I wondered when you think a runner goes from being considered a ‘beginner runner’ or ‘new runner’ to being considered just a ‘runner’ ?! I was thinking after 6 months of consisting running, but could it be up to a year? Looking forward to being smug and calling myself a runner!
I’ve been doing this for 9 weeks now (I jumped in on C25K at week 4 due to being a cyclist and have done 3 weeks of consolidation runs) so know I have a little while to go yet!
Well done so far, its a brill feeling isn't it.. my opinion anything other walking is progress regarding Running.
Power walk, light jog ,jogging,Running 🏃♂️ indeed all will give that exhilarating feeling, I guess it depends if your looking for stats and personal bests each run.
But you will know when your a Runner as you fly past your markers when you first started. Good luck 👍
Signs you may already be a runner:
- You get that itchy feeling if you can't get a run in regularly.
- You've got proper running shoes from a specialist shop.
- You have too many items of clothing in "technical fabrics".
- You have a specialist sports watch.
- Your smartphone has more than one tracker app.
- You've pencilled in a training plan on your calendar.
- You've measured the capacity of all your mugs and drinking glasses.
- You know how long various local paths and tracks are.
- You find yourself talking about splits and intervals.
- You notice other runners and observe their running technique, while you're out and about.
... and many more.
Ticking off some of those! The drinking class capacity one made me chuckle and I have to admit that’s one of them!
Oh God. Using those criteria I'm probably not a runner after all. Unless driving back home from work a different way, specifically to check out the feasibility of a new route, counts? 😜
I considered myself a new runner for the first three years but that doesn't mean you are not a runner.The important point to remember is that progress towards any running target needs to remain slow and steady and that there is no magical moment when you can suddenly achieve anything at the drop of a hat, regardless of how long you have been running.
You might have been running for many years, but if you challenge yourself with a new running experience, such as a marathon or ultra, then you are a new marathon or ultra runner and need to train with as much care and caution as you approached C25K.
In physical terms your body can take years of regular running to develop and as you increase the challenges, so your body will adapt, if your training regime is sensible.
There is no defined threshold to cross to graduate from being a new runner to an established runner but the realisation that running comes pretty high on your priority lists, that you never go on holiday without running gear, that you need to run as much as you need to clean your teeth, means, in my book, that you are indeed a runner.
For some that comes during C25K, for others it never happens, fellow runner.
I think once you are running you are a runner, you don't need to add beginner or new to the title all of the time. You are not an experienced runner, but that might take many years 
I started running 1.5 years ago and when I talk to other runners I still say I'm quite new to running, but I am a runner. To me, I became a runner when instead of following a programme because I wanted to be healthier/fitter I started going for a run because I wanted to go for a run (although I still follow a programme because I like the structure and I like to plan my runs) and when if life got in the way and I couldn't run I felt I was missing something.
When can I run two days in a row?
Done it! Can I have my badge please?
Started my training yesterday!
Can I have my Mortarboard :)
Just started my training 
