Confessions Of A Runner

The small meeting hall is like many others, dingy at the corners, filled with folding chairs, a table or two, disposable coffee cups and people. The people there are of all ages, sex and dispositions and as is usual, there are more chairs than people. A few sit at the back in nervous, embarrassed isolation, but most in attendance cluster around in quiet, earnest groups, waiting for the meeting to start.

A slender man, dressed casually in jeans, T-shirt and running shoes steps up to the makeshift podium. Self-consciously he clears his throat, tests the microphone and announces, "Can we bring the meeting to order? Everyone, please take your seats." With a murmur, a shuffle and a scrape, bodies fill chairs and in a few moments, it begins.

"First of all I'd like to thank everyone for attending tonight. We welcome back old friends, as well as new friends. For those of you who are new here, we'll let you introduce yourselves when you feel comfortable. We would like to let you know that this is a caring, supportive environment and that we all share your experiences and challenges to one degree or another. Each one of our experiences in this journey is unique and yet shared. We hope that after tonight's meeting you will feel comfortable enough to return and to share your stories with us. If you have any questions, please feel free to approach myself or the other members during or after the meeting. So, let's get down to business, shall we?"

The speaker clears his throat again and begins humbly with a familiar phrase, "Good evening. My name is Mark, and I am a runner."

Ok, so maybe I'm exaggerating just a bit. I don't think we have to start a BRC chapter of Runners Anonymous, but there are a few of us who are seriously teetering on the edge. Without much effort I can think of a few examples:

  • Henry V., four marathons in five weeks
  • Monica S. completed twenty-three 100 milers in a calendar year
  • Pat P., Tom S., Ian L., Ross P. and others turned a quiet weekly group run into a reason for a multi-course gourmet feast.
  • Club members Gary H., Len C. and Vickie H. are not challenged enough with the effort of running solo, so they run and enter races pushing their children and grandchildren.
  • John S. and his obsession with running naked.
  • Grant B. not content to run a 50 mile race once or twice but repeated the same race 20 times.
  • Margaret L., Bob B., Tomoko T., and Janice S. have the need to overachieve in not one, but three events per race.
  • An unknown man in a bunny suit who has also been known to wear kilts, Santa suits and women's clothing in races.

Look at some of the signs of addiction (modified to relate to running) and I'm sure there are a few of us showing symptoms.

Twenty Important Questions*

One of the oldest and most time tested evaluation tools for addiction dependency has its origins from the Johnson Institute of Minneapolis. Many variations exist, but the basic questions are as follows:

  1. Has anyone ever suggested you quit or cut back on your running?
  2. Has running affected your reputation?
  3. Have you made promises to control your running and then broken them?
  4. Have you ever switched to different types of running (road, track, trail, ultra's) or changed your running pattern in an effort to control or reduce your running?
  5. Have you ever gotten into financial, legal, or marital difficulties due to running?
  6. Have you ever lost time from work because of running?
  7. Have you ever sneaked or hidden your running?
  8. On occasion, do you feel uncomfortable if running is not available?
  9. Do you continue running when friends or family suggest you have had enough?
  10. Have you ever felt guilty or ashamed about your running or what you did while running?
  11. Has your efficiency decreased as a result of your running?
  12. When running, do you neglect to eat properly?
  13. Do you run alone?
  14. Do you run more than usual when under pressure, angry, or depressed?
  15. Are you able to run more now without feeling it, compared to when you first started running?
  16. Have you lost interest in other activities or noticed a decrease in your ambition as a result of your running?
  17. Have you had the shakes or tremors following heavy running or not running for a period of time?
  18. Do you want to run at a particular time each day?
  19. Do you go on and off the wagon?
  20. Is running jeopardizing your job?

If you answer "yes" to one or more of the above questions, it does not necessarily imply a running dependency problem, three or more "yes" answers suggest that you should more closely evaluate your running or exercise use.

I'm sorry to say that after answering the questions above, there is a serious possibility that I am a running addict.

You know something; I'm tired of apologizing for leading an active lifestyle. Damn it, I'm happy and proud that I have taken a different path than a lot of the people around me. This might be an activity bordering on obsession, but there are some addictions that can be healthy.

So to this I proudly say, "My name is Mark, and I AM a runner." Let's officially close this meeting and go for a run.

By Mark G. Collis

*Note: The original twenty questions survey was adapted from
www.hvrc.com/twentyqs.shtml

Revised: March 8, 2006.