Got anyone in your running life that you admire because of their ‘running game?’ Maybe respect or envy (a bit)? How about some good ol’ ‘healthy’ jealousy?

I’ve got this friend who I’ve known since college. She was on the XC team, built like a sprinter, and lived on the trails & beaches.

Oh, she had no problem whatsoever calling herself a tomboy (even though she was very…VERY attractive). She was always doing ‘something.’

I remember it wasn’t uncommon seeing her around campus playing pickup basketball games with the guys.

She was a helluva endurance athlete. But I also remember watching her doing sprinter workouts with the track team. She did it all.

I reconnected with her on social media some time back, and it wasn’t a surprise to hear she’s still running. In fact, she said she’s somewhat heavily into marathon training (that didn’t surprise me).

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I assumed she had a wall full of medals, and a closet full of bibs somewhere.

But that wasn’t the case at all.

Actually, she told me she doesn’t compete very much. — And she has no intentions on competing. — Her training is intense though. And she’s all good with that.

She’s not into racing (no pun intended) to register for some event each month. Or worrying if she’s in top form for that weekend.

“The ONLY thing that stresses me out sometimes are my workouts. My construction and preparation for my weekly runs are all that matters. When I personally feel that I’ve reached a certain level of accomplishment, let’s just say I’m easier to get along with.

“That’s when my Bad Ass kicks in. And the most empowering & validating part of it is how others look at me when I’m training. You can see it in their eyes. They look at me as someone that shouldn’t be messed with on the track, road, trail, hills, wherever.”

Now, not everyone feels this way and that’s cool. I can even hear some of you now. Questioning her ability (and her heart) because she doesn’t compete in events. “Just how big of a BAD ASS can she be?”

Others out there probably wonder why go through all the extreme training (and her training is a bit extreme to me) without some tangible award as a reminder, or validation?

I asked her if she missed competing. I know I still have flashbacks of my on field (football) battles in college…like what could have been if I had my act together, back then.

But she told me “Not really because I compete with ME and that’s all I need. No one out there is gonna push me more than I push myself.” And if you knew her, you would understand why.

My point?

To me, a ‘Bad Ass’ runner is —subjective —, not objective. There’s nothing etched in stone that’s says you gotta follow a standard followed by everyone else.

You can anoint yourself as a member of the bad ass runner movement. You don’t have to wait for validation by anyone or anything for that matter.

It’s as simple as being a ‘True’ Runner for example. Are you honest with yourself regarding just how bad you want to get better and what you need to do?

Can you look yourself in the mirror and ‘truthfully’ face those personal demons that prevent you from maximizing your potential?

Then congrats- you’re in!

Now on with your RUN.

Questions? Comments? Let me hear from you below 🙂

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