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You might be in the same race as Haile Gebrselassie – but you’re certainly not in the same hemisphere. Can you call yourself a runner if you shuffle around a marathon at over 11.30 minutes per mile, when those running under 4 hours run at 9.07 per mile pace?
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Well walking it would take about 7 or 8 hours so anything less than that and your are definitely a runner.
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Definitely a runner, even some elite athletes have to walk short distances and walking while refuelling and/or interval running is not a problem in my book!
Unless you've hopped, driven, ridden, swum or flown, then you've either run it or walked it! Assuming you have both feet off the ground for a microsecond, then you have run it. Ergo, you're a runner.
If you can complete a marathon at all I think you can call yourself a runner, a marathon runner at that! If your distance of choice is, say, 5km or so then you can be forgiven for taking longer at the longer distances. Anyway, my outlook is that I don't try to beat others, I just try to beat myself. I've seen loads of runners finish last in races with broad smiles as it was a great personal victory to complete the course. Remember to run your own race, not someone else's.
Anything quicker than walking pace consider yourself a runner
Are you kidding me? of course! Anyone who has the mind set of a runner and does some running is a runner!
I "ran" my first marathon this year at Halstead. It was a warm day and an undulating course. I had trained for the 5 months beforehand. My aim was solely to finish having completed the course at a sustainable pace. I finished in one or two minutes under 5 hours and was chuffed to bits. At 51 years of age I had achieved something that a large chunk ofthe population never will. So, I don't mind if you describe my pace as "jogging", "ambling", "trotting", "shuffling" or whatever. It's what I did and that is all that matters to me.
Absolutely - it takes more than the movement of legs to be considered a runner and doing a marathon takes a lot more than moving the legs in a running motion.
If it takes more than 5 hours then you're not running for most of it.
Running is about enjoyment above everything else so does it matter if you go over 5 hours? Nah!
As long as you are going faster than your normal walking pace, then i can't see why not!
Absolutely! The greatest thing about running is it is inclusive, not exclusive. Thumbs up to anyone that takes the challenge of a marathon!
Of course you're a runner. Run for enjoyment and fitness will look after itself. If you can run a marathon at all you deserve respect!
I owuld set the limit at 4hrs
Here we go- more meaningless statements.You either enjoy running or you dont.It does not matter if you run 10 feet or 20 odd miles.It is just a label!
If you can finish a marathon then you have sufficient drive in you to continue training for it and hence deserve to be called a runner.
For all competing it is a challenge, whether you finish in 4 hrs or it takes hours longer is a personal achievement, and to witness some of the entrants own personal struggle to complete the course is inspiring.
I have a run/walk way to get round my half marathons so would probably do the same with a marathon, run 1 mile walk fast for 30 seconds, wouldn,t care how long it took me, if I aimed for 5 hours wold be more than happy :)
Is jogging running? Do you have to enter a race to be called a runner? Personally, given the number of people that couldn't even walk 26miles, running it, be it at a slow pace is still a heck of an achievement in my book so who cares!
anyone getting round a marathon is a runner. surely its about including everyone wanting to challenge themselves?
Yes Most definatley, if you can run for more than 5 hours and put in the work it takes to do 26.2 miles then yes, also when you do marathon each time you do them you want to beat your last time. My first marathon london was 5.01, did it again this yr 4.54, Running New York in Nov hope to beat 4.54. Its about the challenge, freedom & enjoyment that you get from running thats important & yeah if you improve on your time then thats great!!
Of course. If you ran you are a runner.
If you get an injury during the race then it will take longer but if you finish in whatever time then you are a runner.
Calling yourself a runner helps you believe in yourself as a runner. So even if you are just starting out and can only jog for 30 seconds at a time, go for it... Call yourself a runner. People around you will also start to think of you as a runner and by believeing you become. It may only be 30 second jogs this week, a mile next month, >5hour marathon this year, sub 4hour next year... Who cares? The important thing is that we are not sat on our butts waiting for diabetes /heart disease/stroke to kick in!
The clue's in the name - if it's a marathon, and you've run it, then you're a marathon runner.
