Erase This Word From Your Running Vocabulary

Lately, I have been seeing this word all over the place in the running community. Particularly in blogs and on Instagram. And when I read it or hear it, it's like nails on a chalkboard to me.

The word? Excuse.

Here are some (not verbatim) examples of how I have seen this word used:
I'm not trying to make excuses, but it was 85 degrees out.There was a headwind for 5 miles of the race. It's not an excuse, but it slowed me down.Not making excuses, but I got a stomach cramp at mile 9.The weather was...