10 things real runners must do

Member

Well first of all, i say there are different kinds of runners, SOOOO you can't say a runner MUST do ....... Cheryl's list looks like the top 10 a Competitive marathoner must do.

and i can say i have done 7 out of 10 of those. to be honest, history bores the hell out of me so i will never learn all those names. The Pre movies can be fun, insirational or something. but i prefer to watch VisionQuest with Mathew Modine, Nothing to do about running but HS wrestling or the Disney Movie "Airborne" about inline skating and a wicked last 20 minutes of Street Skating that i can really appreciate.

Runner X i tend to agree with more. I think i have 10 out of 10 there.
Embarassed

was making ans studying graph's just this week. I do RED LINE races, EVERYRACE is redlined. but that is my nature.

My Miss Steph is not concerned at all with pulses, calories, carb/protein ratios, MPH or even how fast, she skates for the fun of it. It serves as a reminder to me, that the FUN was why i got hooked into skating, what made it enjoyable. Granted it is not what drives me but it balances me. As a rule i make sure that EVERY skate i do is not a training skate just for that reason. my training runs are never training per say as you guys would do it. i do that on my skates. my training runs are more relaxed and the running races while training give me an opportunity to REDLINE easier, faster, and more often than i ever could do on skates
sorry Cheryl if it seems we (i) am picking on you not what is intended. these are just my views. i know i will probably never run a full marathon, i am happy if i get to run the 1/2 this year myself, hopefully my knee allows me to do that much. but i do know i get out on the road twice a week to run. hence i am a runner.

Member

Pyromaniac

I'll never be a real runner according to this guy and I couldn't care less.

I don't know who the elites are either nationally, internationally or locally although I know a few local ones when I see them - just don't know names.

I redline every race I run - if you don't then you aren't racing IMO. I have never run a race just to finish. You don't need to enter a marathon to prove you can run 26.2 miles.....

I have a competitive side to me that keeps me racing but not all that interested in being part of the "run crowd". runningforums is about as "run crowd" as I get.

Adjunct

I for one am so sick of the "Boston" mentality of people. As if that is the be all end all of races. I do not care if I ever run it. Okay I am not fast enough to be in it but who cares.

To those that are fast enough congrats but some people who dedicate everything they have about it just seem to be obsessive about it. Gosh there are numerous other marathons to run.

I would rather run NYC with all the neighborhoods and people as opposed to boston.

The olympics are one thing but Boston

otherwise pretty good, except the red line thing. You can have all of that training.

Member

crazy cat lady

Member

I was going to post some epic disertation on this, but I've decided not to (for those that asked).

Let me just say that each person needs to decide for themselves what running, or anything else for that matter, means to them. This includes how much priority you place on it, what your goals are, and how you want to approach the sport. There is no clear definitions for what it means to be a real runner, serious, competitive, elite, etc. It really makes no sense to try to categorize those words.

I do find it a shame that more people don't seriously persue being competitive as a runner. However, that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with not doing that. For me running is my thing, but that isn't the case for most people. I do think it is unfortunate that the current running culture and society in general in the US discourages people from really being serious as a runner. Galloway and others have done a great job at making marathoning accessible to the public, but I do beleive this causes many people to fail to look beyond this really challenge themselves. The standard for what is expected has been significantly lowered in exchange for having more people experience the achievement of completing a marathon.

I was going to give my own list, but I really don't have a list of what it means to be a "real" or "serious" runner. My list is what it takes to be competitive at the highest level that you can.

my boys could swim

ten things

1. Run
2. Rest
3. Relax
4. Take a vacation
5. Race
6. Plan
7. Sleep
8. Eat
9. Drink
10. I can only come up with 9. Oh, I know! naughty

There is ten things every runner ought to do.

Member

Former FFL Champion

The Pinball

Mr. Hall is describing running as a comprehensive lifestyle which is absolutely fine for those of us that can embrace it. for others, such as myself who can not, at this stage of their life, even attempt to meet his criteria, it sends a clear, resounding message to my brain: YOU. QUILT. NOW.

Member

ALL OF YOU!!!

EVERY ONE of you are "REAL RUNNERS"

However humble you aspirations, whatever your ability.

SEE YOURSELF AS A "REAL RUNNER"

Member

ugh!
i guess i'm not a real runner....all those hours i put in each week amount to nothing.....
because for me, running is about the enjoyment, and all the nice benefits you get from it....
but because i'm not a marathoner i'm not a real runner....

that list is incorrect...... Evil or Very Mad

Member

it's just a frick-fracking list. If anything, I think it's more of a guideline to the more "serious" that says "hey, you, do something different.....have fun". I did a 5k cc a few years ago in my late 30s, holey crap.....it was hard. Holy crap it was humbling. Someone asked what I "expected" before the race. I said "oh sub-20, no problem....blah, blah" Well, I ran cc in hs and obviously forgot how difficult suddenly changes in terrain could be for a person that is all about "even pacing" Did I learn something. Heck ya! Being on the prerace committee of a triathlon, I learned how tough it can be to deal with uptight, nervous athletes. (I got yelled at because they didn't like where I put their number, or how I wrote it on their legs).

I'm like Rob....I "knew" I was a runner before reading this list. However, I have to admit some of the items on the list that I did, that were out of the ordinary of lining up for a road race has given me different perspectives....some not all that good......ahem *relays*

if I'm to be on a relay with anyone on this site, I expect two things 1)be there, when I get there, and 2)don't cut the course. I've had the experience of having someone blow both of these in one race. (and deny, that he committed either). Nothing like being in an exchange zone for 4 minutes calling someone's name and he suddenly appears and says "where were you?"

crazy cat lady

10 things real runners must do

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