This week I made a new friend. We were talking about our lives and what we do with our time. I was telling her about how I’d just run the Zion Half Marathon with my girlfriends and she said something like, “Oh I love to run!” And, I said, “Wow, great you’re a runner, too!”

I was amazed at what had just come out of my mouth! I had implied that I was also “a runner”. I had never dared say something so bold regarding my peripheral connection to this exclusive club.

Running has always been a struggle for me. There are a lot of things I can do without training. I can eek out a 5.11 after a season off climbing, or carry a 60 pound pack over challenging terrain, or swim a mile. I’ve never really cared to develop something over time that doesn’t come naturally. But, my friends were running the Zion Half and, I paid good money to run it, too. And, it was going to be a real bummer if I had to walk the whole thing.

So, I trained. Me! I ran the hard way. Like with discipline. The easy way is to just not run and then decide to run one day and feel like you’re going to die after 2 miles and then not run again until the next time you feel inspired-probably sometime the following year.

I ran whether the desire was there or not. And, I started with the worst part of running-which is walking. I really don’t prefer walking. I especially don’t prefer hiking. Yeah, I know! Say the word hiking and, I’m already bored. That is another shortcoming that maybe one day I’ll tackle.

Here is a list of all the things I feared about running:

1. Needing to walk
2. Running slow
3. Getting passed
4. Being tired
5. Being seen by other people being tired
6. Cramps and various ailments
7. Heel strike (What even is that? I don’t know but, I’m afraid of it.)
8. Expectations of others that I’m strong and fit so I should be able to do something as easy as running

That last one really aggravates me. I really believe this was supposed to be encouragement. “It’s all in your head! I can run a half marathon off the couch so, you’ll be fine.” STFU.

In the end, here’s some advice from someone who never thought she’d call herself a runner:

1. Find a few faithful, zero-judgment friends to work towards your goal with.
2. Treat yourself to some real deal running shoes.
3. Start small.
4. Commit to a race.
5. Make weird eye contact and smile at people you see when you’re running. Include an awkward, waist-level, half-wave if you feel inclined. Namaste.
6. Take pride in the parts you’re good at. (For me, I feel awesome when I’m consistently the only person on the trail in rain, snow and below zero temps. I may be slow but, I’m not a wimp.)
7. Thank your body everyday for whatever it let’s you do.
8. Follow others who have moved past caring about what other people think and do things because they want to. @themirnavator @hilary_m_oliver @semi_rad

Life is too short and too freaking good to waste it thinking about how people perceive you or fretting about what you can’t do. Get out there and do something hard. Do it poorly! Do it ugly crying! Do it with an itchy butt.

To all of you new runners, new climbers, new boaters, new…hikers,

welcome.

You are strong and brave and you belong just here.