Comments on: You Don’t Have to Run a Marathon.

By: 26.2 (or No Marathon For Me) | Finding My Inner Bombshell

26.2 (or No Marathon For Me) | Finding My Inner Bombshell — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:04:29 +0000

[...] then one day, I came across this post on Daily Garnish. And it made me realize that it doesn’t matter if I never get to do a marathon one day. That [...]

By: Brittany

Brittany — Sat, 05 May 2012 21:54:56 +0000

I just started reading your blog a few days ago and stumbled on this post…it actually made me tear up!! Everything you say here is so true! I also enjoy all aspects of running and sometimes get caught up in the thinking that if I only run 3-5 miles a day during the week that that is ” not good enough.”. It is easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing instead of focusing on what works for you. And the story about the moment when you ran your first mile takes me back to that moment for myself. A runner who runs 3 miles is no less of a runner who runs 26.2 miles. Thank you for bringing light to this subject!!

By: Christina

Christina — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:00:17 +0000

This is the best health and fitness blog post I have ever read. I love it and am emailing it to dozens of people right now!

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:30:28 +0000

“It didn’t take 26.2 miles for me to feel like a real runner – it only took one.”
Wow- wonderful post! I remember how great I felt when I ran my first mile without stopping as well :-D

By: Emily Malone

Emily Malone — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:15:01 +0000

Thanks Katy!! I am so sorry to hear about your injury – that sounds so frustrating. I am obviously sidelined now for different reasons, but the time off has definitely given me plenty of time to think about how I want my return to running to feel.

By: Katy (The Singing Runner)

Katy (The Singing Runner) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 20:10:16 +0000

I’ve already commented on this post many months ago, but I needed to comment again.

I revisit this post every so often when I need a pick me up.

I am currently battling my second major injury of the year. In the spring, I was sidelined from running for 6 weeks due to a shin splint. I had just finished running my first half-marathon and training for 2 more. Due to all the time off, I was unable to run those half’s.

Then I got back running and started training for the Chicago Marathon, my first marathon. Training was going well- I was gradually increasing my mileage from my injury, cross-training more, and taking note of whenever “something didn’t feel right.” 20 weeks after I started running again from my spring injury, out of the blue, my ankle started KILLING me after a 14 mile (a PDR) training run.

I have ran *maybe* a total of 20 miles since July 15th. I have been sidelined again with a stress fracture. I am in physical therapy and doing underwater running. I have also taken up cycling, but it is no replacement for running.

My problem was that I did too much too soon. I felt that I was not doing enough…a half marathon was not enough…I had to go for a marathon, even though everything in my brain was telling me not to.

Now I would kill to be able to run a mile outside without any pain.

I do not know when I will be able to run again, but I know that I do not want to rush back into running once I can again. I’m going to focus on the 10K and half-marathon distance and I am going to start “tri-ing” my hand at triathlons.

Maybe I will run a marathon one day… maybe not. The important thing for me is to just run. And to never again take it for granted. :)

By: Brooke

Brooke — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:32:06 +0000

Thank you for writing this post. I have a new passion for health and fitness and am just trying to encourage people to get out and be active. I 200% agree that you do not have to run a marathon to feel like you are a runner. 10 weeks ago I began my fitness journey and am hooked now. Just this week I RAN a full 5k during my lunch work break and now feel like I am a runner again. I ran cross country and track successfully way back in college and felt I lost that runner in me. I am a bit older now and definetly a different body and didnt feel I could be that runner again.

thank you for encouraging others!

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 06:58:53 +0000

wow. very nice article. you embody the very thinking or a runner. i’m a runner too and i agree 100% in all of your opinion on this. great!

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 10 May 2011 01:56:43 +0000

I just recently found your blog through KERF, and this was by far one of the best running posts I’ve ever read.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:56:55 +0000

I know this is really late, but I just read this (not sure how I haven’t read this post yet) and just wanted to say that although I’ve felt really proud at the end of the half-marathons I’ve run, I still remember how great it felt to finish that first 3 mile training run. The first time I ran 3 miles I really felt like I was “a runner”. You definitely don’t have to run a marathon. :)