Confessions of a Runner

I have a confession to make and I bring this up because I don’t think I’m alone.  It’s not something that’s really talked about so I’m going balls in and sharing my confession with you.

My name is Andrea, and I am not a technical runner.

I run because I like it and I like how running makes me feel.  I run because I like competing against myself and challenging myself in different ways.  I run to run.  Plain and simple.

The only “runner speak” I know is:

  • HRM = Heart Rate Monitor
  • Garmin = Over priced GPS device worn on wrist
  • PR = Personal Record
  • PDR = Personal Distance Record

That’s it.  This is all I know.

When runners start talking about negative splits, positive splits, and occasional banana splits, I have no idea what they are talking about.  Usually numbers follow those splits and those numbers mean nothing to me other than looking like a bunch of random numbers tossed around.

If I don’t know what a split is, I certainly don’t know what Fartleks are.

A tempo run?  Is that running to a Latin beat?  I have no idea.

Those of you that can lay out your long runs mile by mile amaze me.  After my run, all I know is how the run went.  I cannot even begin to try and figure out how I felt at mile 5 verses mile 2.

And lastly, on occasion you’ll see something like this on a running blog:

“Today I did 4x800s followed with 16x600s and wow was I glad I was done when it was over!”

Why?  I have not the slightest clue why these numbers would wear a runner out.  Does one have to count to 16 600 times? Because, wow that would wear me out too! And I would want to be a rebel and just push to 20 on occasion.

Also? I’m too lazy to look any of this up.  Either that or I’m super not interested.  Possibly both.

I like running blogs that talk about their runs and why they enjoy running.  What happened on their run and what they felt like during their run.  When blogs get too technical with the stuff I just mentioned, my eyes glaze over and I move on.  It’s nothing against the blog because all types of blogs appeal to all types of people.  Super technical running/training blogs just don’t appeal to me.

Why?

Because when I run, my focus is on the run and how I’m feeling at the time.  What I saw on my run and maybe what I didn’t see.  Did I push myself today or take it easy?  Did I get some mileage in or do a quick run?  And since this is what my focus is on, I tend to gravitate towards running blogs that talk about the same things.  I don’t really focus on numbers and I have no big goals that I’m looking to achieve because I’ve already achieved what I set out to do: become a distance runner.

I just like to run. It’s my peace, my calming force, and my alone time.  I don’t need outside forces to motivate me because running, by itself, is a great motivator.  Will I ever learn what those terms mean? Most likely, because as I already stated, I like to challenge myself in new ways with regards to running.  However, my run posts and recaps won’t be dominated by numbers and splits, and farts.  My run posts and recaps will be dominated by thoughts, emotions, and sights.

At this point, not knowing what those terms mean doesn’t bother me at all.  Whatever.  I run because I like it and who gives a flip if I don’t know all the super technical words that can be tagged on to a simple run.

My name is Andrea and I am not a technical runner.

12 thoughts on “Confessions of a Runner

  1. Oh, I’m so with you on this :)

    I DO have an HRM, but not a GPS one. I have no clue what tempo means and get totally lost looking all the 5×100 stuff. What? I was horrible at math for a reason. Running is running to me. As long as I can see how long I ran and, possibly, how far, I’m good.

  2. Too funny! I tend to ignore the numbers so that I’m not painfully aware that I’m sometimes stupid slow on my runs. I run because I like it (most of the time), and am definitely a runner, not a racer — hence, no need to pay attention to splits and terms like tempo, fartlek, etc.

  3. Love this!! I sometimes feel lost when I see some of those technical terms too and wonder.. I should know this right? I call myself a runner and I don’t know what BQ means. What does it mean? Eeek – Oh well. I think the important thing is to focus on how you feel and why you run and that’s good enough for me!

  4. Haha, I loved this post! I don’t even own a Garmin or HR monitor of any kind, so I’m definitely not a technical runner ;-)

    I do know what all those terms mean but I choose not to use them. I’m not competing against anyone but me so I don’t bother with the splits and whatnot.

    I guess you could call us “recreational runners” haha.

  5. lol – The whole track workout speak makes me eyes glaze over too! I’m pretty sure I know what it means but I have no point of reference.

    I understand interval runs and that’s about as far as I go! :P

  6. I’m not a technical runner either. I tried to do negative splits but it’s too confusing. I like to push myself and try new things but there is almost WAY too much info out there. That’s why I love run/walking it’s simple and challenging for a n00b like me. LOL

  7. “My name is Andrea, and I am not a technical runner.”

    Hi Andrea!!

    Sorry, couldn’t resist.

    Funnily enough, not being a runner at all myself, I do know what the majority of that stuff means although, yes, I have yet to figure out the fartleks.

    Running for the joy of the sport is great, no matter what.

  8. Heh heh. You said “fart”.

    I own a Garmin simply because it’s the only way I know how far I went. I like to wander random streets in my neighborhood until I get to the end of my run. Then Garmin can tell me what I did.

    Afterward, a banana split sounds excellent.

  9. I love this post. It is so true. I am glad that you are not a technical runner. I cannot fathom what that is even like. Who would think negative splits are a positive thing??

  10. Ha! Great post. Can I join your group? As I’ve gotten older I’ve found that the technical takes the fun out of it for me. While not about running, I used to be technical about exercise, but now doing so causes me to lose motivation. I just move to move now.

    With running I’ve been introduced to all this stuff through blogs and my husbands running and every now and then I think – maybe I should be doing those or considering that. Then I think – wait, I really don’t give a crap. Ha, ha! As long as I’m running and feeling healthy that’s enough for me.

  11. When I started running, I did not know what any of that stuff was. But now that I read Runner’s World it seems that my head is swarming with useless running info I do not need. Either way, anyone who runs is a runner!

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