top of page
Search
  • Taryn

10 things only distance runners understand

Updated: Mar 19, 2020

Many people just don’t understand a runners life. Yet, do not ever fear, your fellow runners understand exactly why your life is the way it is.


Many people just don’t understand the life of a runner. But don’t worry my fellow distance runners there are some things only a fellow runner can understand and relate to these certain aspect of your life. In this being true, I present you: Ten things only distance runners understand.


1. There is a difference between Cross Country and Track


Any long distance runner knows there is a huge difference between these two sports even though no one else does. The fact that in Cross you run on grass fields and in Track you run on a track should be a blaring enough change for anyone to see the different elements of these sports, but non-runners will never understand. They will never participate in the sports so they will never have a clue on how different a Cross race is from a Track race.


2. Sprinters get the glory, but we get a ton of respect


Sprinters will always get a bigger popularity status from society since humans have an obsession with speed. While this it true, that does not mean we distance runners are completely over looked. When people find out you’re a distance runner, they first think your crazy, but then quickly give you respect. Once people get over the shock factor that you chose voluntarily run 3 miles, they automatically respect what you can do since they struggle with running even one mile.


3. A mile isn’t that long


A mile is our warm up. It’s always funny to hear people complain about running the mile since you could literally run the mile in your sleep since you have had to run triple that amount and more. Your perspective in what a long run is varies greatly from many other people since a 4 mile run is just another day at practice.



4. Running is hard and can be heart breaking




All distance runners know that running is truly the hardest sport because it requires one to push their body to limits it never has been before in order to reach ones goal. One has to experience many painful feelings such as harsh breathing, muscle exhaustion in your legs, and your mind being put on overload as you convince yourself to ignore your bodies signals of pain and keep on running faster. This sport is hard on ones emotions too. This sport requires one to invest their entire heart into it, so it is a devastating moment when one does not get the results they trained so hard for. Yet as heartbreaking as it can be, one has to overlook their disappointment to move forward. One has to move on sometimes on step after the other.


5. You can never have enough running clothes


Any runner knows that one can never have enough running attire because you go through running clothes like hot cakes. Despite owning around 20 tan tops, 20 sport bras, 20 shorts and 20 pair of running socks, you always run out of fresh clothes by the end of two weeks making you stuck with nothing to ware until your next wash. I always ask for more running attire for every holiday and even after getting them, I still run out of clothes faster than expected.


6. You have so many running shoes you can open a store





If Cinderella ever needed a spare pare of tennis shoe, than you got her covered. As a runner, you have at least 5 pare of tennis shoes living out their retirement life in the back of your closet. Us runners go through shoes so fast since we need a new pair of shoes for every season since we run them completely down with all the miles we run.


7. 10:30pm is a late night for you and 9:00 am is sleeping in


Any dedicated runner knows that staying up late would be a huge mistake because of how important it is for you to get enough sleep for your body and your muscles to be restored. Also, why would one want to stay up since every single weekend one is expected to wake up early for weekend practices. Other people might think you are a grandma because you sleep like one, but you know how badly you need and crave sleep that you just struggle off their teasing.


8. Running a PR is the best feeling in the world


Running a PR brings a joy that is unmatched. Nothing is better than running the fastest race you ever had because it shows that all your hard work is paying off. The longer you have been running the rare it is to PR so you know when you do you must celebrate big time.


9. Your legs sometimes feel like rocks


As a distance runner you know just how sore the human body can be. You work your legs so hard that some days it feel almost impossible to even walk on them. When other people mock you for walking slow, you simply just role your eyes because you know you can out run them so easily.


10. Yes, you can love running



People who don’t run will never understand the idea that you legitimately enjoy running. Other runners won’t question it. People who run understand there is a magic to running that makes it fun despite how hard the sport often is. All distance runners love the sport because it allows them to push themselves to perform tasks that they have never down before as they learn how to become strong minded.







428 views0 comments

Comentarios


bottom of page