My non-running friends and relatives are so hard to impress by anything I do in my running, in achievements or in training. To be clear: I don't do it for them, just a curious observation that I thought I'd share with you guys.
First, a year or two after I started running, is when people started asking me about running... like how much for example. I thought they would be impressed by sheer volume of kilometers. It turned out that this did not mean anything to them. Weekly or daily volume, no matter how I present it to them - they don't get it and don't seem to think it's a lot or anything special. And I run quite a lot of kilometers, at least I think it's a lot. Currently around 100-120 per week, with top weeks around 140. As for achievements in races, they are impressed only by position. Podium if it's a small race or top 10 if it's a bigger one.
I tried to explain them, but they still seem to not get how hard it is. It's a hard grind to actually get top positions even in a very small race with no prize money, let alone if they give like 50 bucks for the winner or something like that, then a lot more more serious people show up and you just don't have a chance then. And I'm not a lifetime athlete, I started this in my mid 30s with no other sport or activity before that.
I'm starting to think running is one of these sports where you have to practice it, or to be really invested in some other way to appreciate it. I don't know, maybe it's just that in my country running is not big at all and people just aren't aware of what times mean what, the training etc. What do you think? Do you have interesting stories? Please share.
It’s not impressive because no one dreams or aspires to be a runner. It’s like saying you are the top cashier at CVS.
My non-running friends and relatives are so hard to impress by anything I do in my running, in achievements or in training. To be clear: I don't do it for them, just a curious observation that I thought I'd share with you guys.
First, a year or two after I started running, is when people started asking me about running... like how much for example. I thought they would be impressed by sheer volume of kilometers. It turned out that this did not mean anything to them. Weekly or daily volume, no matter how I present it to them - they don't get it and don't seem to think it's a lot or anything special. And I run quite a lot of kilometers, at least I think it's a lot. Currently around 100-120 per week, with top weeks around 140. As for achievements in races, they are impressed only by position. Podium if it's a small race or top 10 if it's a bigger one.
I tried to explain them, but they still seem to not get how hard it is. It's a hard grind to actually get top positions even in a very small race with no prize money, let alone if they give like 50 bucks for the winner or something like that, then a lot more more serious people show up and you just don't have a chance then. And I'm not a lifetime athlete, I started this in my mid 30s with no other sport or activity before that.
I'm starting to think running is one of these sports where you have to practice it, or to be really invested in some other way to appreciate it. I don't know, maybe it's just that in my country running is not big at all and people just aren't aware of what times mean what, the training etc. What do you think? Do you have interesting stories? Please share.
It’s not impressive because no one dreams or aspires to be a runner. It’s like saying you are the top cashier at CVS.
The dedication and discipline. Think about how many people set New Year's Resolutions to get in better shape but never see it through past February. Most people are not able to set a long term fitness goal and stick to it. They are in awe of people who can.