Are You A Runner?

Note from Michelle and Mike: Recently someone in our Team AllEars discussion group started an interesting thread entitled Are You a Runner? This prompted a very spirited discussion about what it takes to be a runner and what it takes to finish a Disney race (or any race, for that matter).

One of our team members, Helen Dunn, is an alum from last year’s Team AllEars, but more than that, she’s a veteran runner who is known for her positive and supportive attitude. She’s a wealth of knowledge and we’re thrilled that she is back on the team this year.

Her response to this question — Are you a runner? — was so inspirational that we asked her to develop it into a blog.

Thanks, Helen, for being such a great team member and sharing your wisdom.

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Hi, my name is Helen and I’ll confess: sometimes I don’t really feel like a runner.

Sometimes I feel too slow or too fat or too lazy to really believe that I’m a runner but guess what? I AM a runner and I’ve been one for a long, long time.

When I tell my story, I usually say that I got started in endurance sports in 2002 when I trained for and walked my first marathon. That’s not the whole story. The truth is that in the summer of 2000 I registered for the Disney half marathon with my sister. We planned to walk the 13.1 miles together in January of 2001. I went to Disney that January but I didn’t make it to the starting line of the race. It wasn’t because I was injured; I was just scared. I gave up on the idea because I convinced myself that I wasn’t the type of person who could do a 13.1 mile race. I didn’t believe in myself so I just stopped trying. My sister on the other hand, finished that first race and then went back the next year to run the marathon. She hasn’t looked back since.

It took until the spring of 2002 before I signed up for another race. This time it was a full marathon. I followed my training schedule to the letter; I raised money for charity and told everyone I knew that I was going to do it. Most people thought that I was crazy. The only person who believed that I could do it was my sister. She convinced me that I had it in me and somehow I started to believe that she was right. She was a regular person like me and she had done it, so why couldn’t I?

In November 2002 I finished my first marathon and now, 8 years and 17 marathons later, I’m still slow, I’m still fatter than I want to be, and I’m still pretty lazy. If I let those thoughts creep into my brain they start to make me think that I don’t deserve to call myself a runner.

But I AM a runner and I’ve been earning the title since 2000.

I gave up on a dream at first but then decided to do the work to make it come true. I have logged hours and hours of walking and running in heat, humidity, rain, snow and sleet to prove it. I have had blisters and chafe marks and sore knees and ankles. I have lost toenails. I have come back from a run with my face coated in dusty white dried sweat. I have spent alarming amounts of money on GPS devices, sneakers, running skirts and race entries. I have pushed myself to the point where I tossed my cookies at the finish line. I have spent seven hours on a marathon course helping my running partner make it to the end of her first Goofy challenge. I have coached friends to their first 5Ks and on to their first half-marathon. I have risen from bed at 3 AM to don a Hefty bag (to ward off cold) in order to make it to a starting line on time.

All those things are what make me a runner. I don’t think size, shape, speed, distance, or any of that make people runners. It’s getting out there more often than not and doing the work – at whatever level you’re at – that makes you a runner. Its being part of the community of runners – a group of people who all speak the same language of training, effort, struggle and joy.

If you have ever struggled through and finished a hard run without quitting, no matter if it was 10 minutes or 10 miles, you are a runner. If you’ve laced up your shoes when all you really wanted to do was watch TV, then you are a runner. If you have ever come home and slapped a bag of frozen peas on your throbbing knee, you are a runner. If you’ve ever been scared to death to head to the starting line but did it anyway, then you are a runner. If you have been happy for days because you crossed the finish line, then you are a runner.

Don’t get caught in the trap of thinking that long distances are the only distances that matter.

Don’t believe the ads that hint that it only counts if you run really fast.

You don’t have to be skinny to be a runner.

You don’t have to be fast to be a runner.

You don’t have to be a marathoner to be a runner.

All you have to do is run.

I’ve been active in running groups and training groups since 2002 and every spring I meet a new group of people who are hoping to finish a full or half marathon. I meet confident runners and people who can’t even run for 5 minutes at a time. Every spring lots of people start the training and lots of people quit the program because they decide that they aren’t “real runners” or that they can’t do 26.2 miles.

Running a marathon is an awesome experience. So is running a half marathon. But they aren’t the most important distances or goals. What’s important is getting out there, getting healthy, feeling better about yourself, making friends and becoming a better athlete than you are today.

Nobody can finish a marathon until they decide on their own to do it. I think it’s like losing weight, or quitting smoking. People can encourage you to do it for your health, or for your family, or because everybody else is doing it. But if YOU don’t want to do it for YOURSELF you’ll never be able to stick with the training and the mental battles that are all along the path to the marathon. Accomplishing this goal is a difficult and very personal thing. It’s incredibly rewarding and you can only do it on your own timeline.

