What kind of runner am I?

Besides a Muddy Runner of course...

I've never really thought about this. I've only been running for about a year, though, so I can't say I've given a whole lot of thought as to what sort of runner I am. Long-distance runs like the half or full marathon scare me and I'm not fast at all so I sort of see myself as a middle-distance runner. That's what I've determined in my first year of running.

But Runner's World posted the question steps to help you figure out what kind of runner you are. So I figured I'd go through the steps here to figure out the answer to this question.

Identify Your True Calling (in form of a quiz)

- How many hours a week do you devote to training? First choice (2-3) is out. I'd have to go with choice B, 4-5, although I'd love to get in six hours or more a week.

- How would you describe the perfect training run? The middle choice, running right at the edge of your abilities, not backing off from a difficult effort but not pushing so much that you're out of steam.

- If you could skip any workout each week, what would it be? I don't like workouts that don't seem long enough so choice B is the best choice. Choice A is any run that takes more than an hour. No way. I welcome hour-long runs.

- When you're out on a group run, you stand out from the pack by: I don't like to surge to the finish and I don't like to feel fresh at the end of a long run so choice B - sticking with lead group no matter how much they're pushing the pace - seems best again.

- When you get injured, what typically precipitates the problem? Choice C - I've not had any major injuries (knock on wood)... unless you count the nipple pain!

- What's your philosophy when it comes to spending money on a race? Choice B - about 50 bucks a race is okay. The Mud Run was 50 bucks incidentally, and even with the hotel I rented the night before in Oceanside it was money well worth spent. Every cent.

- When you're choosing a race, what matters most? C is the one that fits the bill - it should feel like a big deal. I'm all for convenience but to me all the races I've ran in have felt like big deals, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

- What are your race distances where you had the best finishing times? Probably the 5K was my best time so A.

Now I have to tally up the points and interpret my score.

I am a middle distance specialist! Yay! Here is the description:

It may feel like the world revolves around the marathon but you may not have to go that far to experience greatness: 10-milers and half-marathons could be for you. Some brush off middle distances as "practice" but running them, you'll be part of a renaissance - as 13.1 milers become the most popular races, many have taken on the big-league feel of marathons and they don't require as much money and time.

Now, before I go on, if you want me to post the full quiz with all options and the way to interpret your score, I'd be more than happy to. Let me know.

Okay, well, that's great then. I am a middle-distance specialist. I don't like to run anything less than three miles to be honest. And again, the thought of running 20 miles just scares the crap out of me. So I've settled into this comfortable yet challenging groove of running 6-8 miles, and now I will challenge myself next year to double that.

It's great knowing that I'm meeting my true calling in running. If it said I was a long-hauler, I would have had to reassess my running and race plan for next year. But 10Ks and half-marathons comfort me.