Who hasn't caught themselves saying "I don't know how to run"? Or "I'm not really a runner anyway, because I'm too slow, I only do 3 km, I run on a treadmill"?
We hear these lines everywhere. We tell them to ourselves, often without ever questioning them. They're almost all rooted in running myths that have been circulating for years — misconceptions that turn a simple act, going out for a run, into an entrance exam.
At NOPé, we believe movement doesn't need admission requirements. That's exactly the spirit behind our SS26 collection: accessories designed for women who want to move their own way, without pressure or any kind of title to earn.
So we took the most stubborn running myths and broke them down, one by one.
Myths about your body and health
You have to suffer to get better at running
"No pain, no gain." This idea is completely false, yet so widespread.
The reality is the opposite: most of your runs should happen at a comfortable intensity, one where you can still hold a conversation. That's what's known as running at a conversational pace, and it's how your body adapts and improves over the long run.
Pain isn't proof of effort. It's a signal. A run where you feel good from start to finish counts just as much — if not more — than one that leaves you completely drained. As the women in our community share in Running for Your Head, Not Your Time, running can be a way to unwind, not to punish yourself.
Myths about performance
Running slowly isn't really running
"I'm too slow." Too slow compared to what, exactly?
Average running pace varies enormously from one woman to another. It depends on experience, terrain, temperature, sleep, your cycle, the day you're having. A beginner running an 8 min/km pace is running. A woman alternating between running and walking is running. There's no official threshold you need to cross to become a "real" runner.
And running slowly isn't a phase to grow out of. It's a complete practice in its own right. Many experienced runners deliberately choose easy paces, because that's where the joy lives. On social media, creators like Sabrina Landry say it often: running slowly is fine when you're starting out, and it's just as fine years into your running journey.
Your pace belongs to you. It doesn't need anyone's approval.
Distance determines whether a run counts
"I only ran 3 km."
The one word too many in that sentence is "only." Three kilometres is a run. It's time outside for you, a body in motion, and a mind that gets to settle. The benefits of running don't kick in at some precise kilometre mark — they start the moment you walk out the door.
A short run done regularly builds more than an occasional long one that wipes you out. And more importantly, distance was never a measure of your legitimacy. No one asks for your mileage before letting you lace up your shoes.
Three kilometres at your own pace, wearing your favourite cap, with your go-to playlist — that's a real run. Full stop.
Myths about training
Running only counts if it's outdoors
"I'm not a real runner, I just run on my treadmill."
That word "just" again. The treadmill is a complete training tool, used by beginners and professional athletes alike. It lets you run through changing weather, a packed schedule, or the dark during an evening run. It offers a stable, predictable environment, which is invaluable when you're just starting to move through running.
At NOPé, we love the outdoors deeply. Our products are designed to move outside. But moving outside is an invitation, not an obligation. A woman who runs on a treadmill three times a week is running three times a week. The treadmill takes nothing away from her practice.
And when the urge to head outside hits, the trails will still be there. If you're wondering where to start, our article on trail, road, and gravel running can help you find the terrain that suits you.
Running once a week isn't enough
Enough for whom? That's really the question.
If your goal is a marathon, one run a week won't cut it, that's true. But if your goal is to move, to keep a standing date with yourself, then one run a week is more than enough. It maintains the habit, the enjoyment, and the health benefits.
One run a week for a year adds up to roughly fifty runs. That's a practice. The consistency that matters is the one you can actually keep up in your real life, with your own reality — not the one from some training plan found online and built for someone else.
Moving your own way is already running
If you add it all up, these myths all tell the same story: that there's one right way to run, and every other way doesn't count. Too slow, not far enough, not often enough, not the right place, not the right body.
That's not true. There's no entrance test for running. There are women who go out, each at her own pace, each for her own reasons. Some for the time on the clock. Many for their peace of mind.
That's the vision behind everything we do at NOPé, from our manifesto to our SS26 collection, designed for your pace — not for any particular standard.
Next time you catch yourself saying "I'm not a real runner," remember this: if you run, you're a runner. Everything else is just noise.
Come tell us about your way of running on Instagram. We want to hear from you.
