Weekly Weigh In: I am a runner

The best response I got to some of my previous posts are the ones that just say You ARE A Runner (thanks Cammy and Jason). But, one of my non-blog friends read that post and sent me an article about what makes you a runner. You can read the whole article here on Runner's World, but I picked out the reasons that I felt made me a runner.

I AM A RUNNER because my shoes are training equipment, not a fashion statement. The best shoe for me is the one that makes me a better runner. I choose the shoe that goes with my running mechanics, not my running outfit. (Trust me, the Brooks Dyad? It almost looks like an orthopedic sneaker. But it works!)

I AM A RUNNER because I know what effort feels like, and I embrace it. I know when I'm pushing the limits of my comfort and why I'm doing it. I know that heavy breathing and an accelerated heart rate--things I once avoided--are necessary if I want to be a better runner. (One of my biggest fears as a runner is being a loud breather. Who wants to be that person? Well, guess what? If that's what makes me a better runner, then so be it.)

I AM A RUNNER because I value and respect my body. It will whisper to me when I've done too much. And if I choose to listen to that whisper, my body won't have to scream in pain later on. (And if that means that I can't push it to be a faster runner just yet, well then, so be it.)

I AM A RUNNER because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far. (Trust me, I can run faster and farther than what I used to run at this time last year. That definitely doesn't mean I'm the fastest one out there!)

I AM A RUNNER because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not.

Excuse me, it's time for my Saturday run :)