On the top of Master-To-Do List [a list you will no doubt hear more about in time], it reads “Become a Runner.” Apparently, when I was making this list of things to master, running was on my mind, and I believe that I am well on my way.
When this whole “wanting to run” thing started, I was very good at “fast” walking everyday. I usually walked 3 miles a day, give or take, and I really enjoyed the time I spent outdoors getting a little cardio, clearing my mind of stress, and being able to get some quality alone time in. But I wanted something more.
My friend Laura had decided to become a runner too. And I was impressed. And jealous. And in mid-July I decided that I was going to follow her lead, her suggestion, and her coaching (via long-distance) and get my butt to run!
This morning, I got an email from my dear friend Joe. Joe is a decathlete and to put it into perspective, my friend Chelsea refers to him as “Joe who runs fast” when he comes up in conversation. So, when Joe asked me how I was doing, I found it a good time to discuss some running concerns I have.
[for the record; my dad once commented that it’s “not fair” that I have a Joe to go to with running questions, when regular people just have to run without an expert to seek advice from. My dad was also in rare form that night, and basically just making fun of me, but alas, I know I am lucky.]
Then, I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Healthy Ashley. Ashley posted about her ‘Journey to Runner’. And with each sentence of hers that I read, I found myself nodding along, and even letting the occasional “yeah!” past my lips.
Like Ashley, when I first started running, I thought I wasn’t a runner. And even though it was a goal in front of me, I never thought I would be a runner. But lately, I’ve been thinking about my becoming a runner.
I want to call myself a “Runner” with a capital R- I just don’t know if I’m there yet. Perhaps I’m a runner, small-r style. I have this debate, usually while I’m on the trail. I usually run on a local trail that stretches 40 miles. The beginning of the trail is about a mile from my apartment, which gives a nice warm up walk before I start my jogging intervals. Then, depending on my work out for the day, I move along the trail, keeping watch of the spray painted markers every ¼ of a mile.
I am slow. But determined. My goal is to increase in total distance I can run without stopping by ½ mile each week. (this will be put to the test on Saturday, when I try to increase from 1 mile to 1 ½ miles. Eek!)
Like Ashley, I have a love/hate relationship with running. Sometimes all I can think about is running. Sometimes I dread it, but make myself go anyway. Sometimes I think, “I should just quit.” Sometimes I start out wanting to do intervals for 3 miles, and end up doing 10. (ok. This was just one time. And it was mostly walking. Especially near the end, there.)
Like Ashley, I too started my 5K training (wanting to run a 5K is what started this entire wanting to run thing) with the Couch-to-5K plan. But, after week 4, I decided JUST TO RUN and I’ve never looked back. Sometimes, I run my own interval plans for pace. Sometimes, I run my own interval plans for endurance. Sometimes, I run my own interval plans for speed. For I am determined to master pace, endurance, and speed.
That desire for mastery along with the fact that I am logging 10-15 miles a week on the trail with at least 50% of the time running, leads me to believe that maybe I am a runner. Sure, I’m not a fast runner. But I am a runner. And perhaps my goal is not to become a Runner, but a distance runner. For you already know my desires to run a race in each state, and eventually complete some marathons.
I think about where I am now to where I was a few months ago – the longest I could run on a treadmill was .5 of a mile in a little under 8 minutes. Now I can run a mile in 10:30, and I’m moving on to farther distances, longer runs, and better stride.
I am thankful for fitness role models who keep me pushing through, even on days I don’t want to run. Even when my legs feel like jello. And the same people I have to thank when I feel stronger, more flexible, and more alive than ever before. People like Joe, and Laura, and Stef, and Ashley. And all of the running bloggers I read each day.
I’m thankful that I’ve set these goals and are meeting them and will continue to meet them for the rest of my life. Ashley struggled with running a mile two years ago, and today she is training for her first marathon this January. I can’t wait to see how far I’m able to come in two years. How many miles I will be able to say I ran. How many states I’ve crossed off my list.
And if I call myself Runner.
I know you already caught this but Garmin Forerunner, not road id for keeping track of distance
I have no idea when you can call yourself a "Runner". And frankly, it really upsets me when I tell people I run and they say – run or jog? I'm surely not walking jerk so let's just call it running! But, now that I put some thought into it I think a Runner is someone who actively works at their running fitness often. I'd define often as at least once a week – just because that's really how much you NEED to work at running to become good, but others could disagree with me. Because in reality, it doesn't matter how far you are going or how long it takes you – it just matters that you are pushing yourself to run when you could easily have the option or walking or worse, not exercising at all.Go Runner go! And you are faster than me, so be proud of yourself!
I am so excited to see your journey– I want to be a Runner as well!
[...] myself a runner. I’ve had this debate with myself before. I run. I run at my own pace and for my own distance goals. I run, therefore I am a runner. I will [...]
I used to be a runner. No one could catch me. In college, I weighed 140 pounds and ran 10 miles in 62 minutes. The college let me in with hopes I would join the track team and win them medals. I played into it, but in fact, I always ran for myself and never the medal. It was meditation. I never ran a single race to win. It just wouldn’t be fun anymore.
I would like to add some thoughts on what I learned running countless miles:
1. When running, I always came down with something. Usually the flu. Though science doesn’t admit it, I do believe it wears your immune system down.
2. You do get high from running. It becomes an addiction. You feel great afterward, and almost too tired to care about anything else.
3. Running tears down muscle and you burn calories only while you’re running. When you stop running, the calorie burning stops.
Muscle burns calories. By building muscle through slight weight training, every other day you don’t run, you will build muscle and burn more calories. But remember, your heart is a muscle, and it needs rest, too. You burn most caloires by going slow, farther. If you go too fast, you burn sugar and not fat. Fat burning starts after 20 minutes, but only if your heart rate is slower, a state called “aerobic”.
4. You will also burn more calories by cycling your pace: walk, jog, faster, windsprint, walk.
I discovered hiking in the mountains and phased out running. Althoooough, with a couple long hikes ahead of me this Summer, am seriously thinking of starting up again to get the distance.
Kurt Vonnegut was my favorite author of all times, and one of my favorite books from him was his collection of short essays, called Wampeters, Foma and GranFalloons. The first sentence, of the chapter, read something like this:
“Knees”, my father told me. “Guard them with your life, because you only get two.”
Which is also true. Despite the debate, I do believe the pounding assaults our joints.
I can answer more, but I really, really want to state: Take ONE hike in the woods, and tell me you’d ever trap yourself on a treadmill again.
I have taken many a hike in woods across the country (here, Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, Lousiana, etc.) and I do LOVE IT. But I also love running. I haven’t run on a treadmill in almost a year, though. I do all my running outside now – even in the snowy cold. AND I LOVE IT.
And I also love riding my bicycle. And dancing. And doing yoga or pilates. And sledding. And just being ACTIVE.
When I first wrote this post [it's dated 2009], I was on the begining of my fitness journey – and now I am in a much different place. Just as much as I am sure I will be at a much different place in 2012.
I also think it’s important for me to state here, as I’ve stated a lot in several posts on THS, that not everything works for everyone. AND THAT’S A BEAUTIFUL THING. Just because you don’t run any longer doesnt mean that other people should stop, or that anyone should start. I don’t expect my readers to WANT to run after reading my posts, but to possibly understand my thoughts behind my running journey.
Hiking may not be for everyone. Handmade Christmas may not be for everyone. Talking openly about past relationships may not be for everyone. And not only is all that okay, it’s GORGEOUS that we are all so different and unique and make this world amazing.