Running Doesn’t Need Bouncers
I have been vocal against the idea of gatekeeping in running, specifically, but in endurance sports, generally. It wasn’t until this past week that I asked myself why I was against gatekeeping so much. The next question that popped into my head, and made it to my notes app, was: what makes a person gatekeep?
When I Was The Gatekeeper
Before we answer either of those questions, I have looked back at my time in these sports and recognized there was a moment that I was a gatekeeper. It was back in my days of Ironman. The idea of tackling three sports at once and covering 140.6 miles by my own power made me feel powerful. There was this air of invincibility.
My training plans were 15 to 20 hours plus I was also working full-time. Balancing all of that gave me this sense of standing on the top of the mountain with a cape flowing behind me and my hands on my hips. It was the power pose.
I professed that anybody could do it and you just needed the drive. There it was…..gatekeeping. I wasn’t saying it in a manner to support the reader / listener. Those words were putting a gate around my accomplishments and I didn’t want somebody coming in that would ruin this perception of strength and super human power.
Since that time, I have come to realize that it was unnecessary. There was no reason to protect my accomplishments from others because all it did was allow me to celebrate by myself. If I kept others out of my area while other gatekeepers were doing the same, how were we going to celebrate all that we had done? It would be a lonely world.
From Ironman, I stepped into trail and ultra running. Lots of time alone in the woods with nothing but my thoughts. When you came upon another runner, or they came upon you, there was conversation. I didn’t care who it was because I just wanted company. An opportunity to connect, even for a short period of time, was welcomed.
In those moments and years, I realized that I didn’t want a gate. I wanted an open space with tables, lots of tables, for people to come and sit. To chat with me about their dream, goals and achievements. Listening to what they wanted to share and then either celebrating them or connecting them with somebody who had similar dreams and goals.
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What Makes Someone Gatekeep?
So, today when I think about gatekeeping and I ask the question of what makes a person gatekeep I realize it is a complex question. It is not just one thing but many things that are taking place outside of that person’s endurance sports accomplishment.
Life is hard. Very hard. You have a job that you need so you can pay the bills but may not actually enjoy the work. There are family responsibilities. Friends that you don’t want to let down. A car or an appliance that is broken and needs to be fixed or replaced. It seems to never end and often out of your control.
You turn to what you can control. You don’t want somebody to take away from what you’ve done. This is yours but the reality is that these sports are for all of us.
Running, swimming and cycling don’t belong to one person. There is no rule to what constitutes success. By the same token, there is no singular person with the power to tell others that they’ve failed and don’t belong in the club.
The 16-Minute Mile Myth
And it is all in our own perspective. Last week, Joe Hardin had a post on Instagram saying that if you run, you’re a runner. I could not agree more but a comment stated that at a 16 minute mile you would be better off hiking. Let’s ignore this hiking statement and focus on the 16 minute mile for a moment.
In 2019, I ran the Western States 100 and finished in 26 hours, 36 minutes and 53 seconds. If you took out a calculator, you would find out that my average pace was 15 minutes and 58 seconds per mile.
If I posted that I ran WSER in 26:36:53 and at a pace of 15:58/mi, do you think that the comment would have been that I didn’t run or race the event? I’m guessing no. I’m guessing that the comment to the post would not be that I should be doing something different. As a matter of fact, the post I shared back in 2019 had zero people telling me that I was not a runner.
When I ask the question of what makes a person gatekeep, for me the answer is: insecurity. Not in their ability but in what lies outside of the world of endurance sports. These sports become a place that they can ‘control’ and keep people out so that they don’t steal the accomplishments.
When We Open The Gate
Reality? Reality is that when we open the gate and let people in, we realize that they aren’t taking away. Rather, they are adding. They are bringing joy to OUR sports.
Can we get angry at gatekeepers? Sure but why should we waste our time when we could be spending it celebrating with others.
Gatekeeping is lonely. It is meant to isolate instead of connect. I am looking for connection. Connecting with you and sharing of who I am allows you to share who you are. If I say that you aren’t a runner unless you’ve done X then guess what I’m doing. I’m isolating myself. Not interested.
Running Belongs To All Of Us
Life, and our sports, are far more enjoyable when we are all telling stories of how we made it through the training and to the finish line versus smirking that somebody is running a 16:00/mi.
Gatekeeping in endurance sports doesn’t make them more of a luxury brand…..it makes them less enjoyable for all of us.
Do me a favor…..the next time you are on social media…..congratulate somebody for their accomplishment. It will make them feel great but you’ll also feel better.
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