A lot of the other fast road runners in my area seem like jerks.

You might be a hobby jogger if...

They don't like getting beat by someone new they don't know. Keep being friendly, keep running well, and they'll either come around or you'll find the nice ones who do.

Enjoy your running.

With Loud stinky farts

All runners are different. I personally never liked chatting much after a race. I always found racing exhausting and a test of my physical limits. I'd offer a congrats and a wave but that's about it. It is not that I'd try to be unfriendly (I save that for the race) it is just that I'm tired. I always felt the people that were so cheerful after races probably should of raced harder.

For camaraderie maybe you could ask them when or where they train. Maybe you could join them on some workouts. Chances are they might not know you but wouldn't mind a new training partner. Some runners are fairly introverted and talking to strangers is not what they are good at. They only talk to their group because they are only comfortable around them. They may not be trying to be offensive. They just lack social skills.

Then again maybe they are jerks. Do you beat them? Hopefully you do. If they continue to be jerks maybe you should play games with them if you can beat them. There is the old sit and kick, runners hate that, especially if you talk to them during the race. Tell them little things like how tired you are, how you may not be able to hold the pace before you blow by them at the finish. Another good one is to ask about their training while in the race. Tell them their stride looks better or they look stronger, you know patronize them before you beat them. The last would be the slowly pick up the pace until they are at their breaking point and then stay there for awhile just for fun. Then finish them with a final surge.

Here’s a truth for you that many would prefer to deny:

If you’re a post-collegiate, non-professional runner who still structures your life around training and racing , it’s more than likely that you take yourself too seriously as an athlete.

It’s just a fact that many people who fall into this group (I.e. hardcore hobbyjoggers) are the sort who want to feel like big shots even though they’re just above-average hobbyjoggers.

So you get things like little cliques of local “elites” who validate each other’s hobbyjogging dedication and prowess. It just come with the territory.

sleeeper wrote:

They don't like getting beat by someone new they don't know. Keep being friendly, keep running well, and they'll either come around or you'll find the nice ones who do.

Enjoy your running.

That's like a teenage attitude. I'm not sure I want to be too friendly with adult men like that, even if they do come around. Maybe I'll just chat with the guys that aren't @#*$!.

And thanks, I always enjoy my running.

Most age group "elite" have full fledged narcissistic personality disorder combined with autism.

If a guy got third, just roll up like "Hey dude nice job you were the second loser! I'll bet you'll get first loser next time! "

Insecurity

sleeeper wrote:

They don't like getting beat by someone new they don't know. Keep being friendly, keep running well, and they'll either come around or you'll find the nice ones who do.

Enjoy your running.

This- they'll come around.

Top 5 isn't worth talking to for them....win or at least place a close 2nd and maybe you'll get some shine.

I thought all distance runners were on the autism spectrum.

Thanks for the response. At my age, I am just having fun out there, so I might be a little more cheerful than most people after a race. And LOL on the 3rd paragraph. I ain't that good. Yet.

This is true. But how else are we supposed to feel good about ourselves in this world? Seriously though, I'm back in this game because I like being in really good shape and challenging myself. Plus, it's benefiting other parts of my life.

By the time they come around, I'm be the one ignoring them! Haha!

Some people just aren't chatty. This doesn't make them bad people.

Most people that take running seriously have some sort of mental illness, mostly autism.

Ran another race today. Placed decently. Yep, they are still jerks.

Pralo wrote:

Here’s a truth for you that many would prefer to deny:

If you’re a post-collegiate, non-professional runner who still structures your life around training and racing , it’s more than likely that you take yourself too seriously as an athlete.

It’s just a fact that many people who fall into this group (I.e. hardcore hobbyjoggers) are the sort who want to feel like big shots even though they’re just above-average hobbyjoggers.

So you get things like little cliques of local “elites” who validate each other’s hobbyjogging dedication and prowess. It just come with the territory.

This +1000000.

Works like a bell curve.

Slower than 20 minute 5k and friendly. Gradually gets more douchey getting closer to 15 minutes and gets more friendly slowly until sub-13 where all is left is Kenyans and Ethiopians who won't stop messaging you or loving your statuses on Facebook because you talked to them for 5 minutes once.

Sounds you have experience with running sub-13. Please tell me your country of origin so I can guess who you are.

Seriously, I'm back in the game because I like challenging myself and I'm having fun with running for the first time in a long time. If people want to take it too seriously, be part of clique, and feel like big shots, I don't want to be a part of that. I'm trying to be a ray of sunshine, baby!

It totally is a bell curve! The worst offenders seem to be the 14:30–15:30 guys. The real elites, I’m talking Olympic-caliber athletes or at least USATF finalists, are by and large super friendly and down to earth. Foreigners are even more so! Local Yokel, if you’re anywhere around Chicago, I’ll run with you. If not, just keep running fast and being friendly.

All the fast friendly runners have already switched to the trails. You should give that a try.