While running through Doho Park in my hometown of Tsukuba today, I saw a man, moving barely faster than a person’s pace. I walked right past him even though he was pushing a stroller at the time and was out for a slow jog with my daughter. If he had started walking, I think we still would have passed him, but technically he was still running even at that pace. He made me wonder what makes a runner?

Surely we can’t define a runner by their pace? There are an infinite number of running speeds ranging from world record breaking to speeds best measured on geological time scales. Each of these speeds genuinely falls into the category of running.

I also find it difficult to define a runner by their appearance. I watched the Lake Biwa Japanese Marathon today and was amazed at the different shapes of the runners I saw. I was also surprised by the equipment they were wearing. Even among the elite top 10, there were tall and short, bony and slightly more muscular. They were mostly wearing conventional sportswear, but one of the top 5 guys was wearing what I would call tennis shorts. Does that mean he’s not a broker? Hardly!

There is only one reliable guide to know if a person is a runner or not. Unfortunately, it’s not a very helpful guide for people on the outside looking in. I think the only thing that defines a person as a runner is how it feels to run. The only difference between someone who runs to the train because he’s late and someone who runs the same way because he’s out for a run is in her attitude. There are many people who specialize in various team sports, but use racing to improve their game. Some of these are runners, some are not, and it all depends on how they view their career.

These days, even when I’m not training (personally horrible times like injuries), I’m still a runner. The middle gap of not running doesn’t change the fact that I am a runner. It’s just another part of the life of being a runner.

This is the important part… If I’m a runner, it doesn’t change if I’m faster or slower. It stays the same whether I’m training or out of training. It doesn’t matter if I look good or even if I don’t like to run. I’m still a runner, because I am inside.

This is one of the best things about the running community. It is a massive and very inclusive family. It’s easy to become a part and you can find a place that you can keep for the rest of your life. I hope one day to be a happy old runner, in the same way that I am now a happy young runner.
If you’re a runner, then I’m sure you know the feeling. If you’re not a runner, why not find out what you’re missing?