Males 2:30--2:50 marathoners

Nike Marketing Team wrote:

I am a 2:35 Marathoner.

1. I would say I'm solid...I see good as sub-2:30 and great as Sub-2:20

2. I would never be an Olympian or thought I would be. In college I thought I had a shot at the trials.

3. I have seen less qualified coaches.

4. I do slam 5 hour marathoners cause 11:23 is basically trotting.

5. I have never slammed a pro-runner...except maybe Kara Goucher.

This ^^

I'm a 2:26 guy.

1. Yes I see myself as good. Anywhere except on LR people see 2:26 as good. Notice I did not say elite or pro.

2. I never once thought I was anywhere close to being an Olympian. (But to your point, I do know 2:2x guys who did).

3. I am a coach, not because I run 2:26, but because I have a grad degree in Exercise Physiology and research the sport.

4. 5 hour marathoners are urban hikers as opposed to runners.

5. I do not slam pro runners or coaches.

Why do you slam thousands of 2:30 - 2:50 guys because you don't like a few of them?

Vlad for the sport wrote:

Actually I see the 2:15-2:2x guys as the single worst. They all BELIEVE they can make it but won't. Waste tons of resources and time.

The 2:3x guys are making bank at local races and have real jobs, lives, and honest opinions of themselves.

Where do you live and where do 2:3x guys make bank? A few hundred bucks here and there maybe. Much more than that and second or third tier Kenyan's always show up.

This thread has been very telling. It may have started as a troll attempt but the OP makes some serious points.

Although many try to defend themselves they admit that the OP is at least partially correct.

Almost all of you admit that you think poorly of many coaches

And nearly all put down 5 hr marathoners. Why? How does their efforts change your world? Do you feel that their postings on social media take away from your race?

I don't get it but the OP nailed it.

Two points:

1) I don't get the supposed connection between speed and coaching ability. What are Joe Vigil and Renato Canova's marathon PR? Who cares?

2) the OP is obviously has a marathon PR of about 2:25 The formula that he's following is a common one: anyone more than 10sec/mile slower than me isn't a serious runner.

Proof please of your 2.16? Link to results and name...

Bad for the sport wrote:

This is my first post since the original. Others are just trolling. I've run 2:16 and own a running shop. I see the 2:30--2:50 guys in the store all the time.

I had an excellent coach and could never do what he has done.

I suggest you put your belief to work for you and refuse to sell shoes to these losers who can only run between 5:45 and 6:30 per mile for 26+ miles. That will teach them.

It is easy to believe that you got where you are because of hard work and that talent has nothing to do with it. You ask, "Why are those runners who are slower than me so lazy?"

Well, reality check, kids. We all did the same workouts on the team in HS. Did we all run the same times? No. That is because of natural ability. The reason a 2:26 marathoner stuck with it is because they saw success early on. That kid on your HS team who tried hard but never broke 5:00 for the mile? He did not bother chasing an Olympic Trials qualifying time because he understood that he did not have the necessary ability. He is the smart one. Maybe he runs for fitness or fun. You dedicated your life to NOT qualifying for the Olympic Trials.

Everyone in this thread please stop for the love of god... I ran in college, I was fast, I'm retired now.

If you like to run then run. If other people like to run, you should be encouraging them to run as well. The more people running marathons and road races the better it is for the sport --> more shoe sales, more race entries, more publicity, more gu sales, MORE DOLLARS, etc, etc, etc. Any runner is good for the sport; fast, slow, skinny, fat, 2:00, 10:00, whatever.

Today I show my friends threads on Letsrun when we need a good laugh. I should've played golf.

Bad for the sport wrote:

This is the group that is destroying our sport. The Bob Kennedy thread has me excited to point fingers.

Your assumption is that all 2:30-2:50 runners would belittle BK for his 5 miler. I for one would not. BK is like a GOD. If he wants to run 40 min for 5 miles, who am I to jear.

What you need to say is "Some 2:30-2:50 marathoners don't understand our sport and have very little respect for excellence."

Nike Marketing Team wrote:

I am a 2:35 Marathoner.

1. I would say I'm solid...I see good as sub-2:30 and great as Sub-2:20

2. I would never be an Olympian or thought I would be. In college I thought I had a shot at the trials.

3. I have seen less qualified coaches.

4. I do slam 5 hour marathoners cause 11:23 is basically trotting.

5. I have never slammed a pro-runner...except maybe Kara Goucher.

I would slam Kara Goucher if ya know what I mean

This has gotten out of hand. This is the first post I've made since I started the thread. I want to set the record straight on some the fake news being spread by impersonators: I barely make 20k a year and my wife is 6/10 at best.

Bad for the sport wrote:

I barely make 20k a year and my wife is 6/10 at best.

What are you doing here?

I'll stir the pot some more, because I only clicked on this since I've thought that the rise of 2:30-2:40 guys would be a good thing for the sport.

Helps pull along the sub-3 crowd to look further, brings out more former HS/college runners who have a better shot at that at an older age than a 5k PR, and is a solid accomplishment if training isn't your life and you work the miles in around family, work, and enjoying life.

Obviously we encounter two completely different types of people with these types of times. Most of the guys I know who run around those times know their physical limits, so it's not like they think that a 2:30 or even a 2:25 means much nowadays. Didn't I just see a thread talking about 2:12 not being impressive for an American?

If you have some context and understand that a normal person has no idea what the difference is because just FINISHING a full marathon is impressive, you aren't peacocking around with whatever your PR is. I at least don't see that happening in my area on the east coast.

In my experience, the best coaches are the guys and gals who didn't have the talent to compete at the top levels but loved the sport so much that they focused on all of the little stuff that made them skilled as hell and able to at least hang with the back of the front pack.

Bad for the sport wrote:

vivalarepublica wrote:

All I see here is someone who wants to brag about their sub-2:30 marathon PR. Shut up and train harder so you can make the Olympic Trials.

I bet your 800 time time is above 2 queer

lol wtf?

Bad for the sport wrote:

Art Vandelay the fake one wrote:

So the people who keep your store in business are bad for the sport?

No. The people who keep the store in business are 8 minute mile Bob Kennedy and 11:23 minute mile Jennifer Smith.

Do you push gait analysis on every runner that walks in? Do you tell experienced runners what shoe they should buy? This is why I buy online. I know what shoe I want and I'm going to buy it.

Bad for the sport wrote:

3. They think they know enough about the sport to coach.

I know quite a few coaches that have no idea what they are doing who were faster than this group. Knowledge and athletic ability are not interconnected.

They only know what worked for them.

^ This