LOLZLetter 324 | Not Every Runner Belongs at the Start Line
Why “you showed up” isn’t always good enough
Welcome,
Let’s get this out of the way: yes, running is for everyone. But not every race is. If you're new, you might think that this post is pace oriented. But believe me, it's not. It's about the rise of people running races (especially marathons) when they are not prepared. Heck, people even bragging on social media: “I haven’t run more than a couple miles in months but I’m running a marathon”. How did we get here? Because it’s not a flex.
And not every runner belongs at every start line...especially if they’re undertrained.
We know by now it’s better to arrive undertrained than overtrained. But that doesn’t mean “untrained.” There’s a difference between missing a long run or two and showing up to a marathon after not running more than five miles in months.
This post isn’t meant to gatekeep running. It’s about safety, responsibility, and the reality that “just showing up” can sometimes do more harm than good. We are all busy, and for most of us running isn’t our full time job. Even “influencers” who make money from the sport of running and influencing, don’t need to be harming their bodies to actively make money in the influencing world…that’s a post for another day.
The Rise of the “Just Show Up” Mentality
In recent years, there’s been a big push to celebrate participation. You’ll hear things like:
“Finishing is winning.”
“PR or ER.” (No, just no.)
“You’re lapping everyone on the couch.”
“It doesn’t matter how fast...just show up!” I do believe this can be a good one in the right context. (Because a 2:10 marathoner and a 8 hour marathoner are both marathoners).
And while I love seeing runners of all levels toe the line, we have to be honest: there’s a massive difference between showing up to a 5K with little training and jumping into a marathon you’re nowhere near ready to complete.
Running a race...especially long ones like half marathons, marathons, and ultras, isn’t just a personal journey. It’s a moving machine involving road closures, volunteers, medical support, pace groups, and tight cutoffs. It only works when everyone on the course has done at least the bare minimum of preparation.
Lately, I’ve seen more runners post things like “Haven’t trained at all but running 26.2 tomorrow!” Most of the time, I don’t buy it. They’ve either missed a couple runs and are exaggerating for attention, or they’ve secretly trained. But if they really haven’t run, it’s not inspiring...it’s reckless.
There’s a difference between someone who has run 100 marathons and someone who has run none. BUT it all goes back to Do running influencers owe it to their followers to train smart?
How Undertrained Runners Affect Everyone
If someone crashes and burns at mile 8 of a half marathon, that’s their problem, right? Not always.
Medical resources get stretched. Aid stations and medics may be overwhelmed by runners hitting the wall too early, putting others at risk.
Cutoffs become chaos. When undertrained runners fall way off pace and refuse to quit, buses are delayed, volunteers stay longer, and roads reopen with runners still out.
Course crowding worsens. Especially in larger races, unprepared runners starting too far forward or weaving unpredictably make the race harder for others. Have you ever been behind someone in a race who suddenly stops? It can cause a runner pile up.
Emotional toll. Watching someone in visible distress at mile 3 because they didn’t train takes a toll on fellow runners too. It’s uncomfortable and concerning. Likely that’s what those fellow runners are going to think about during their race and they’ll be in the wrong headspace.
No one talks enough about how showing up unprepared doesn’t just impact your race…it impacts everyone else’s too.
Race Day Isn’t a Selfie Opportunity
Let’s be real: some people register for races just to post about it. We’ve all seen it...someone shows up in a fit that costs more than your mortgage just to snap a finish line photo.
Running for fun is great. Running for mental health is real. But running for content? That’s where things get murky...especially if that person didn’t train and is encouraging others to “just go for it.”
You don’t need to run a marathon to prove you’re a runner. And you definitely don’t need to run a marathon unprepared to prove something to the internet. As I head into 5K season, I can confirm that every race distance is rewarding and hard if you push yourself.
There’s No Shame in Waiting
Here’s what we don’t say enough: it’s okay to not be ready.
There’s no shame in pulling out of a race when training didn’t go as planned. I’ve DNSed more races than many people have even entered, and I feel zero shame about it. There’s no shame in choosing a shorter distance or focusing on building your base.
But there is shame in risking injury...or glamorizing injury...because you want the medal more than you want the miles. “I paid for it, so I have to run” is a weak argument. If you run yourself into a stress fracture or muscle tear, you could be paying for it for years and that race entry fee you refused to give up is void.
We glorify finish lines like they’re the only thing that matters. But the training...the quiet, repetitive, boring grind...is what actually makes you a runner.
So…Who Does Belong at the Start Line?
You do, if you:
Respect the distance and the course
Train to your ability
Understand what’s being asked of you on race day
Prioritize your safety and the safety of others
You don’t need to be fast. You don’t need a fancy watch or a carbon-plated shoe. You just need to respect the commitment you made when you signed up.
Final Thoughts
The start line isn’t a stage. By being at the start, you’re saying you’re showing up not just for yourself, but for the volunteers, medical staff, race directors, and fellow runners who make that day possible.
As I mentioned, running is for everyone. But racing? You need to consider yourself as well as others.
I always appreciate hearing thoughts from readers.
What is keeping me entertained?
April Training Log: Breaking 90 in the half and travel
They Competed In The Olympics And Won Marathons—Now They Run With The Rest Of Us
Balancing Bikes, Life, and Duty: I rarely get to interview people I know, so it was fun interviewing my husband, Tim.
You Can Follow Me On:
This is one of your best posts ever. I have been running marathons and ultras for 40 years and in recent years I have seen people with good intentions who have no idea what they have gotten into. That is especially true for trail ultras. I hope that they read today's blog.
Finally someone said it!
This kind of attitude has infiltrated running and trail in particular of people who have never run and sign up for an ultra because they’ve seen someone do it on TikTok (and most of the time they walk the entire thing so it’s a pointless exercise).
It’s just completely disrespectful to the sport, environment, other people and the individuals themselves