When Is A Run Not A Run?

I’m an honest person. I’ve done three marathons and numerous other events, but I don’t like to claim I’ve run them. I’ve run large parts of every one, but whenever possible I explain I’ve used a run/walk strategy, and in some of the longer races it’s been more walk than run. If I don’t have time to explain I’ll say I’ve done a marathon, or run IN a marathon, both of which are true, while saying I’ve run a marathon could be argued not to be. I’m proud of being able to cover marathon distance as a run/walker. Heck, we keep the effort up for twice as long (or more) compared to the fast runners. And since I take longer to cover the distances, I’ve probably trained longer hours than many up the front of the pack. I’ve not been feeling I’m a ‘real’ runner though.

Over the last year I’ve begun to do regular runs without walking. I’ve made a load of running goals, including running various distances, without walking. But, being an honest person, I’ve been careful about my wording. For 5 and 10k my aim was to run the whole way without walking (both of which I have now achieved, Yay!). For half and full marathons though that poses a difficulty. I do like to have the odd toilet stop, and somehow I don’t think jogging on the spot while trying to use a portaloo is going to work. So the goal I’ve made is that I’ll run the whole way. My interpretation of that wording is that I’m allowed to stop and use the loo, or get a stone out of my shoe, but I won’t walk any of the course. If I need to do something that would require walking, then instead I’ll stop dead. If I need to go off the course to the loo I’ll start running again at the exact same point. I will cover every inch of the course at a running pace, but not totally without stopping. Seems fair to me.

Then I did my 10K without running recently… Generally as you pass the water station there’s someone there waiting to hand you a bottle of water. But on my last lap they were clearing up. Jogging on the spot I asked a man if there were any left. He pointed to some on the ground. I realised that picking up something on the ground while jogging on the spot was not possible, and had to ask him to hand it me… I wonder if he thought I was nuts?! Hopefully he understood! (Especially as it turned out I hadn’t spotted the people still holding out bottles further up the track…)

Thinking about it since I’ve realised I’m setting a higher standard for myself than most runners do. Most would have stood still and picked up the bottle themselves. They would have seen it as annoying, but not as cheating on their part. Some experts recommend that even top marathon runners take breaks. Certainly nobody accuses Paula Radcliffe or the like of cheating if they stop to relieve a cramp. Most runners you see out and about will stop at crossings etc. Annoying to be delayed, but not cheating…

I think I still want to do a half and a marathon running all the way, in line with my personal goals. It’s still an aim worth fulfilling. But last weekend I went out on a 5 mile run. I stopped at a crossing and for a loo break. And I’m still calling it a 5 mile run. I’m definitely a real runner now. I don’t need to doubt myself or feel it dishonest if I don’t keep that running motion going 100% of the time.

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