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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to call myself a runner?

50 replies

RunMumRunMum · 05/04/2023 16:37

I'm 52, recently got back to running after an injury. I've never been fast, around 65 mins for a 10k in my 30s. Now I can plod around a 5k park run in around 34 mins and honestly I'm delighted with myself. I feel good, I love it, it makes me happy and I can work excercise around everything else. However I was at the doctors recently and mentioned a sore knee and when I told him I ran 3/4 k twice a week and 5k some weekends he told me I 'wasn't really a runner'! So share with me - what are your 5k times? Can I call myself a runner? (lighthearted because I totally do)

OP posts:
gawditswindy · 05/04/2023 17:26

Do you run? Then you're a runner. Your doctor is a knob. (Whether he knobs or not.)

BaffledOnceAgain · 05/04/2023 17:27

ComtesseDeSpair · 05/04/2023 17:02

I run but I wouldn’t call or refer to myself as a runner tbh. It’s not to do with speed, I run a sub-20 minute 5km. I suppose it’s that I don’t see myself as the same as people who are really into their running, do several marathons a year etc. The same as I cycle, but am not a cyclist.

I'm so impressed that you can run a sub-20 minute 5k without being into your running! (I've been running once a week for a year and have only managed a 29 minute 5k!!) I don't consider myself a runner because I can't do it more often and the whole concept of me running is ludicrous. (Dodgy knees and told aged 12 that I'd never do PE again.)

BaffledOnceAgain · 05/04/2023 17:28

RunMumRunMum · 05/04/2023 16:37

I'm 52, recently got back to running after an injury. I've never been fast, around 65 mins for a 10k in my 30s. Now I can plod around a 5k park run in around 34 mins and honestly I'm delighted with myself. I feel good, I love it, it makes me happy and I can work excercise around everything else. However I was at the doctors recently and mentioned a sore knee and when I told him I ran 3/4 k twice a week and 5k some weekends he told me I 'wasn't really a runner'! So share with me - what are your 5k times? Can I call myself a runner? (lighthearted because I totally do)

I think your GP is mean (and probably a Forest Gump type runner!)

Itsbytheby · 05/04/2023 17:28

ComtesseDeSpair · 05/04/2023 17:02

I run but I wouldn’t call or refer to myself as a runner tbh. It’s not to do with speed, I run a sub-20 minute 5km. I suppose it’s that I don’t see myself as the same as people who are really into their running, do several marathons a year etc. The same as I cycle, but am not a cyclist.

a sub 20 5k is really fast. You must be in very good shape and run regularly to do that.

midgemadgemodge · 05/04/2023 17:30

You run therefore you are a runner

To help with knees - do you do any weight training or yoga ?

Marmunia10661975 · 05/04/2023 17:35

Yes you are a runner! I do a 10k on a Friday and a 5k on a Wednesday. Keep running - it's great for health. I'm almost 50 and have had no menopause symptoms.

ScoopT · 05/04/2023 17:39

Your GP is a knob. You are a runner

Morningcoffeeview · 05/04/2023 17:40

Even if all you do is shuffle round slightly faster than walking you’re a runner in my eyes. There’s no entry exam.

My 5k PB is 24 mins.

EveryFlavourBeans · 05/04/2023 17:42

Your GP was rude and condescending.
You are a runner!
Running is the only thing that has ever worked for me in terms of weight loss. I do worry about my knees in the future though…

Original poster
RunMumRunMum · 05/04/2023 17:43

Thanks everyone. For context he was talking about treatment I could get done which would stop me running but that didn't matter because I 'wasn't really a runner'. Hmm. I must work on those exercises thank you. I find if I stick to 5k and under the knee is fine, I was doing much longer runs a few years ago but really suffered afterwards so I'm going to stick to my limits.

OP posts:
midgemadgemodge · 05/04/2023 17:43

Knees of runners tend to be better long term than knees of people who don't run

Knees of footballers and the like tend to suffer - it's not the running it's the impacts and twisting

Weight exercise , yoga alignment exercise all help

Morningcoffeeview · 05/04/2023 17:49

Get to a physio for your knees!

Boomboomboomboom · 05/04/2023 17:53

You're totally a runner! Go you!
Idiotic Doctor! Grrr.

It took me about 6 months of running to realise I too was a runner. No matter what form,what speed, what distance, if you run regularly, you're a runner!

Wishawisha · 05/04/2023 17:54

I recall a post not to long ago on here where someone said that the most of the swimming she sees “isn’t actually swimming”. Rubbish. You run / swim / play tennis regularly - you are a runner / swimmer / tennis player.

EllieM27 · 05/04/2023 17:56

I don’t think he was trying to be a knob, he was just looking at it from a purely medical perspective. Doctors typically would class a person that is running daily and likely competing as a runner but would consider someone running 2-3x a week as exercising. I’ve got several doctors in the family and am friends with a few more and they often do stuff like this, we just roll our eyes a bit at them. Clearly this guy’s patient interactions could use some work! Grin

funnyoldonion · 05/04/2023 17:56

Im 40, started running in January and have just managed to get to 5k in just under 30 mins, i do that two or three times a week, I don’t really consider myself a runner though tbh just that I enjoy running and most of the time it half kills me, hopefully it will get easier! 😂

greenkitten2 · 05/04/2023 17:57

Of course you're a runner! You are faster (and older) than me. If you run, you're a runner. Ignore him!

Fairislefandango · 05/04/2023 17:58

You run yes? Then you're a runner. Your GP is, in fact, a knob.

^This!

BogRollBOGOF · 05/04/2023 18:00

I second a physio for running niggles. They tend to be much more clued up and practical than GPs.
Strength work also helps long term.

My knees are in much better condition as a 40-something runner than when I was a non-runner in my teens and 20s.

Being a runner is about going out for a run. Speed is irrelevant. TBH my threshold on running is anything long enough to set the GPS off on my watch, or anything where I was dressed for the occasion and broke into a run even if it was mostly a walk.

Sheruns · 05/04/2023 19:12

how disheartening to be told you're not a runner.

If you run, you're a runner. I can't see how you can be considered anything else. Well done to you for getting back into it and I loved reading how happy it makes you. I think non runners fail to understand the sheer joy running can bring.

Maybe he's jealous!

HumptyNumpty76 · 05/04/2023 19:51

If you run, then you're a runner. 🤷‍♀️

bungaloid · 05/04/2023 20:11

I'm afraid unless you are doing double threshold sessions, you are simply a hobby jogger.

BigMacExtraPickles · 05/04/2023 20:18

RunMumRunMum · 05/04/2023 17:43

Thanks everyone. For context he was talking about treatment I could get done which would stop me running but that didn't matter because I 'wasn't really a runner'. Hmm. I must work on those exercises thank you. I find if I stick to 5k and under the knee is fine, I was doing much longer runs a few years ago but really suffered afterwards so I'm going to stick to my limits.

Are you doing any strength work alongside your running? I would honestly recommend yoga or Pilates. As we age the running niggles really increase. I'm 38 and suffering way more than I used to. I started Pilates 4 weeks ago to try and combat it.

Raindropsonuebells · 05/04/2023 20:22

I’m 50 and can only do 5k in 34 mins on a nice flat parkrun course - I run 3 times a week therefore I am a runner - not a great one by any means but still a runner

PurpleAirGuitar · 05/04/2023 20:42

If you run you are a runner. You're faster than me over 5K and I've recently done a half marathon.

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