When it comes to running, we’re all so vastly different. We all run for different reasons, some competitively, some for fun, but we all enjoy it. In an ideal world we’d all be super fast and running PBs every week or even every run, but that’s far from the case.
Like many runners, I use Strava to record each of my runs (the reasons why require a post of its own) and in addition I also follow many different runners of all abilities. Some runners I follow can run 100 miles in less than 14 hours, others may take 35 minutes to run 5K, but I follow each person for a reason.
You’re Inspired by Runners, Runners are Inspired by You
I follow the people that can run great distances because it inspires me to follow in their footsteps, I follow the fastest runners to help spur me on and strive to improve myself and I follow the slower runners because I like watching how they are all improving and offering them encouragement.
When I post each run on Strava I’m conscious of how I describe them. It’s so easy to describe runs as an easy 5K or a slow 10K. It’s as if we don’t want other runners questioning why we can run 7:00/mi one week then 9:00/mi next, or we are looking to justify why we’ve slowed things down a notch.
So What If You Have a Slow Run?
There are many reasons why we decide to run slow – training calls for it, we’re not feeling up to it, we’re running in a slower group. It doesn’t matter why and I don’t think you should need to justify it.
I’m slower than many people I follow and at the same time, faster than others. When I see someone run a 16-minute 5K and then run a ‘slow’ 20-minute 5K, it devalues the 20-minute 5K that I worked hard to get. With that in mind, I don’t want to label my runs as slow or easy because I know there are people that look at my runs and they may well be aspiring to reach some of the times that I’m achieving.
What one runner considers ‘slow’, another runner would give their right arm to run even close to that fast. And I’m sure that fast runner would look at someone posting a 14-minute 5K and give their right arm to run that fast.
How to Cook a Runner: Bake at 30°C for 30 Minutes Until Crispy
Times are important as they are a good measure of progress so it’s good to record them but I think that if we decide to give our runs a title, consider other runners. I personally think conjuring up witty run titles is a great way of passing the time on a run.
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