Have you ever run a marathon? Have you ever considered running one if you haven't? Do you feel that you need to run a marathon in order to be a "real" runner? You shouldn't feel that way.
I've coached some runners who beat themselves up because they don't have any desire to run a marathon.
They are happy just running or jogging a few days per week for the health benefits, or to be fit enough to have fun in a local 5k or 10k.
First, there is no reason that anyone should feel that they have to run a marathon in order to be "worthy" to be a runner.
There are plenty of people who will never run, let alone will never run a marathon.
Enjoying the sport is more important than running a 5 hour race if running that race means that you resent the act of running.
Many of the people that have asked me about this have been running for less than a year.
You shouldn't (in my not so humble opinion) even consider running a marathon in the first year that you begin running, and you shouldn't feel depressed that you aren't considering to run a marathon.
Just go out and enjoy yourself.
If you don't enjoy your long runs because they take too much time, then cut them short.
Run for a specified amount of time and discover the distance as you go rather than being a slave to reaching a certain number of miles.
After another year of running, I bet that you might discover that instead of running 5 miles in a specific amount of time, you are running 6 miles.
Isn't that nice? Any time somebody begins running for the first time, or resumes running after a number of years away from the sport, they are going to see some rapid changes in their body in a short amount of time.
The first few years should be spent enjoying the act of running and gradually building up what you can do so that you do not rush directly into an injury.
The idea is to enjoy the sport and let your needs and desires in the sport evolve as you get into shape.
If you decide that you don't like being competitive, then just go out and have fun without racing.
If you decide that you don't want to run a marathon, then shrug and run a 5k.
Or go for a 2 mile jig jog.
A year or two down the line, maybe you'll change your mind.
Maybe you won't.
Either way, just enjoy yourself.
Get in shape, be healthier, and improve the quality of your life.
Keep yourself open to new possibilities and new experiences, but don't feel pressured just because of some random person on the internet or some friends that you train with decide they want to do something like a marathon.
There are a lot of benefits that running can bring into your life.
Embrace the amount of training that you can enjoy, and only compete when it is fun to do so.
When training or racing becomes a job, then it is time to take a little time off and go back to easy running or cross training for a time until you can recharge your batteries.
You may never decide to run a marathon.
Then again, a few years down the road perhaps you may change your mind.
It took me 7 or 8 years before I ran my first marathon, and I didn't run my second marathon until almost 3 years after that.
Enjoy what you have, enjoy what you do, and keep your mind open to new experiences.
Running marathons doesn't define you as a runner.
It's just an extra number that you can brag about to your friends.