Found this gem, thought you guys would enjoy

I think that you may be missing the point as to WHY we think this is funny/ridiculous.

It's not that it's wrong to take pride in your accomplishments, it's that they are engaging in showmanship to a greater degree than people literally two times faster. It shows an extreme lack of humility.

I'm all for positive reinforcement to accomplish personal goals, but the getting (and posting) of the tattoo is just too much. Certainly the tattooed marathon runner should be praised for turning his life around, but it seems insane to celebrate non-accomplishments.

Could you imagine people bragging on the internet about making $40k/year in finance and acting like they're the richest people out there? Or people making crappy fingerpaint pieces and posting it to forums about aspiring artists? Or how about people who can make 10 free throws in a row bragging on a forum about basketball? Or a student bragging about getting a 2.5 GPA in art history with a corresponding tattoo on a forum for students?

Maybe my expectations are too high for my fellow Americans, but I'm more in the habit of giving a pat on the back for progress, and reserving lavish praise for universally difficult accomplishments.

I don't think people should EVER be proud of mediocrity under ANY circumstances. This is what's wrong with America. We're too complacent with pretending that "everyone is a winner." Well, everyone isn't. If that offends one's sensibilities they can work harder.

Med School Runner wrote:

Could you imagine people bragging on the internet about making $40k/year in finance and acting like they're the richest people out there? Or people making crappy fingerpaint pieces and posting it to forums about aspiring artists? Or how about people who can make 10 free throws in a row bragging on a forum about basketball? Or a student bragging about getting a 2.5 GPA in art history with a corresponding tattoo on a forum for students?

You must not get around the 'net too much.

letsrun ahole.. wrote:

ALH359 wrote:http://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/o1vf1/after_starting_running_1_year_ago_from_not_being/

LMFAO!!

Oh god, the comments on that thread almost made me die of laughter

He probably shaved his entire body, including his scalp and coated his body with teflon to cut wind resistance for that P.R.!

These guys are clearly beginners without any raw talent, but from a competitive runner's perspective, there's still something tragically comical about a chap who just did a 28:40 for 5k saying he "killed it."

The fact that there are some people who think of being able to move along at 9 minutes per mile as having "speed" has always puzzled me. There was this one guy I knew who fancied himself a runner. He jogged 3 or 4 miles a couple of times a week and occasionally mustered up the courage to hop in a road race. Trouble was, he was not at all athletic. He wasn't truly FAT; he was just a bit gooey. Not quite Chris Griffin; more Bobby Hill or maybe Pugsley Addams. He was so lacking in muscle definition that he could have doubled as the Pillsbury Doughboy or its cinematic counterpart the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Anyway, I got word that he had done a 10k in 54 and change and mentioned to him that I had heard about his 54 for 10k. He then corrected me, admitting it was actually a 58-something, and said wistfully, "I think you're making me out to be a lot faster than I really am." This implied that he considered 58 for 10k to already have some element of "fast" in it, so a 54-something not only had to be described as fast-ER but "a lot" faster.

I love content like this as much as the the next guy (troll RW forums much?). However, for those who are getting a little ahead of themselves (taking this for more than a laugh), Reddit demographics:

"According to Google DoubleClick Ad Planner's estimate, the median U.S. Reddit user is male, 35–44 years of age, has some college education, and is making a middle-range income of $25,000 - $49,000 USD. The analysis also shows that the top audience interests of the site are development tools, scripting languages, and C and C++, suggesting a computer savvy demographic and culture."

So these are fat[ter], out of shape computer guys/gals who don't have much endurance-wise to begin with.

With that said, carry on.

The brilliant part is that, for the most part, reddit is really negative towards fat people. One guy posted his proposal, everyone said it was cute, then it turned out his fiance was a little chunky, everyone made fun of her.

I couldn't run a 15m 5k if I were on fire. Maybe a 25min by the end of the year. I think I get what you're saying, though. I try to remember I haven't even been running a year and a lot of folks have been running several years and many of them actually compete.

ROFL!

Maybe a 25 by the end of the year is possible. I couldn't run a 15:00 5k if I was on fire...

No shit sherlock. Ya think?

So I check out the reddit site after reading some of the LR comments. Definitely not going to get into the main discussion here.

However, I did sample the "find a song for your running pace button (jog.fm). Thought it was interesting that songs were suggested for running 3:36 mile pace.

For most fully grown men, 25 min is a reasonable 5k goal. First of all, most bigger dudes do not have much genetic potential for distance running. Second, anyone late to running and with a full time job and/or family is likely never going to be able to train to be really good.

Granted 25 min for 5K is not fast for a man but you are not going to see many total slobs running that time either. IMO it is a decent time. As far as I can tell 30 minutes seems to be the average adult 5K time, so 25 seems okay. I know it is hard for Letsrunners to grasp but sub 20 is extremely uncommon in the real world (post HS/college). You're talking maybe 5% of running men who enter 5ks, who are already a subset of the population.

As far as breaking 15 goes, that is limited to extremely gifted runners. The percentage of male population capable of this even under heavy training is absurdly low.

The problem here is Letsrunners somehow think running fast (like a 15 min 5k) is something most people can achieve if they work hard enough. Well that's about like saying everybody should be able to bench 400 just by lifting hard for a few years. I'd like to see the 120-140 pounders on here give that one a try.

