnt even have to be a good run... as Jennifer Hartig pointed out to me the other day, a bad run is still a run. Ive been thinking about this a lot as I get back on the roads after a pretty miserable winter. Ive been watching so many of my friends with their amazing race results, like Kim Zoot Holmes who is an insanely inspiring ultra-racer and Louanne Flanagan Caspar who is so darn cheerful and encouraging as she records some impressive results. And Ill admit that Im totally envious. But mostly Im inspired and I try harder. At the end of the day, all I have to worry about is me. And all you have to worry about is you. So if youre standing in the shadows afraid to say youre a runner because you dont think your time is great, your stride is perfect or your stamina is up to par, know this: none of that matters. Just run. Well all be cheering for you!
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 16:53:36 +0000
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