Understanding the crazy beings called Runners

About 0.7% to 0.8% of the world population are active runners—a tiny fraction of humanity, but a truly unique one. This group, however, is often puzzling to the remaining 99.2% of the world. And, quite frankly, it’s understandable why!

Runners regularly engage in behaviours that most would consider borderline crazy, if not downright irrational. In fact, some people have used even stronger language to describe them! But let’s be clear—there’s rarely any disrespect or malice behind these remarks. They stem from two main sources: genuine concern on one hand and a sheer mismatch of mental wavelengths on the other.

Given this, I believe a simple guide to understanding runners is overdue—perhaps even as vital as another global cause, like wildlife conservation. After all, we’re talking about a small, remarkable minority blessed with strong legs, powerful lungs, a big heart, and, yes, a slightly insane mind.

So, I’ve taken it upon myself to create the world’s first guide to understanding runners. I call it “The 7 Principles of Understanding Runners.” This is a bold step, but someone has to take one for the team! Who knows—maybe this little piece of work will someday hold a place in history as significant as Darwin’s The Origin of Species or Newton’s Principia.

And now, I present to you The 7 Principles of Understanding Runners:

1. Runners are Irrational

Waking upto to run at un-Godly hours, running anywhere & anytime, spending a fortune for race registrations, gadgets & travel, running through pain & suffering, and the list goes on. Runners are defined by loads of such supposed ‘irrational’ choices’!

2. Runners enjoy the pain

Running with & through the pain is a norm. Runners are perennially in pain – mostly good ‘pain’, and they love it. True believers of mind over matter!

3. Runners are narcissists

Runners love to love themselves. They are proud about the toned legs, flat abs, strong back, solid core, and nearly zero fat body.

4. Runners are selectivel social

When it comes to matters related to running, runners are social butterflies. For most other things, they may seem introvert or disinterested. Runners are ‘thick as thieves’ with their fellow runners.

5. Runners like to travel the world

Travel and races go hand in hand. Runners are known to spend fortunes to just the travel to run at known as well as unknown places. Mountains, beaches, deserts, snow, jungles – runners travel everywhere.

6. Runners are pennywise, pound foolish

Runners do not think twice about spending on shoes, gears, travel, and races. If it helps them run better – it has to be bought no matter what! But they will crib about every other purchases not related to running.

7. Runners love to flaunt

Runners are show-offs. They like to look good and flaunt. They will always be seen taking loads of running photos and sharing the same on all available social media platforms. Runners are humble-brags, and some more!

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If you have any thoughts or feedback, feel free to reach out to me at aashutosh[dot]chaudhari[at]gmail[dot]com—I promise to reply!