Can I call myself a runner yet?

“I figured I hadn’t yet graduated to the point in which I could officially call myself a ‘runner.'”

I’ve been thinking about whether or not I can call myself a runner yet. A friend recently asked me if that’s what I am and I responded saying, “Not yet. But I’m trying to become one.” His response was simple: “If you run, you’re a runner.”

I realized that I was having a bit of an existential crisis about the definition of a “runner” and what it meant to be one. I’ve always pictured a runner to be a certain way – fit, fierce, strong and always wearing the ‘right’ gear. Since I don’t feel that way – yet – and I intermingle some walking with my running, I figured I hadn’t yet graduated to the point in which I could officially call myself a ‘runner.’

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And equally as confusing, I didn’t know when the magic moment would happen in which I would feel good about calling myself a runner.

So, I turned to the Merriam Webster dictionary to explore the true definition. This is what I found:

Runner noun run·ner \ˈrə-nər\

Simple Definition of runner

: a person who runs as part of a sport, for exercise, or in a race

: an animal (such as a horse) that runs in a race

: a person who delivers messages, reports, materials, or products either within a business or organization or to outside locations

Full Definition of runner

1 a :  one that runs :  racer

b :  base runner

c :  ballcarrier

2 a :  messenger

b :  one that smuggles or distributes illicit or contraband goods

3 :  any of several large vigorous carangid fishes

4 a :  either of the longitudinal pieces on which a sled or sleigh slides

b :  the part of a skate that slides on the ice

c :  the support of a drawer or a sliding door

5 a :  an elongated horizontal stem arising from the base of a plant

b :  a plant (as a strawberry) that forms or spreads by means of runners

c :  a twining vine (as a scarlet runner bean)

6 a :  a long narrow carpet for a hall or staircase

b :  a narrow decorative cloth cover for a table or dresser top

7 :  an adjustable backstay running from mast to rail on a sail boat or ship

8 :  a running shot in basketball

As it turns out, there are many definitions of what a “runner” is and who or what might be called one. A person who runs for exercise only, is just as much of a runner as someone who regularly enters races. A little league baseball player is just as much of a “baseball player” as a major league baseball player. The dictionary says nothing of degrees of being a runner. There is no sliding scale or sort-of or absolutely.

For my purposes, and in its simplest form, a runner is “one that runs.” My friend was right. I run, so therefore I am a runner.