I was going to pick up a pair of those Marathon 10's on clearance for under sixty bucks and now I just can't do it.

No, it's not that.

It's the guy stating clearly that he isn't yet a 25 min 5ker and then proceeding to say he couldn't run a 15:00 5k if he was on fire.

Which falls into the category of: well......duh.

The fact that he even feels compelled to say that shows how clueless he and/or the message board in general is.

"So what if their accomplishments are small?"

Nothing, but get a small tattoo. As another poster said: perspective.

My middle distance PRs are probably better than 99% of Letsrun posters and my age-graded road race PRs would probably put me amoung the top guys as well. Yet, I don't have a problem with whatever time a person runs in a race as long as they are trying.

I know 8 minute milers who take their running seriously, they are as dedicated as you can be when you have a full time job, a wife and family to support. The truth is, if you are a 50 year old business professional and family man, capable of running 8 minute miles, that's an accomplisment. The average 20 year old who considers themselves fast, will likely become an out of shape slob by age 50.

Go to the Penn Relays, Olympic Trials and look at who is in the stands, talk to an owner of a running speciality store, a road race director, a book writer, magazine owner like RW, Competitor and they will all tell you that our sport would collapse if it was not for those 8 minute milers you all seem to have distain for.

hahalolhaha wrote:

Are you kidding, did you not read these threads?! It's fracking hilarious!! He was talking about how his Five Fingers allowed him to break 30 minutes in the 5k!! How is that not funny? LOL!

Or how he broke his foot running in vibram FFs:

"Finally, yesterday, I went all out (literally, I strained my left foot a bit from not carrying good form at top speed, but it's feeling better today), and killed it."

So many people always miss the point.

Take Joe and Bob. Joe and Bob both make a commitment to getting healthier by EATING healthier.

Joe does a google search for some tips and healthy recipes which will help him change his eating habits and turn his life around. Joe begins to make frequent trips to the grocery store to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. He now cooks all his meals at home instead of eating out. He loses 30 pounds and now leads a happier life. His coworker Bill notices Joe's new lifestyle and compliments him for his new healthy way.

Bob does a google search for some tips and healthy recipes which will help him change his eating habits and turn his life around. Bob goes to the store and buys only healthy items. Bob photographs his shopping cart and posts to twitter #healthyeatsonly #stockingthefridge #shoppaholic. Bob cooks a healthy dish, of which he takes a photo and uploads to facebook #noredmeat. Bob starts a blog about his journey to start eating healthy. Bob makes a home-cooked meal AT LEAST 3 nights a week and blogs about each one (he now only eats out 3-4 nights a week MAX, fried chicken and pizza only occasionally). Bob goes on a shopping spree to buy all the fanciest cookware and accessories. Bob blogs his personal review of all his new cookware and how each item is helping him change his lifestyle. Bob begins to visit cooking forums and has an opinion on everything while encouraging everyone to check out his blog. Bob loses 30 pounds and tattoos "Chef Bob" on his arm. He constantly tells his coworker Bill how he changed his life around by eating healthy and tells Bill to check out his blog, except Bill had a lifestyle of dedicated healthy eating for as long as he could remember.

Joe and Bob both turned their lives around. Both became hobby-chefs and lost weight. Because of people like Bob and Joe, there are more people shopping than ever before. There can be more grocery stores with more employees, better selection and better deals. For this Bill is grateful and would never discourage Joe or Bob, but he admires Joe alot more for doing what he already does without advertising it to the world.

SCIENCE wrote:

hahalolhaha wrote:

Are you kidding, did you not read these threads?! It's fracking hilarious!! He was talking about how his Five Fingers allowed him to break 30 minutes in the 5k!! How is that not funny? LOL!

Or how he broke his foot running in vibram FFs:

"Finally, yesterday, I went all out (literally, I strained my left foot a bit from not carrying good form at top speed, but it's feeling better today), and killed it."

The term top speed should not be used at 10 min pace lol.

Its a better tattoo than Kasak's "2" on his shoulder...

As a previous poster has said mediocrity doesn't deserve praise, but neither does it deserve scorn. However, when you post online about how you "killed it" running 28:40 you add a perceived level of seriousness to your athlete endeavours. Therefore,you open yourself to judgment by those who are more serious than you. For all you college students out there it would be like someone bragging how they "killed" the final exam considering they only studied the night before, when really they got 60%. That is pathetic and that person should be told as such.

I would also like to point out that 28:40 on a treadmill for just about any middle-aged person who claims to be serious and to have given it their all is sad and most likely untrue. They obviously didn't give it their all and to say that they did is tantamount to lying. I have worked at a running store and the people who impressed me were the guys running 2:55 marathons while working 60-80 hours a week. They gave it their all considering the constraints they faced and those people should be congratulated. They shouldn't be praised however because 2:55 in the world of serious running is mediocre.

Those people who run 16-19min 5k's (men)aren't some superhuman athletes. They just work hard everyday. To see someone who doesn't work as hard try to pass off their accomplishments as just as significant is a punch to the gut.

tip your waitress wrote:

Thought it was interesting that songs were suggested for running 3:36 mile pace.

Can you run a 13.5 second 100? That's 3:36 mile pace. I can do that pretty easily.