How to Be a Successful Runner

In some way's it sounds like a silly question. But it really isn't, many runners both new and old want to know when is it time they can feel they can say certain words, or in some cases when they can feel it.  When can they call themselves a runner? When will they know they are successful at running?



The truth is, that is only an answer you can give yourself.  Everyone has different goals and objectives.  But none is less acceptable than the other.  You can be as great or as bad as you want to be, that is the beauty of it.  It all comes down to YOUR choice and how YOU decide to handle excuses, training and any obstacles that come your way.

SOME SAY: 

The minute you decide to lace up your shoes and head out the door, you can call yourself a runner.

Or it's after you've run your first race, second race or fiftieth race you can have the title.

There are many things people say, but there is one fact.  It doesn't matter what others say, what matters is WHAT YOU BELIEVE.

Do you believe in yourself?

I BELIEVE:

You're successful if you never give up!

You're successful if you learn from your failures.

You can call yourself a runner whether you head out the door and run 20 feet or 20 miles.

You can call yourself a runner if you support other runners, as well as remain positive and confident in yourself!

You can call yourself a runner if you are trying your best, even if your best feels like everyone else worst.

You're a successful runner as long as you believe you are, want to be and try to be!



The truth is, it doesn't matter if you come in first or if you come in last.  The fact that YOUR TRYING that is one of the key building blocks of success.  It's also the thing no one can take from you unless you let them.  Which is why it is beyond important to never compare yourself to others.  Make your own goal, shoot for your own dreams!

If you want to be a better, faster or stronger runner.  You can be!   The true difference between the faster and stronger runners and those that aren't is the time, dedication, training and miles put into it.  Its just like the saying, you get what you give.  If you want success, give it your all and you will get it!




The most important thing, is never let others put you down.  It's a fact of life, someone will always be in the shadows trying to do just this.  But confidence is the key, if you are confident and happy with the efforts your putting through.  Anything said to you to push you down will fail, because you'll have the confidence and self knowledge of your own success to brush them aside and head down the road to accomplishing your dreams!


Tell me one of your running success stories?

Do you believe in what your doing, are you confident in yourself?


28 comments :

  1. I love this post, Kristy. Its so important to remember that every runner is at a different place in their running journey. Instead of comparing your pace and finish time to that of other runners, focus on your own progress and accomplishments.

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  2. Success is always a strange word. It's very subjective for each person so normal milestones shouldn't be used.

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  3. Great post! I totally agree that it doesn't matter what distance you run or how many races you've completed or how fast you run your miles - being a successful runner is more about attitude and confidence! I remember back when I first started running I tracked everything on Daily Mile but I was afraid to call myself a runner so classified myself as an athlete. Now I realize that was silly. I was running, therefore I was a runner! :)

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  4. I love this post! I struggle with this sometimes since I am so slow but I just try to remind myself that the technical definition of runner would be someone who runs and by that definition, I'm ok calling myself a runner :)

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  5. I still have a hard time calling myself a runner with my turtle pace...
    but I BELIEVE in myself to keep pushing on & that's what makes me a runner more so in my mind :)

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  6. It took me awhile of running to be confident and really believe in myself. Since I don't really 'look' like I imagined a runner would look, it was hard to consider myself one. But now I see that running actually gave me confidence. We come in all shapes and sizes, and I believe if you run, you are a runner!

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  7. You definitely have to believe it and feel it. I go through phases of thinking now I am a runner vs I am such a crappy runner. The ups and downs!

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  8. I love these tips - you are spot on! I struggle myself because I am such a SLOW runner - but running is running, even if I'm more of the tortoise than the hare!

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  9. Great tips! All are so right! Just gotta believe in yourself and you can do it.

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  10. I just had this conversation with my husband the other day! I'm slow so I wondered when it's considered running vs jogging. And if I can consider myself a runner. I decided I'm a runner.

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  11. OK, I confess. I have a real problem calling myself a runner. I definitely consider everyone else that runs a runner. So why can't I give myself that title? I don't feel like it's a confidence issue but I do unfortunately play the comparison game sometimes. I need therapy. LOL

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  12. So true! It's easy to get wrapped up in the details... but you have to believe in yourself!

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  13. Thanks Kathryn! I think sometimes it's easy to forget that there is no point of purpose in comparing ourselves to others.
    I always say to myself if I compare to someone who did better, that I can do better to, train harder and try again:) That's the beauty of it, right!

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  14. Attitude and confidence say a lot, and I think even help us achieve what we want. It always makes me sad both running related or just normal life when I talk to people that lack confidence and a great attitude, I just think it makes things so much harder:)
    But I agree with you, you were running, therefore you were a runner!

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  15. I have always had a great attitude, I think if you keep believing in yourself you can achieve lots! You just need the same thing I do, you need your knees to quit bothering you, and I need my work injury to leave me!

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  16. I don't look like a runner either, at least not the skinny size 2 can eat anything they want and gain 0 pounds kinds. I've always been a tad jealous of the type, but I try more and more to like what I do have.
    Running can give people confidence, I think it's awesome you discovered that! I hear ya, if we run, we are runners!

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  17. Oh yes, the ups and downs! A few years back when I wasn't dealing with a work injury I would go through those ups and downs and crappy runs. Eventually I learned to enjoy the crappy runs, and realize it's only up to me to make them better, and regardless if I am slow or fast, I should own it and love it because it's me:)

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  18. Thanks Rachel! I have gotten quite a bit slower myself through the years, sometimes its only myself to blame. But regardless it's so important to remember that we can be as successful as we want to be, and it's different for everyone because we are all in different phases, or have different life or time wise limitations on what we can do:) But we should love ourselves and believe we are runners no matter what!

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  19. I think you are very much a runner! I know a lady, well maybe shouldn't say know, I see her occasionally on a trail. She will run for maybe 10 seconds at a time, and has been doing that all summer, she's gotten better. Each time I see her, I actually think of her as an inspiration because even just those little 10 seconds make her a runner in my opinion! So yes, own it and love your runner title:)

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  20. I think we all get a bit to wrapped up in the details and for get exactly what you said, to believe in ourselves. Once we do start believing I think we find the sky is the limit:)

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  21. So I have an inbox of blog posts to read and I'm so behind. I'm reading this after MCM and kicking myself that I didn't get to it before because I totally could have used this before the race!! Love this post. I was definitely not believing last week!

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  22. I'm a little behind in catching up on others blog posts myself too, oh if there were just more free hours in our lives, right:) I am glad you liked this post, I hope you had an awesome MCM!!!!

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  23. You are successful if you believe in you.
    When I did Tough Mudder, my mission was to give every obstacle a go. And I did, and I had a ball. Sometimes you just gotta let go of expectations and just have fun. We can get so consumed by our goals, that we forget to have fun.

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  24. Tricia MissSippiPiddlinMarch 8, 2017 at 5:53 PM

    I think running has taught me to be more confident in myself. From someone who started and couldn't run for 60 seconds to someone who has run 9 half's, ok 8 without stopping that right there is a confidence booster. I can't say I have always believed in myself, but I do now. There is nothing I can't do by putting my mind to it! No, I may not be the fastest, the best, or even the prettiest, but if I choose to do it, it will get done! Thanks for this Kristy, I sure needed it!

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  25. I loved reading about your Tough Mudder experience today! You really did give everything a go, and approached it all with such a fun great attitude! I love that, you are so right, having fun is ultimately the most important!

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  26. I am glad you liked it! I think we all struggle to believe in ourselves at times, but once we do the sky is really the limit and everything seems to fit and find it's place, not to mention is far more enjoyable!

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