Never seen fast runners overdressed, and logically, fast runners are more experienced, so you’d think they’d know how to dress for the occasion, not to mention faster running produces more heat, so less is better.
Here's Kipchoge on a sunny day (two layers of longsleeves, tights) with a couple hobbyjogger journalists (short sleeves)
That looks like an exceptional scenario where otherwise fast runners are going to be running slow, so they are likely to not be generating as much body heat to feel cozy, more like walking for them.
I can usually tell "That guy looks fast. I wonder who he is." as they stand out even from the corner of my eye.
* Always overdressed w.r.t. the weather
* Stride, relaxation level
* Body type
* Shoes, clothing
Never seen fast runners overdressed, and logically, fast runners are more experienced, so you’d think they’d know how to dress for the occasion, not to mention faster running produces more heat, so less is better.
Yeah, very weird observation. It's almost always the exact opposite as what Jamin says, they are usually appropriately dressed. It's the inexperienced runners who tend to overdress.
The real answer in my city/neighborhood is you just know who they are. It's a pretty small world of guys this board would consider "fast local runners."
I think the blatant overdressing like wearing a long sleeve in 70+ degrees is a Kenyan thing. I agree that most fast guys dress appropriately and boy do they love losing the shirts in hot weather. I do agree that wearing shorts the first time it hits 40 degrees is very much an epic-BQ-warrior move, as is crushing easy runs too fast and racing people who pass them on the path (though they would never admit to doing this).
Why are people ripping on the overdressing thing? I've seen Kenyans doing full track suits in 70 degree temps for an easy effort. They seem to be doing better than most white guys that break out the Tracksmith singlet and splitties once the temps hit 50 and go shirtless when it gets hot at 65. Of course, they also moan incessantly about having to wear a singlet on race day when it is 80.
Why are people ripping on the overdressing thing? I've seen Kenyans doing full track suits in 70 degree temps for an easy effort. They seem to be doing better than most white guys that break out the Tracksmith singlet and splitties once the temps hit 50 and go shirtless when it gets hot at 65. Of course, they also moan incessantly about having to wear a singlet on race day when it is 80.
They're not ripping on it, it's just not common among non-African serious runners.
I think the most obvious sign is that they are running fast but that's just me
not on their easy runs...
Fast runners tend to have an easy pace that is still, pretty fast.
Of course some like to do the Kenyan shuffle and run quite slow on easy days. Jamin's "overdressing" technique for spotting a fast runner may work here.
I’m with you on the overdressed aspect. Any of the elite African runners I’ve seen warming up for the boilermaker in NY always have full on sweatsuits even when it’s 90 out. I train with a pretty top notch marathoner and he always tells me he intentionally overdresses to slow himself down. Always thought is was an interesting theory.
Agree that faster runners normally wear more clothes than average runners on easy runs.
Faster runners have lower body fat levels, and less subcutaneous fat means less insulation from cool conditions. Faster runners have less overall body mass, so. and their bodies have high surface areas relative to their body mass, so they retain and lose exercise generated heat more easily than the average runner, Being able to dump heat easily is an advantage when running hard, but can be a disadvantage when running slow. Faster runners are fitter and more efficient than average runners, so they generate less heat at a given pace than slower runners.
On easy trail runs, including those on mountains, faster runners will tend to wear more clothing than average runners for all the reasons mentioned above.
If you see someone on a peak in shorts and a t shirt, you know they are fast only if they ran up there at a good effort (not an easy relaxed pace), or they are a novice taking chances with the weather and their ability to keep moving fast enough to stay warm.
My theory on overdressing on easy runs is that helps prevent you from going out too hard for an easy run, like you want to keep the pace easy so you don't end up getting soaked in sweat.
My heart rate and breathing would be in easy zone yet I still would be dripping sweat if it's >60°F.
The only thing that comes close for me is sometimes while doing ~7:40 pace on the boardwalk at the beach, a mid 50s guy will pass me doing 7:10 pace with the desire to say "good job, you're moving fast"—but it feels like a self-gratifying thing for the old dude to say, like he's actually saying "hey good job bud I'm running quicker than you but you're doing okay".
But it doesn't seem more ego driven than anything else—in fact it probably makes their day. Getting annoyed about it would be ego. Plus I will beat them by 3 minutes in the local 5k, it's not an ego thing.
The only thing that comes close for me is sometimes while doing ~7:40 pace on the boardwalk at the beach, a mid 50s guy will pass me doing 7:10 pace with the desire to say "good job, you're moving fast"—but it feels like a self-gratifying thing for the old dude to say, like he's actually saying "hey good job bud I'm running quicker than you but you're doing okay".
But it doesn't seem more ego driven than anything else—in fact it probably makes their day. Getting annoyed about it would be ego. Plus I will beat them by 3 minutes in the local 5k, it's not an ego thing.
What a random and entirely imaginary anecdote utterly irrelevant to the topic of the thread.
here are some ways to detect a competitive runner:
1) on hot days, they either wear short shorts or half tights (shorter if female)
2) on cold days, they either wear what they wear on hot days, or they also might wear either jogging pants or full length tights
3) they do not wear shorts that are around the knees that you typically see in PE class, gym, or the shorts that basketball players wear. these are filthy casual clothing
4) they either midfoot strike or forefoot strike
5) their footstep sound is either quiet or moderately quiet.
6) they have sort of watch with a timer on it
7) they don't look tired when they're on easy, long, or tempo runs
8) they don't jog slower than 8 minutes per mile
9) if they come up to a stop light, they just stand there until they can go. if you see them jogging in place, they're a casual.
10) they don't have big muscles. if they do, they're either jogging for general fitness and cardio, or they're some alan webb wannabe
