You know the ones.
The self-proclaimed experts.
The “real runner” police.
The voices that tell you if you’re not fast enough, slim enough, or serious enough… you don’t belong.
Let’s be clear about one thing right from the start:
They don’t get to decide that.
Not for you. Not for anyone.
The Myth of the “Real Runner”
There’s unwritten “rules” floating around in running culture. You’ve probably felt it, even if no one’s said it outright.
You must run a certain pace.
You must look a certain way.
You must never walk.
And if you don’t tick those boxes?
Apparently, you’re not a real runner.
But here’s the truth that gatekeepers don’t want you to know:
If you move forward on your own two feet, you’re a runner.
Full stop. No qualifiers needed.
What Gatekeeping Really Is
Gatekeeping is fear in disguise.
It’s insecurity dressed up as expertise. It says, “This is my thing. You don’t get to have it unless you do it my way.”
But Runners Gateway exists for the people who never thought they were allowed in.
The ones who walk more than they run.
The ones who are still catching their breath.
The ones who are starting again, and again, and again.
Gatekeeping has no place here.
Progress does.
Kindness does.
You do.
Why Your Story Matters
You’re not a beginner because you’re broken.
You’re not slow because you failed.
You’re not walking because you’re weak.
You’re here because you’re brave enough to try.
And that takes far more strength than any finish line photo.
Your version of running might look different from someone else’s. That doesn’t make it less. That makes it yours.
You Don’t Need to Earn Your Way In
There’s no test.
No pace requirement.
No approval form.
You don’t need to prove anything to anybody. Not to the guy with the super-fancy GPS watch. Not to the woman in the matching designer activewear. Not to the coach shouting splits.
You already belong.
And the more people like you show up — with your walk breaks, your doubts, your determination — the more this sport changes for the better.
What We Stand For
At Runners Gateway, we believe:
- Walking counts.
- Slow is powerful.
- Confidence is built, not assigned.
- And every single body that moves forward deserves to be celebrated.
We’re not here to impress anyone.
We’re here to make running more human.
More accessible.
More real.
Because there’s room for all of us.
Even, nay especially, the ones who never thought they’d fit in.
Carry This Thought With You Through The Next Week
Gatekeepers don’t define you.
Your courage does.
Tie your laces. Take that step.
And know this: you’re already enough!
