Why is it lame? I guarantee I ran faster than you did - Sub 4. I just never really liked it. Is it that strange?
It's lame because you took a spot that could have been given to someone who is passionate about the sport. Someone who looks forward to every day they have to run. That person would appreciate the opportunities you had far greater. That's why it is lame.
You remind me of my friend who runs D2. He hates running but continues to occupy a spot on the team while running mediocre times. He is an insufferable person to be around as well.
Edit - I'm glad running can at least boost your infatuated ego, Mr. Sub-4.
Grow up. Spots aren’t awarded based on passion or appreciation. You sound like a moron.
I’m the opposite. I love running and would have given just about anything back in the day to be able to do it professionally but I wasn’t even talented enough to run collegiately (I could barely break 5). In high school, I won the “hardest worker” award on my track team, which is a nice way of recognizing someone for their efforts rather than their accomplishments.
One of my saddest memories from high school is one day at the end of practice our coach gave a stern lecture to our team about discipline and diligence after he noticed people slacking during that day’s workout. He called out one guy in particular. He said: “If we could combine Michael’s talent with (my name)‘s work ethic, we’d have a state champion and future D1 runner.” I get that he meant it as a compliment to me, but it made me want to go home and cry.
I’m the opposite. I love running and would have given just about anything back in the day to be able to do it professionally but I wasn’t even talented enough to run collegiately (I could barely break 5). In high school, I won the “hardest worker” award on my track team, which is a nice way of recognizing someone for their efforts rather than their accomplishments.
One of my saddest memories from high school is one day at the end of practice our coach gave a stern lecture to our team about discipline and diligence after he noticed people slacking during that day’s workout. He called out one guy in particular. He said: “If we could combine Michael’s talent with (my name)‘s work ethic, we’d have a state champion and future D1 runner.” I get that he meant it as a compliment to me, but it made me want to go home and cry.
The fact that "wasn't even talented enough to run in college" is said here is a sign of just how skewed the perception of an average runner is on this site. If you're running in college you have above average talent. I'd say that's the case even at lower level college teams.
Trust me, I know that. Anyone good enough to run in college has a lot of talent. I wish I did! My statement about college was in comparison to pros not the masses.
Grow up. Spots aren’t awarded based on passion or appreciation. You sound like a moron.
No shlt they aren't awarded based on passion. However the person being offered the spot is not obligated to take it. I would not take a spot for a sport I have no passion for.
I was similar, ran for a P5 school, ran 3:50 for 1500. And sure those spring days where you click off the miles effortlessly with your boys we're great, fun runs and I look back incredibly fondly. But running itself isn't something I particularly liked then or now. I loved racing though, so I ran a lot and took everything serious while I was training. After college the effort to reward didn't seem like it would work for me, so I don't run anymore. Turns out skiing is way more fun than training, so I feel like I made the right call there.
I ran on scholarship at a power 5 school. I've never really liked running. I did it mainly because I was good at it. Are any people out there that feel the same way.
I am a fan of the sport. I watch meets. I follow results. I've just personally not found any enjoyment in the actual running.
For all intents and purposes, it was a job. I gotta ask though: Were there any instances where you did find enjoyment (from the social and/or meditative aspect at least) in the actual running, or was it always a completely soulless endeavor?
I ran on scholarship at a power 5 school. I've never really liked running. I did it mainly because I was good at it. Are any people out there that feel the same way.
I am a fan of the sport. I watch meets. I follow results. I've just personally not found any enjoyment in the actual running.
Of course you can feel however you like. However, I have never understood how someone can be really good at something (and you definitely are if you ran sub 4:00) and for some reason not want to do it. I mean, I tell my athletes that if they’re really really lucky in life they have maybe two things they’re better at than most people. In most everything else we’re muddling through just to be average. They owe it to themselves to pursue what they excel at.
Think about it this way. It’s possible that most people are not as good at anything in life as you are at running. This doesn’t mean you need to run 80 miles a week. But I would argue that you owe it to yourself to do it regularly for as long as you can, and maybe teach others.
I don’t like this take.
you want the talented person to pursue it more than they themselves do.
we don’t always want to do what we’re best at. A guy might want to play wide receiver when he should be a defender.
Someone who wants to act might be a better writer.
A doctor might want to be a brain surgeon but she’d be a much better foot surgeon or pediatric specialist.
a brilliant non-fiction writer might aspire to be a creative writer.
Whitney Houston and countless other super talented musicians and artists couldn’t find happiness in something they were elite at.
Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, and Michael Jordan- guys that could be considered all-timers, wanted to play other sports.
there’s a great scene in Goodwill Hunting where the professor is trying to get Matt Damon to love math but it’s boring and easy to him.
I think overachiever distance runner personalities can understand devoting time to a challenge versus something that comes naturally and isn’t super engaging.
there’s a great scene in Goodwill Hunting where the professor is trying to get Matt Damon to love math but it’s boring and easy to him.
It’s a stupid movie is all. Janitor characters like Matt Daemon’s who casually iron out graduate math challenge problems at MIT without any formal training just don’t exist.
Also math is boring to many but isn’t easy for anyone. Anyone who things it’s too easy can simply go for the many longstanding unsolved problems in math. There’s harder math than their abilities flex for every single person in the world.
Wow. Congrats on sub4. I ran in college. Not nearly as fast as you! Was able to crack 4:20. Looking back, running was a dopamine hit. I think a lot of us our competitive by nature and the path of least resistance is to participate in something youre good at. I do believe people out there truly like running as a passion. I cant fathom going out for a fun 3 mile run every now and then but I also know im never hitting PRs again. I liked coaching a lot more haha.
I ran on scholarship at a power 5 school. I've never really liked running. I did it mainly because I was good at it. Are any people out there that feel the same way.
I am a fan of the sport. I watch meets. I follow results. I've just personally not found any enjoyment in the actual running.
For all intents and purposes, it was a job. I gotta ask though: Were there any instances where you did find enjoyment (from the social and/or meditative aspect at least) in the actual running, or was it always a completely soulless endeavor?
I wouldn't call it soulless. Of course I enjoyed the things that come with participating in sport. I enjoyed the comradery of my teammates, I made lifelong friends. I enjoyed competition/being good at something and the accolades that came with it. Those are the things that kept me interested, and why I ran for as long as I did.
The daily miles never did it for me. As you say, it felt like a job.
I hate banging my head against a wall but if someone gave me a scholarship to do that you'd better believe my head is hitting wall. Sub 4 I'm assuming full-ride.
If there was no money involved, maybe this seems weird (go do something else).
That said, we should be thanking the man for raising the quality of competition despite not finding enjoyment in it.
Everyone's experience is different. Teammates and coaches can suck the joy out of the sport, or make you want to peruse it the rest of your life.
Also if you compete at a high level, once you are done often you are just "done".
You aren't associating running with fun runs through the trails, it's about making the cut to get into the next big meet, keeping a scholarship/sponsor, watching your weight and food like crazy, and the never ending worry of some niggling injury turning into something worse.