"identity politics suck. don't play along."

Whoa, you might be thinking. What in the world is she talking about today? Identity politics? How in the world can that be tied to running?

Identity politics, after all, typically refers to political activity founded in the shared experiences of injustice of members of certain social groups - gays and lesbians, for example.

But after reading this comment posted on a discussion about running, I couldn't help but realize that the sentiment is true and applies as much to those who call themselves runners or tennis players as it does to groups with more political clout. Stay with me here.

Calling yourself a runner brings with it a certain identity. For some, you cannot call yourself a runner unless you have achieved a certain distance, ran a certain race, or finished a race in a certain pace. There are those who look down on anyone who is not able to run a race without walking, proclaiming them non-runners - basically, not wanting to let them into the group, despite the fact that we all share the same experiences, whether we are running 5 minute miles or 12 minute miles. For others, simply lacing up your shoes and heading out the door is all it takes to become part of the runner identity.

The point is, the definition of what a runner "is" is ever-changing.  I think that as long as we are all sharing the experiences of the running community - getting up early to get out the door, lacing on shoes, feeling our chest expand and burn as we cover the miles, experiencing the thrill of crossing a finish line, stretching in an attempt to ward off injury...then we are runners.  We share the experience of running. To argue that you have to be anything more is, in my mind, identity politics, and not worthy of our attention. Let's focus on sharing our experiences, not excluding others from claiming them. Ignore the forums on letsrun.com or runnersworld.com that suggest you aren't a runner because you can't run a marathon in less than 5 hours. It's ridiculous.

Nothing bums me out more than meeting a runner who thinks that maybe they shouldn't be calling themselves that.  Belief is a powerful thing.  It is the beginning of many things, and if you believe you are a runner, you will be a better one for it. So if you are on the fence about whether you should be able to call yourself a runner, hop off of it. You are a runner.  Don't play along with those who might suggest you are any less.