This post was actually inspired by Shannon. Shannon is by far one of my favorite bloggers and I’m not ashamed in the slightest to say that. Her blog posts nearly always hit home to me. The particular post that inspired me today talked about how people/bloggers tend to always be training for something.
I personally could not agree more with this. Some people are training for a collegiate race…some are training for a marathon…it seems if someone were to say “I’m training for a 5k” there were would be judgment there. There shouldn’t be, but I can guarantee you there would be. I’ve said countless times, nothing really on my radar and instead I get…so why are you running now.
One of my biggest pet peeves is that once some decides for themselves that they are indeed a “serious” runner they begin training for a marathon. On the internet (and real life really) you are either a runner training for a marathon or not a runner. Nothing in between without judgment. I’ve gotten so much rude commentary and crap for saying I have absolutely no interest in running a marathon. None. I don’t need to explain myself, but right now I don’t feel pressured or the least bit excited to run a marathon. So I’m not going to…maybe some day but not now.
Yet it seems like that is not normal in the running community. Everyone is training for something (as Shannon said). Here is the thing: you are a runner whether you are training for a 5k, 10k, half, full, college, ultras, tr’s…nothing…gym class…whatever. If you are running, you are a runner.
As someone who is logging over 70 miles, something that always bothers me is when people say “well I’m not nearly the runner because I’m only logging 5 miles a week…ect”
False.
It doesn’t matter your pace, mileage or anything. You don’t need to be training for anything to be considered a runner.
Finally if you are training for something and a very intense and rigorously scheduled person that’s great-but just remember that does not mean everyone else is. We all have our own jives of running, fast or slow, long or show..rundies or basketball shorts…but the thing is…we are all running…training for the Olympics or training for life.
Question for you: Are you training?