Luckily for me, lots of my friends are runners. However, I still have a great number of friends and family members who just don’t get lots of things that us runners don’t think twice about. The other day I was thinking about a few of these things that non runners just don’t get and thought it’d be fun to see what y’all thought.
- Paying money to run the same route you normally run on a Saturday morning. I can’t count the number of people who have said something like “you PAID money to run???” Yes, yes I did and I’ll do it again and again and again. And hey, did you see that medal I got???
- Talking openly about bodily functions. I try not to be gross but I enjoy knowing that I can openly discuss my PRP (if you run, you KNOW what that means) with my runner buddies. We can complain about the nasty state of the pre-race port o potties and commiserate together. Non runners tend to find this type of conversation highly inappropriate. Who knew?
- Why wearing compression socks post run to run errands around town or under your dress at work is totally appropriate. I mean, if you run a race on a Sunday, chances are you are still recovering Monday. I will say that my coworkers have gotten used to me coming in to work after a race, sitting at my desk and throwing on compression socks while I’m working at my desk. They still think it’s weird and don’t understand, but I’m working on them!
- Why saying “you’re almost done” at mile 20 of a marathon is cause for a death glare. Oh my word. Don’t get me started on how annoying this is! The only time you can say “almost done” during a race is literally in the last .25 of the race. At any other time, you are opening yourself up to some serious side eye.
- A marathon is 26.2 miles. Anything else is not a marathon. Have you ever had a non runner talk to you about their 5k marathon? Yeah, I know. It’s actually kind of cute hearing about that one time they ran a marathon in 30 minutes. Oh, non runners. 🙂
What would you add to this list??
Haha, this is great. I’ve known some non runners to think every race distance is a marathon. I’ve heard them say, “so how long is THIS marathon”? I guess they don’t know that ALL marathons are 26.2 miles! But hey, at least they are asking! Good post!
Meranda@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…How I spent National Running Day and My Birthday ( and Bart Yasso likes us)!
haha, i love that “how long is THIS marathon?” hilarious!
Ha, ha, so true! #4 really gets me. I have had someone tell me that in my half marathon once when I still had 10 miles to go!
Michelle Hartgraves recently posted…National Running Day: I Run to Overcome!
OMG — nothing makes me feel RAGE quicker than that! ahhhhh – so annoying!
Ooh! Ooh! Great idea time! Let’s all get together and make a runner’s dictionary and Dummies book for non-runners We can include things like creative poses to avoid sitting down in a port-a-pottie, preventing getting your butt bit by a bug when you skip said p-o-p and head to the nearest bush (thank you Disney!), and why the word fartlek should never be confused with said bodily function. We could make millions! Okay, maybe a dollar or two… 🙂
lol – hilarious! i love it!
So many people, including my boyfriend, are always asking me how my last marathon went or when my next one is! I always say, I haven’t run one yet,” and usually say how long my last race actually was. They’re always say”Whatever, it might as well be a marathon! It’s longer than I could ever run!” I just shake my head, it is kind of amusing :).
Elizabeth recently posted…How I found out I love brussels sprouts
Haha, I hear about the 5k marathons a lot…I just nod and smile! The other one people don’t seem to get is that I run these races knowing I have no chance of winning…and that that’s not what it’s all about.
Colleen L recently posted…Bondi Band Review & Giveaway
haha, i know right? definitely NOT about winning 🙂
hahah, good points here! I recognize myself in some for sure! Although I have told myself “I can’t believe I paid money to suffer like this” in the middle of a painful race. 🙂
HappinessSavouredHot recently posted…Simple living: do it your own way
oh i’ve definitely said that as well!
haha I get the whole “You pay to run” thing all the time! MY bf doesn’t get it when I tell him I’m paying 20-30 bucks for a 5K. sometimes I don’t get it either 😉
Patty @ Reach Your Peak recently posted…Six Fitness Events On My Bucket List
i think a LOT of people don’t get it 🙂
lol, #5 cracks me up!!! and everyone calls me a marathoner and I’m like – no, not yet.
Mar @ Mar on the Run! recently posted…ZOOMA Annapolis – Half Marathon Recap
not yet…but SOOOOOONNN!
This is so true. I especially love #5 That’s my least favorite question.
My husband hates when he hears me talking to someone about my IT Band issues…. he says to me “Not everybody knows what an IT Band is. They probably think you’re talking about an actual band.” It cracks me up.
Haley @ running with diapers recently posted…National Running Day- 2014
that is so cute. i love it! a real band 🙂
ha these are all so true! I love the bodily functions one. Runners can talk about all that, black toenails, stomach issues, etc and not think anything of it. I read a ton of running bloggers who are so open with stomach issues during races and stuff and I don’t even think twice. As that Adidas running campaign said, “Runners. Yeah we’re different.” 🙂
Kammie @ Sensual Appeal recently posted…Giveaway: Now this is pudding made right
it’s one of my greatest comforts talking all those “issues” with my buddies!
fun list! My husband still doesn’t understand why i would get up early to go run with a group or pay to run a race when I could sleep in. He also does not find it interesting to analyze every mile of a race with me-the nerve! He clearly doesn’t know what he’s missing.
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Running Day Rock N Roll Style
the nerve, indeed! 🙂
Love your list, made me smile! One thing I would add, I hate when they say “You are lucky you picked a practically FREE sport”. Because it’s so cheap to pay $100+ just to enter a race, $110+ for shoes that you need a few pairs a year as well as all the other stuff, not to mention if you travel to a race and get the opportunity to stay in a hotel that raises their prices significantly because it is a race weekend and then requires a 2-3 night minimum because your a runner… Yup it’s so practically free to be a runner, lol.
Kristy @Runaway Bridal Planner recently posted…Tips for hosting a successful giveaway and finding new followers
LOL – so true. It’s NOT AT ALL free for most regular runners!
Hah! I especially agree with the last two. 😛
Coco recently posted…Delicious Crockpot Chili With Beans
so true, right?
Totally cute! Although I did like during the last half marathon when someone said I was almost done and it wasn’t the last 0.25 miles – it might have been in the last mile and it was awesome.
Cynthia @ You Signed Up For What?! recently posted…Review & Giveaway: Bondi Bands!
sometimes that’s okay. not okay at mile 20 of a marathon!
Haha the 5k marathon thing is the worst! My mom does that all the time! People will say “Oh your mom told me you ran a marathon yesterday” and I’ll cringe and explain a million times that it was just a 10k. My mom doesn’t get it. But hey, she’s trying!
Kristen recently posted…National Running Day! I Run…
lol. i love how it’s ALL a marathon 🙂
# 5 is so true! I’ve had that happen a ton!
Audrey @ In Shape Cupcake recently posted…Friday Favorites I
Yes everyone things I run marathons every weekend when I’ve never even made it that far lol! I always hate the signs during a race that says you’re almost done when you’re not even close!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…Friday Five: This Summer I Will….
everything is a marathon to some folks — it’s hilarious!
Yes! Too funny. Especially the whole 5k marathon bit. I had one guy even continue to brag about how fast he was with his 13 min/mile marathon 5k time…I really don’t think he was a runner lol just trying to impress I guess 😉 oh and how their eyes glaze over when you mention how freaking hungry you are. All. The. Time.
Jess@Flying Feet in Faith recently posted…Feeling Free Friday: The Running Nerd Behind Flying Feet
Oh my gosh! I just laughed out loud at number 5. That is one of my biggest pet peeves! I was having a conversation with someone once and talking about signing up for a marathon. When I was asking them questions about training, other races, etc it was then I found out it was a 5k they were talking about!