How far is your marathon?

I am a quiet kind of guy, I am not loud, I do not usually volunteer information about myself easily and this is true for my running.

I don't tell people I run regularly or I try to train every day or that I often run a long distance event at the weekend.

At work I have tried to keep my running exploits under my hat and have largely succeeded. I did however recently share my marathon running with a fellow running colleague which has now led to word spreading. Another colleague now seeks me out for advice on her own fledgling running aspirations which is nice, I like it, but it has led to my running being discussed in group situations which inevitabley has led to more of my work colleagues knowing and subsequently taking an interest in my running.

This has culminated in a colleague shouting his best wishes for this weekends marathon across the office. I know there is nothing wrong with this and its a really nice sentiment but as a shy introverted person it just doesn't sit well with me.

I guess that kind of personality fits in well with being a runner as running is a solidarity and private past time with no reliance on team mates or achievements being widely acknowledged by others. 

To a certain extent I can't hide things from those I work with, its always been fairly obvious that I have been into fitness lifestyle as I don't drink lots of coffeeand don't usually partake in birthday cake when its someones birthday. These behaviours although sometimes admired are usually seen as rather odd as they differ from the office norm.

 

I suppose the problem is mine as I am private and just don't really want to share my running with everyone. 

Thats what makes my blog somewhat weird as here I am sharing my running with the Internet and the potential audience of millions of people! 

I enjoy writing my blog though, I enjoy interacting with other runners and sharing each others experiences, I just don't want to share my running with the people I share an office with every day!

I think it might be because I know people generally don't understand running andI don't want to have to explain myself and my running to people. I am sure all runners suffer with this, I just hope I don't get to many versions of the dreaded 'How far is your marathon?' question! 

Are you a secret runner?

Just wanting to check something....

Does anyone else hide their running away from colleagues or maybe friends? Or am I alone in my attempt to keep my running life a secret?

Today I was asked by two different colleagues did I have a race coming up and was I training for anything at the moment, and to both I quite bluntly replied no! This is despite the fact I have a marathon in about 3 weeks which is the start of my 3 marathons in 3 months.

I am not ashamed or shy of my running achievements or ambitions just I find it easier to keep things to myself, I don't like the fuss and attention you see.

I wondered though is this normal or is this quite unusual? 

I have a reputation at work for being a health freak as its known that I seem to have super human powers (well people seem to find it unbelievable that I can go to the gym before work, that I run for fun, that I can get through my day without drinking coffee every thirty minutes and that I have the restraint to not gorge myself on chocolate cake whenever there is a birthday in the office, pretty average things in my book), so the fact I run in events from time to time is common knowledge.

I guess I just don't want the pressure of everyone knowing and could do without the inane interest of people who don't understand my running lifestyle.

There is a fellow runner at work and I don't mind disclosing my plans to him as I suppose he gets where I am coming from and can appreciate my aims and objectives more fully. Even he seems reluctant to let on about his events and does what he can to keep a low profile when running at lunch or home from work.

So how do you play it with your non runner friends or colleagues? Would be great to hear your experiences and stories and whether you are a secret runner or not!