There has been a little bit of buzz this week, after an article titled, "OK, You're a Runner. Get Over It" was published in the Wall Street Journal. Obviously, I had to read the article, and here is the perfect place for me to weigh-in on how the article made me feel, as a runner.
To sum up the article, the author basically feels that runners are a group of people (and he generalizes here) that chose this form of exercise as it is the easiest way to show off just how fit we are, with our running out in public where people can see us, our bumper stickers, and the incessant photos of us running and feeling great about it on social media sites, like twitter and Facebook. We frivolously spend money on running gear, running magazines, all with the idea that we are doing this to feel great about ourselves by showing off to the rest of the world.
The author doesn't understand why we, as a group of people, would chose this form of exercise, if it weren't for our need to show off how wonderful we are.
Well. Where do I begin?
First, I would like ask the author of the article, "why can't we all just get along?" I am quite certain that this writer's personality is very similar to that of a runner (in fact, I know lots of writers who are also runners). As a runner, I pour out my heart and soul on to the pavement every time I go for a run. He, as a writer, pours his heart and soul out on to paper when he writes (I assume). He is working toward deadlines. I am working toward a finish line. Some things he writes are not his very best work (ahem...maybe that very article?) and of course, as a runner, some of my runs are not my very best. But I keep running. He keeps writing.
I am willing to bet that he got into writing because he found some sort of joy in writing. He lost himself in writing and studying writing, and literature. He immersed himself in writing and surrounded himself with writers. I would probably be able to identify him as a writer-type if I was out in a coffee shop somewhere, with his laptop or his beard...(if he is allowed to generalize, why can't I?) He probably was told he was good at writing, and maybe even won awards or scholarships when becoming a writer.
I got into running because I loved the way it made me feel. I have had success in the form of personal achievements, pushing for that Personal Best race, and striving to be an active role model for my kids. I love how solitary running can be, yet I love spending time with other runners, because runners are actually some of the most humble and motivated people I know. Sometimes, yes, I wear running clothes when I am not running. But not often. I like to think of running as a secret-super-power that I keep hidden ;)
His article astounds me, in that he thinks I, as a runner, only run so I can tell everyone about it. I would argue that he, as a writer, is most pleased when he is published, which is way more exposure than I have ever hoped to gain by running through my little neighbourhood.
I think all runners are wonderful, intrinsically motivated individuals who must love what they do. Runners would not continue running, if it wasn't enjoyable. Ask any group of runners that are meeting on a sub-zero Sunday morning in January. The rest of the world is still in bed (thus, not seeing them out there doing their thing) and they are humbly running along, for miles and miles, enjoying some laughs, and having fun together. They would not last if their goal was to take a selfie in their running gear beside their "26.2" bumper sticker.
I also think that writers are wonderful, intrinsically motivated individuals who must love what they do. I know some amazing writers and their talent is just that. Talent. It takes hard-work and motivation to make talent work for you.
I just wish people wouldn't attempt to turn the perception of running into this frivolous showman-sport that it just isn't. Runners work hard, but we are more concerned with how our effort will influence our next race...not our Instagram. Yeesh.
And as for the bumper stickers...I have no answers there. I am not a bumper-sticker kind of girl, so I have never had the urge to let everyone know that I have run 26.2. I also don't have the need to use bumper stickers to ask fellow drivers to "honk if they're horny" or any of those other silly things people ask via their bumper. "I'd rather be fishin'" is a popular bumper sticker...perhaps this author will be writing a follow-up article soon, "OK, You're an Angler. Get Over It."??
Happy Running-and-posting-it-on-social-media!
