What's your default answer for "so do you run?"

Holiday Inn Expert wrote:

"I qualified for the Boston Marathon. How are those overpriced, color-themed, untimed 5k shuffle runs treating you?"

lol how is running 7:00+ pace impressive? Any hobby jogger with a speck of talent can get into Boston.

"Yes, and damn fast too."

Small Town wrote:

"I used to run a lot more in HS and college but now I just have delusions of a track comeback"

Oooh I love this question. I always try to get the following points across in my answer:

1. I used to run a lot in high school and college and I was a pretty big deal back then

2. I got injured, which derailed my plans to train full time for the olympics

3. These days I run "just to keep in shape", but I'm still "pretty fast"

4. Optional: My PRs. Here it depends on whether the questioner might know what a fast time is. Sometimes I just tell em I run once or twice a day. Or if I can get away with it, "around 100 miles" each week.

After this exciting conversation I needle the questioner about their running, because I think its important to establish that I am probably faster and better.

Finally, I talk about my favorite letsrun threads. Just to send the signal that I take running seriously.

Better question: what's your default answer for "wow, I'll bet you've run a lot of marathons."

Nobody gives a s*** about running. It seldom comes up, and it's best to not say much when it does.

i often get asked my marathon time, but wish I was asked for my 5k time. maybe that's why runners migrate to the marathon. to show off.

I don't know why, but sometimes when people I'm just meeting (or someone I haven't seen or kept in touch with for a long time) ask me about my running I feel the urge to downplay how seriously I take it.

This image gets harder to maintain though if they start asking follow-up questions like, how much I run or what I do for a living.

Kind of hard to say I run 100 miles a week and work for a running website without it sounding like it's my life ... which is more or less is.

Yes. Hey, your wife is hot!

I say yes, and may mention a race I recently did or am going to do. If they ask why, I usually mention the challenge and joy that running brings. Most times people are just making conversation, are curious, or sometimes they want to become more active.

"I used to run. Now I jog."

I usually just say, "I dabble in it" and change the subject.

In reality, I'm somewhat decent, I run 90-100 miles a week pretty consistently when I'm training hard. (60-70 otherwise). Run pretty consistent on the roads 31:00 +/- 15:00 +/- and 1:06 +/-

I just don't want to bring it up at my job. It leads to silly follow up questions and I'd rather talk about working without seeming like I'm bragging about non-meaningful (to those besides me) running accolades.

"only when chased"

Ive never been asked that question, and I cant imagine a situation where I would be.

So us 'serious runners' are supposed to have some smug answer to a conversation starter?

Get over yourselves. In the running world you are complete nobodies.

My answer it always "Yes, a little."

Yes. Good for getting ideas.

Bring Back the 880 wrote:

You might not know it to look at me, but I can run really, really fast!

Alternately: "I choose not to run."

seinfeld is funny

I've had pretty close to this conversation like 50 times:

"Do you run?"

"Yep, I run competitively"

"What does that mean?"

"I have a coach, I train every day, I enter races."

"Like you run marathons?"

"No, my best distances are mile, half mile. I'm impressed by marathoners, I would never want to run that far. I like the short fast stuff."

"Where can you run that?"

"College meets often let you enter if you're competitive. Sometimes there are meets for unattached runners. It's fun."

"What is your mile time?"

"Right now I'm injured but last spring I ran 4:17"

"That's ridiculously fast"

"It's pretty good for my age, but I'm middle of the pack with the college kids"

"Neat"

Maybe I have no intentions of entering anymore marathons after running Boston. Maybe I got over having to monitor my diet on a daily basis so that I can shave 5s of my 5k time. Maybe I have a job that requires that I'm on my feet constantly. Or maybe I trained for 1 marathon just to see what my limits were.

Grow up, dude.

Anyone with an internet connection, computer screen, keyboard, vision, and use of their extensor muscles can post on this website. Looks like you're on of those people.