Done loads of 10ks PBing about 45 mins, several halfs PBing about 1:45. Fulls, only 2, Just over 4 hours and one in the peaks, where pushing too hard in the first 10 meant a major meltdown at 18. Walked to 23, ran the last. Got just under 5 hours. Wouldn't have been difficult for that to be over 5 hours. There are regularly runners behind me.
I do wonder though about the lass who told me her favourite event was the marathon, then went on to tell me her pb was 7 hours....
its an acheivment to finish no matter what your time
Of course you can. Running the marathon is the 'easy' part - it takes hard work, perseverance and grit to do the training in the first place. For months you cut back on socialising whilst your OH/friends/families have fun. Training for a marathon isn't easy, and whether you run sub or post 5 hours, everyone who crosses the line experiences something that few people do. I had 3 goals in my first marathon - to finish, to finish sub-5 hours and to have a smile on my face. I got all 3, but even if I finished in post 5 hours, it would have made no difference to me. read more
Of course you can. Running the marathon is the 'easy' part - it takes hard work, perseverance and grit to do the training in the first place. For months you cut back on socialising whilst your OH/friends/families have fun. Training for a marathon isn't easy, and whether you run sub or post 5 hours, everyone who crosses the line experiences something that few people do. I had 3 goals in my first marathon - to finish, to finish sub-5 hours and to have a smile on my face. I got all 3, but even if I finished in post 5 hours, it would have made no difference to me.
Most certainly! I run ergo I am a runner. Quod erat demonstrandum!!!!
I entered the London marathon for the personal challenge and for charity. About 3 months into training, my father was diagnosed with a terminal illness, which meant a much less emphasis on training. But I still was of the mindset to do the marathon, because of the commitment to myself and the charity. I finished in 6 hours 13mins, which I do admit to all and sundry that it is not fast at all, but I know the effort it took physically and mentally to get around. So - as others have said - call it shuffling, ambling, trotting or sometimes in my case, waddling - for large parts of the time, both feet... read more
I entered the London marathon for the personal challenge and for charity. About 3 months into training, my father was diagnosed with a terminal illness, which meant a much less emphasis on training. But I still was of the mindset to do the marathon, because of the commitment to myself and the charity. I finished in 6 hours 13mins, which I do admit to all and sundry that it is not fast at all, but I know the effort it took physically and mentally to get around. So - as others have said - call it shuffling, ambling, trotting or sometimes in my case, waddling - for large parts of the time, both feet were off the ground and I was moving faster than walking - ergo, I feel like a runner :) And if you move faster than walking on a regular basis, as I do, I think you can call yourself a runner.
As long as you run/jog/shuffle your way round the distance, then yes you are a runner
Anyone who goes out running regularly can be called a runner. Surely how fast you run isn't important but what is important is how far and how often you run.
I have to agree with the comment that you can walk it in 6 hours, so anything less means you are moving faster than running. Of course, if we add Jogging to the list and what are you if you do it in 5 hours, I would say a jogger
Surely it's the taking part that counts. Taking on a marathon isn't for the faint hearted and the commitment to training alone deserves a person a round of applause. Nothing wrong with being a steady runner as long as you enjoy it.
Yes, with a slight caveat that you have done some training. Just turning up and trying to run a marathon with no training would not qualify you to be a runner in my opinion, but putting the hours in before hand, regardless of your final time, is what makes you a runner.
If a person has the motivation to put one foot in front of the other in a faster than walking place, then yes they are a runner!
I am running my first marathon this year along with 5 half marathons and 5 10ks, it will take me 6 hours to complete it and everytime i line up with "runners" at the start I feel like a fraud, but although I may not be fast I have the same commitment to finishing as the fastest runners in the world. it doesnt matter what the distance is, to some people a 10k would be a marathon, the fact that they take their place at the start line is a damn sight more than many people will ever do.
Runners, definitely runners ;)
Pace does not matter. It is the attitude and the effort and the mental strength to complete the event.
Yes, because you are doing your best on a challenging event.
if you can finish the 26.2 miles then you have completed the race....
“If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run”
Quote by John Bingham
Any movement faster than walking pace is either a Jog (slow run) or a Run !!
Of course, anyone who gets off their backside to attempt that lunacy deserves a medal
It is an achievement no matter how long it takes to run it!
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