But you can do it, I’m proof of that, and I keep on proving it every day that I run.

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12 Replies to “Are You A Runner?”

  1. Wonderful blog, Helen! I decided 10 weeks before a local event that I wanted to walk the half marathon. I trained hard and pushed myself. I finished and it was the best feeling EVER. I was crying my eyes out as I crossed the finish line. I couldn’t believe that me, the girl that was always chosen last for anything sports related all thru school, could start and finish a half.

    I just finished a 5k and am training for a 25k next month. I’ll do a couple more half’s this year and then I’m planning on doing the half at WDW next year. I will cry as I cross each finish line. Thanks for the inspirational blog. Looking forward to meeting you!

  2. Love the post, another great thing to remember is that most runners have NEVER completed a marathon! Just getting out and running or walking or walk/running is a GREAT a accomplishment! I run for health, stamina, social interaction, and TSHIRTS! Running groups are a fun way to stay motivated, and we all need more people to remind us that we’re runners no matter what! 🙂 Great post!!

  3. Helen your story is amazing because you have captured the essence of what makes people so special-the will to perservere and find a way to go beyond anything we thought we could ever be. Your story is proof that the heroes in our midst are really just wonderful and caring people you do not see in the headlines but should because they would make us all feel better about humanity. Thanks for your leadership that enabled me to realize a dream I had nearly 38 years ago-to finish a marathon.

    Roy

  4. Wow, another Helen!! Sure you were talking about yourself and not me, since everything you stated is me to a “T” or should I say “H”. I am so afraid that I will chicken out at the last minute. I have slapped more than my fair share of peas, strawberries and anything else on my knee. I have walked when all I wanted to do was just sit and nurse my cup of coffee along with my aching body. I have walked when it was so hot I felt that I was melting all along my route. I am so psyched about walking in February. With you as a source of encouragement, I am sure I can do this. Thanks for giving me the boost that I needed to keep right on going…………….Helen “N”

  5. From one of the many friends you’ve coached in completing their first marathon…I LOVE THIS!!!….It’s getting out there more often than not and doing the work – at whatever level you’re at — that makes you a runner OR anything else in life you want to be…..which is why I love your insights and story so much Helen! Thanks!

  6. Helen,

    I remember you when you said your best activity was laying in bed, reading books, watching TV and eating “bon-bons.” Look how far you’ve come!!! Believe it or not, we all know that you are a runner, we consider you a runner, and sometimes we even think that you are too hard on yourself (too obsessed with running). But…we also know that it has transformed you, given you a new purpose (to inspire lots of others) and for that, I am proud of you! I think that you should blog more often…because you are also a gifted writer. Your stories are enjoyable …I think you could end up charging for it and quitting your day job!

    We’re proud of you and we love you…you are awesome!!!

    Joaniebelle!

  7. Thank you for this wonderful blog – such an inspiration to someone like me who also wonders if I can call myself a runner.

    My husband and I have completed several half-marathons, including Disney twice, and finished the Disney full marathon this past January. What a feeling crossing that finish line! We both burst into tears and I will never forgot the sense of accomplishment and joy of that moment.

    We’ve registered for the Wine & Dine half-marathon this October and can’t wait. Running around the parks late at night should be blast – not to mention the post-party! Hope to see some of you there.

  8. Helen,

    You are amazing. From my stance you are not fat nor slow. YOU ARE HELEN, THE RUNNER.

    I knew you when.

    Lovely story.

    Char

  9. Thank you, Helen! I often feel like I am not a runner because I am slow, heavy, and lazy. It’s nice to identify with people in the same boat as me. I am considering myself a runner from now on!
    Sharla

  10. Helen,
    This is an incredible post! I hope you inspire everyone to get out there and do it. You are my oracle of running and I know that you made me believe I could finish the Boston Marathon and I did, just like you said because I believed I could, because I wanted too. Thank you for your wonderful blog post and for all of your advice and support and wisdom. You are not just a runner, you are an amazing person. OK, I guess I will call myself a runner after reading this.
    Love Amanda

  11. Helen,

    What a great story, I have tears in my eyes. Your constant encouragement to everyone on Team AllEars last year, including myself, had a lot to do with getting to that finish line and earning my first Donald.

    Thank you for sharing your story with us and for your gift of inspiration and motivation!

    Deb

  12. Thank you for this post. I am a new runner, but I am sticking to it. Sometimes its a little overwhelming to be passed, sometimes more then once by an expereinced runner when you just want to be able to make it to the top of the next hill without passing out. 😀
    I am excited about my new endevor and hope to see some of you guys at the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon. Thanks again and good luck with your training!!