Monday, January 6, 2014

A Real Runner

I made this blog a while ago, but would never write. Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you, it was because I didn't feel like a real runner. When I first started running, I thought to myself, yes, I run, but I'm not a real runner. I don't run as fast as some people, I don't run as far as some people, I don't have fancy running clothes like some people, I could never afford to run as many races as some people. I kept running.

I thought to myself, maybe after I run my first race, I'd feel like a real runner. So, I signed up for a local 5k.
After the race, I still didn't feel like a real runner, so I signed up for another 5k, and I kept running.

I ran three 5k's in 2012, then I got it into my head that if I ran a full marathon I'd finally be a real runner. So I trained and in May of 2013 I earned this.




I still didn't feel like a real runner. I told myself, you took a few walk breaks, you had to stop at the bathroom, your time was too slow (4:45:47, if you're wondering), you're not a real runner. But,  I kept running, I ran 2 more 5k's and a mud run in 2013.


That's me in the purple (I used to be blonde). I came in 4th overall female at that race, and I still didn't feel like a runner. I got a new PR on a trail run 5k,

it makes me wonder what I could do if it would have been a road race. I kept running.
 
This brings us to today. Today was week one of marathon training. Yes, I've decided to run a second marathon. Not to prove I am a real runner, but because I realized that I am a runner, and I want to run, I want too have a goal, and something to work toward. I realized that I may never run as fast as some people, and I may never run as far as some people, and I may never have all the fancy running clothes that some people have, and I may never run as many races as some people, but I'm going to keep running, because in my heart, I know that I'm a runner, and that's all that really counts.

8 comments:

  1. Congrats on your running accomplishments...and on the new blog! :)

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  2. You are most definitely a runner. Goodl uck on your marathon, I am in week 2 of my training. What race are you running?

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    1. Tanks, I'm running the Wisconsin Marathon again. What are you running?

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  3. Yes, you are a real runner! And it only takes yourself realizing that. I am planning my 1st marathon sometime in 2014. I came close when I ran a 21 mile trail run in 5:55:06. I was slow even by my own standards, but it made me realize that I can do it. And I know that I can tackle a marathon.

    Keep it up!

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    1. I think a marathon is totally doable. You've got it, let me know which one you pick.

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  4. You are definitely a real runner:) It's different for everyone when they actually feel like a runner. Good luck in marathon #2!

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