I cursed out a runner shortcutting in a race. Did I overreact?

Abbie Norml wrote:

You don't know how to race. Just surge and slow down until you break them or they have had enough and decide to take the lead. You let him get in your head. Or if you have a strong kick, run away from him at the end or go with him and kick past him.

I neglected to mention in my first post that I knew who this guy was (although I didn't know him personally), and he was WAY faster than me. At the time I was in 16:30 shape and he was coming off a 15:10 or something like that. I knew he would blow by me, but was pissed that he was drafting. I know how to race, but because it was a small-time 5k fun run two weeks before Christmas, I saw it as more of a workout than a proper race, so I asked him to move up next to me. Since he didn't comply, I got pissed and whacked him in the chest.

Long story short, a much faster master's runner drafts off an 18 year old. Kid asks politely to share the pacing since this is the most unimportant race of the year. Old timer does not reply, and kid reacts.

I always thought 18 yr. old males are supposed to have raging hormones that are reflected in poor impulse control and higher incidences of irrational physical aggression.

You were just polite and allowed him to run into your elbow when you slowed down. Why did you feel the need to be so mature asnd rational about the whole thing? Most 18 yr. old males have reduced impulse control and judgement. They would have whacked him good.

I guess you did the mature thing.

In the 2001 Lakeside 5k in East hampton Ct I started the race behind a college kid. I was 41 then, about 3/4 mile in the kid lets out a slow deliberate spit that floed back and into my face - payment for drafting.

I had a surge of anger, being a highly trained martial artist, and former professional kickboxer I thought momentarily about tearing him to the ground and smahing his face in! But discretion being the better part of valor I did nothing.

I finished the race in third place and still have the masters course record.

The alternative would have been being finished behind bars.

In the Ocean State Marathon november 2000 I reached half way and decided that no one else would pass me for the second half of the race. two guys tried, when they pulled up along side me I screamed out "Come on Mother Fkr, You want some of this!" as I surged ahead . I dropped both of them. The fans went crazy and cheered when I did this, sort of like a prize fight race.

No one passed me and I qualified for Boston.

ah uh ok wrote:

Wow, are you guys for real? Relax.

To the poster above me, there is a good chance you'll end up in jail with that temper...

Too late. It's hard wired. The capacities for emotional regulation are set and defined in the first 5 or so years of life.

Basically, these guys are f***ed.

These "I was so tough and be careful of me because of my fierce temper" posts are so funny. Do you get the idea that the posters might be embellishing a wee bit?

Anyway I hope they were embellishing because if they really did act that way it would be sad.

(The last thing these "bad boys" would want to hear is that they acted maturely and respectfully.)

1) Did you overreact? Yes.

2) Was he a cheater? Yes.

3) What should you have done? Simply said to him after the race, "You know, cutting the corners like you did is cheating. You are a cheater. Hope you sleep well at night." And then you walk away. The yelling and swearing and calling him names other than 'cheater' is too much.

Arkman wrote:

After the race I approached him and asked him why he cut and he would not answer me and walked away in a huff.

What did you expect him to say? "I was late for breakfast."? "My wife is expecting and I need to take her to the hospital."? "I am sorry, but I wanted to win."?

Just what kind of an answer would have satisfied you?

whats the point wrote:

Arkman wrote:

After the race I approached him and asked him why he cut and he would not answer me and walked away in a huff.

What did you expect him to say? "I was late for breakfast."? "My wife is expecting and I need to take her to the hospital."? "I am sorry, but I wanted to win."?

Just what kind of an answer would have satisfied you?

He was right to call him out though. Otherwise what's the point of racing somebody?