"Not Really a Runner"? Think Again.

If you’ve ever said, “Oh, I run sometimes, but I’m not really a runner,” you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common things we hear from people who run regularly—but don’t feel they’ve earned the title. Maybe you think runners have to log a certain number of miles each week, sign up for races, wear high-tech gear, or look a certain way in order to “count.”

Let’s clear this up: If you run, you’re a runner.

It doesn’t matter if you run a 6-minute mile or a 16-minute mile. It doesn’t matter if you run once a day, once a week, or just enough to chase your dog around the block. It doesn’t matter if your “training plan” is just deciding which podcast you’re in the mood for.

Runners come in all shapes, sizes, speeds, and styles. Some wake up at 5 a.m. to get their miles in. Some only run when the weather is perfect. Some love big races; others avoid the starting line altogether. Some are powered by playlists, others by the sound of their own footsteps. All of them are still runners.

The beautiful thing about running is that it’s not an exclusive club—it’s an activity. And the only membership requirement is to put one foot in front of the other, a little faster than walking. That’s it.

So the next time you hear yourself saying, “I’m not really a runner,” try this instead:
“I’m a runner—my way.”

Because your pace, your distance, your body type, and your goals don’t disqualify you from the title. They make your version of running uniquely yours.

And that’s exactly what makes you a runner.

Send this to a runner in your life who needs to hear this.