The 8 Classic Rites of Passage for Runners

Runners—especially new runners—are often hesitant to deem themselves a "real" runner. While there's no absolute definition or accomplishment that makes someone a card carrying member of the Official Runner's Club, as far as we're concerned, if you think you're a runner, you're a runner. Plain and simple.

That being said, there are a few universal rites of passage every runner will face at some point along the way. How many of these milestones have you overcome? If you've survived one—or all—of these, you can officially, definitely, without question, call yourself a runner.

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