I’ve been running for a long time and occasionally the topic of running will come up in conversation with non-running friends. I love those conversations because I love talking about running. But there will be a point where I can almost predict what they will say next. And then I chuckle at it, not because I’m laughing with them, but rather at them. Because it’s something I’ve heard numerous times before. Here are the most common things I’ve heard over the years.
“WHEN IS YOUR MARATHON?” Somehow it became the norm for non-runners to think that any running race is called a marathon. If my friends remember that I have a race on the weekend, they will wish me luck with my marathon, even if I’m just running the local 5K. The term “5K Marathon” has become a joke with us runners, as if the two distances will be forever linked.
“SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO BE CHASING ME TO GET ME TO RUN THAT FAR.” Or, “I’d probably be on fire if I’m running!” are common statements. I guess I would also be running if someone was chasing me or if I was on fire too. That’s actually pretty sound advice.
“WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING FROM?” I heard this twice at a backyard ultra I did a couple of years ago from a kid who was camping nearby and not aware of what was going on. It was puzzling to me. The guy I was running with brushed it off as a kid just trying to be funny, but I spent the next two loops thinking about what I was running from. I eventually turned it around and decided I wasn’t running from anything, I was running to something – a greater personal good.
“EVER GET RUNNER’S HIGH?” Sometimes I think they ask this to determine if running is something they would endure to get high. I guess that exercise can release endorphins that make you feel good, but in all honesty, I’ve never really felt “high” from running. So, no I have never had runner’s high. Sorry to disappoint you.
“DON’T YOUR KNEES HURT?” My neighbor says this to me every time I come back from a run. Recently I had to confess that yes, they actually do hurt as I have been doing a lot of long-slow distance running pursuing ultra-distance runs. But in general, running is beneficial to your joint health, as long as you don’t overdo it. And for me to have very few issues of knee or other joint pain over 30+ years of running is pretty strong evidence that I’m doing my body good.
“HOW CAN YOU RUN THAT FAST?” This one I actually find a little bit insulting, especially when it is specifically directed at me! Listen, I realize I’m lacking the slim figure of most high-level runners, but I worked my butt off to run as fast as I do. One year I was issued a “B” corral bib number for the Chicago Marathon, which puts me near the front of Wave 1 of the race. As I got into the elevator to head to the start corral, another runner took one look at the bib and then looked at me and said “Wow! You’re in the B corral?!” like I somehow didn’t belong. There are certainly lots of runners gifted with speed, but almost all of us who run fast (which is relative) have something in common – we worked at it.
“YOU KNOW THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THAT.” A coworker laid this gem on me once, after I was complaining about having to do a 6-hour bike ride and a 3-hour run on the weekend for the Ironman I was training for. She’s right, I don’t have to do it, and sometimes I don’t like to do it, but I achieved some personal greatness because of it. Don’t we all complain about the things we don’t have to do, but do anyway? My friend Jodi is running a 50-miler today – in the cold and rain. She doesn’t have to do that. But she will, and she will have a pretty special memory from it when she crosses the finish tonight.
“I COULD NEVER DO THAT.” When I say that I’ve finished numerous marathons and Ironmans, I can pretty much expect them to say that they could never do that. My response to that is that there is a difference between could and would. What you are really saying is that you would never do that. You definitely could do it if you tried. You just don’t want to do it, which I totally get.
“I JUST DON’T LIKE RUNNING.” A friend uttered this to me this week. He is attempting to get into a training class for law enforcement that requires that they pass a physical fitness test first. The running requirement is one 10-minute mile. I’ve been trying to help him with it and told him he just needs to run more. That’s when the “I just don’t like running” statement was made. I get that, I didn’t like it at first either. But somehow I tolerated a jog around the neighborhood and then turned that into running a couple of miles and then much more. I have always said that the first step of any run for me is the hardest, after that you just keep going and pat yourself on the back when you are done. You just need to take that first step. It will lead to many more.
And finally, the most common thing that I hear non-runners say…
“I DON’T EVEN LIKE TO DRIVE THAT FAR!” Neither do I.
an amazing run 
I put my running shoes away 15 years ago. Former sub 3 marathoner but mainly loved the 5 and 10ks because as you already know, you can recover quickly, and if you run them as you should, it’s more challenging than any marathon. I recently saw old friends from my old running club as they looked me in the face passing on by and didn’t even recognize me due to the 60 plus pounds I’ve put on since running last and it was then your story reminded me of the folks who would come at me with the same exact comments mostly passive aggressive only now I’m that guy with the ammo to wrongly yap about the possible negatives instead of the definite positives of running and the folks associated with the sport. At 46 years old, there’s no reason not to start again, and believe me, I’ve tried. My slow recovery runs were under 7 minutes, and now I’d pull 20 minute miles only if pushed on roller blades downhill, and it’s just easier I am supposed to reminisce than to actually run again. I can say the greatest days of my life were and will always be crossing the finish lines and just being able to do the most rewarding and yet simple actions one can do but will surely take for granted. I guess today this very second I’d kill to hear somebody ask me how far a marathon was or do my knees ever hurt because sadly today by my own fault not running they do.
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Thanks for sharing those thoughts.
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