Bad runners who train as if they have talent (pseudo-runners).

Fat Boy wrote:

I've seen many such people as this, wasting their whole lives running when they have little talent. Of course, part of it is addictive. That's one answer. So why should anyone care? It's their life. The problem is that we are seldom so insulated in our lives that what we do doesn't affect anyone else. I've seen guys throw away their marriages, kids dirty and dressed in rags while they're out getting in that second or third run of the day. How about getting a second job and taking care of your kids? It's disgusting. If you're not making money running then it's a hobby. I could go to the WMA championships, maybe even take the gold. Why don't I? Because I have a life and that medal and a few bucks might buy me a cup of coffee. I can't even say it's healthy, an old guy like me training at that level. I don't believe it is.

Fat Boy wrote:

I've seen many such people as this, wasting their whole lives running when they have little talent. Of course, part of it is addictive. That's one answer. So why should anyone care? It's their life. The problem is that we are seldom so insulated in our lives that what we do doesn't affect anyone else. I've seen guys throw away their marriages, kids dirty and dressed in rags while they're out getting in that second or third run of the day. How about getting a second job and taking care of your kids? It's disgusting. If you're not making money running then it's a hobby. I could go to the WMA championships, maybe even take the gold. Why don't I? Because I have a life and that medal and a few bucks might buy me a cup of coffee. I can't even say it's healthy, an old guy like me training at that level. I don't believe it is.

bananas covered in mustard wrote:

OK, what on Earth is the deal with this? I can understand running 60-70 mpw if you have a bit of talent in your bones, but for someone who KNOWS that their genetic potential is limited, isn't it a bit offensive to talented runners to pour endless hours into a knowingly meaningless enterprise? Gifted runners haven't gotten there by fluke -- there have been hours, and hours, weeks and weeks of long, brutal workouts that have gotten them to that point (i.e. HARD WORK!). You can't expect to be taken seriously as a runner if you don't have the biological goods to back it up to begin with. I see this commonly in the corridor. You poke your head out to see the next pack surfing by, and there's always that one lone one off by themselves, praising themselves that they have the goods when the definitely don't. I don't even both to open the door to them.

So yes, train hard if you have the talent, otherwise, be content that it's a hobby.

damned if you do wrote:

Fat Boy wrote:

I've seen many such people as this, wasting their whole lives running when they have little talent. Of course, part of it is addictive. That's one answer. So why should anyone care? It's their life. The problem is that we are seldom so insulated in our lives that what we do doesn't affect anyone else. I've seen guys throw away their marriages, kids dirty and dressed in rags while they're out getting in that second or third run of the day. How about getting a second job and taking care of your kids? It's disgusting. If you're not making money running then it's a hobby. I could go to the WMA championships, maybe even take the gold. Why don't I? Because I have a life and that medal and a few bucks might buy me a cup of coffee. I can't even say it's healthy, an old guy like me training at that level. I don't believe it is.

What is your definition of little talent?

Say anyone slower than 14:30 for 5K has no talent and little prospects to make a living, so at 21 or 22 they should stop (okay to jog 3X a week for 30 minutes but anymore is an excess?), get a good white collar job, point your plastic finger, judge others, vote republican/anti evolution/anti-science, go to church on Sunday, and do it missionary style and for procreative purposes?

Anything else oh Fat One?