“I guess I would consider myself a blend, and I think most runners would, if I’m honest,” he said.

Mark Remy isn’t sure when it happened, but he’s now a Grizzled Vet Runner. Or at least a variation of a grizzled vet.

2016 Boston Marathon Ethiopia’s Atsede Baysa surges to women’s title Lemi Berhanu Hayle runs away with men’s race Tatyana McFadden dominates for fourth straight Boston title Marcel Hug repeats as men’s wheelchair champ Photos: The 2016 Boston Marathon Video: Runners gear up for start in Hopkinton Year after finish-line proposal, Walsh aide completes Marathon with fiancee Mood is jubilant as spectators line the Marathon route Mark Wahlberg films scenes at Marathon finish line Jake Gyllenhaal, Jeff Bauman film scene at Fenway Park More Boston Marathon coverage

The author of three books and former columnist for Runner’s World outlined 23 species of runners — each with a fake scientific Latin name and set of tongue-in-cheek descriptions and characteristics — in his latest book, “Runners of North America: The Definitive Guide to the Species.”

He ditched his road bike more than 20 years ago and became a runner, starting as a Newbie before evolving to a Serious Runner and landing at Grizzled Vet. Along the way, he posed as what he called an “anthropological kind of expert who is just posing as a runner myself all these years as a means to an end to study these creatures.”

And in the book, Remy mixed his observations and experiences with some humor and satire to define the various species of runners, which include Gear Addict, Trail Runner, Barefoot Runner, and Fashion Mag Runner. He pokes fun at each while also explaining each type and the idiosyncrasies that go along with it.


Despite differences in quirks, training habits, or running styles, Remy said, the sport itself bridges the gaps between the species.

“That’s what binds us together,” he said. “It’s a great thing, particularly a weekend like the Boston Marathon. It’s a very cool thing to witness.”

With the 120th Boston Marathon nearing, Remy — who has run seven Boston Marathons — identified the seven species of runners who likely will make up the majority of the Monday’s field.

Elite Runner

Characteristics: Matching shoes and clothing — shorts, singlet, jacket, hat, etc. — from sponsor; faint aura of awesomeness that’s visible in certain lighting conditions; always shorter and smaller than you’d imagined.


How to spot them: “Well, obviously, there are the elites. . . . You bump into them in this really wonderful way. Running along the Charles early in the morning or in your hotel lobby or walking down the street, at a restaurant, you’re like, ‘Oh my god, that’s Shalane Flanagan.’ . . . You kind of wave and smile like a geek and they’re gracious because they’re awesomely laid back.”

Serious Runner

Characteristics: Lanky frame; thin arms; team uniform; vaguely unnerving eyes; reedlike physique, sunken cheeks, and hip bones you could use to crack an egg.

How to spot them: “Probably the bulk of the people in the field I would say are Serious Runners, which might also go without saying.”

Charity Runner

Characteristics: Cheerful; hopeful; has “got this” big smile; temporary tattoo; running shirt with charity logo.

How to spot them: “A smaller segment but maybe a more visible one because they’re so enthusiastic, happy to be there. Because charity runners, by their nature, tend to wear their identity on their sleeve, almost literally. They’re very visible. That’s part of their DNA as a charity runner. So you see lots of them. They’re easy to spot in the race.”

Serial Marathoner

Characteristics: Crazy eyes; a compulsion to affix “26.2” stickers to every available surface; awful toenails; travel-size foam roller; wearing running shoes that are either extremely worn or extremely new.

How to spot them: “You’ll know it’s a Serial Marathoner, as opposed to a Serious Runner, because you’ll be walking behind her on your way to dinner some night before the race and she’ll be wearing the Boston Marathon jacket from 1983 with all the patches for subsequent years sown on. She’s done like 19 consecutive Bostons and has the jacket to prove it.”


Grizzled Vet

Characteristics: Doesn’t have time for your stupidity; grizzled, old, cotton race shirts; mischievous eyes.

How to spot them in Boston: “Maybe he’s also done 19 Bostons or maybe he’s only done a handful, maybe this is his first one. But he’s there, he’s grizzled, he’s ready for action.”

‘I’m Not a Real Runner’

Characteristics: Self-deprecation; reluctance to talk about running habits; non-flashy running shoes and attire

How to spot them: “[It] might sound funny because like, ‘Dude, you’re in the Boston Marathon. Yes, you’re a real runner.’ But that’s the essence of the ‘I’m not a Real Runner’ runner. They’re so self-effacing. I have met and talked to ‘I’m Not a Real Runner’-type runners who have told me, I’m not joking, ‘I’ve done 22 marathons, I’m not a real runner.’ It’s the essence of the ‘I’m Not a Real Runner’ runner. They’re modest to a fault. . . . They might buy a Boston Marathon jacket but they’ll never wear it because they’re not a real runner.”

7-Minute-Mile Runner

Characteristics: Never warms up; runs 7-minute-per-mile pace at all times, regardless of distance, purpose, or company.

How to spot them: “Essentially, these are the ones who will take off out of Hopkinton at a 7-minute-mile pace and feel fantastic through Wellesley or thereafter and then they’ll just sort of tank. They’ll start a 10-minute pace, a miserable few miles and they’ll wonder later what went wrong because they were doing great up until then, they were doing 7-minute miles. Because that’s all they ever do.”


Follow Rachel G. Bowers on Twitter at @rachelgbowers.