It's all about the selfies and Facebook likes.
It's all about the selfies and Facebook likes.
Would you rather play putt-putt or Pebble Beach?
It's as if your co-worker came in and said that he shot an 80 at the local golf course and then you chimed in and said you scored a 25 on a putt-putt course.
duffer wrote:
Would you rather play putt-putt or Pebble Beach?
It's as if your co-worker came in and said that he shot an 80 at the local golf course and then you chimed in and said you scored a 25 on a putt-putt course.
I'd rather play putt putt and have pebble beach closed to use for an xc course, thank you very much.
check the stats wrote:
Faulty assumption.
More people compete in 5Ks, 10Ks, and even half marathons than marathons.
Sure, but we've probably all met people who only run marathons and turn up their noses at 5ks because they're "too easy". These people are invariably very, very slow.
Its the difference between "can you complete..." and "how fast can you run...".
I've never run a marathon. I could train for it, and I will at some point. But I know that without training for it I wouldn't be able to run it as fast as I could and there is a distinct possibility of DNF'ing if I was told I had to run one this weekend.
But before I started running (irrespective of speed) I knew I could complete a 5k distance, and probably a 10k, and with a bit of run-walking a half marathon with no risk of a DNF. It wouldn't be pretty, but I'd get round. I even said as much to colleagues who were taking part in half marathons at the time before I started running.
Now I may only be "hobby jogger" speed (67 mins 10mile, 89mins half, aged 43), but I know that I have put in "some" training and I know also that I've run those as fast and as hard as I could. I am a hobby runner. I know I could easily add some distance and in a few weeks time get myself ready to jog around 26.2 miles in under 4 hours. But I'm not going to do that. When I do come to train for a marathon, I'll put in as much training as my private life / work balance lets me, hope to remain uninjured, and hobby-run it to about 3hrs10 or perhaps a little faster. Yes, I'll be doing it to see if I can complete it, but I'll mainly be doing it to see how fast I can run it. And I'll do it a few more times until I've proven to myself how fast I can run it.
I'll venture a guess... Because, like most everyone else, they're suckers for advertising, and need to justify purchasing a bunch of useless $hit like compression socks, fuel belts, Garmins, and $98 reflective lululemon running shorts? Besides, bigger is better. Seriously, no one ever needed a Hummer, but boy did they sell.
narcissism wrote:
It's all about the selfies and Facebook likes.
This. And social media in general. You don't see much of it here (too cynical, plus there are a number of world and national class runners here and everyone knows it), but it's a total popularity contest at some other sites.
It's a simple formula really... And a lot of posters have touched on it already. It boils down to two factors. 1) the bling ( and the accolades) because everyone is a winner and should be applauded just for showing up. I finished and that was the goal, never mind that it is supposed to be a race. Age group placement, age graded scores, qualifying times all mean nothing to the "finisher". To most uninformed people they have accomplished something noteworthy. 2) Too much work, and competition. Building speed is much more difficult over longer distances than just keeping going. Too much work means quit or don't try to most Americans. Then there is the lack of overt reward.... So what if I train and improve vastly, if I still don't win medals no one will see me as successful. Therefore why bother. I applaud the average and new to running people for being active and hopefully healthier, but stop craving adoration and support from everyone on facebook just for participating. I can't think of another sport or activity where someone who finishes worse than half of all competitors celebrates their mediocrity so much.
Sterling Cooper wrote:
I'll venture a guess... Because, like most everyone else, they're suckers for advertising, and need to justify purchasing a bunch of useless $hit like compression socks, fuel belts, Garmins, and $98 reflective lululemon running shorts? Besides, bigger is better. Seriously, no one ever needed a Hummer, but boy did they sell.
do you honestly think the medal, or buying marathon gear is the original goal? I personally don't, but you can bet most to expect the medal and buy the gear after they run one. I think the initial goal is of the challenge itself. they have probably done 5k and 10k races, maybe even a half first. This is the next logical distance.
For those that came to the sport for different motivations than competitive HS and College runners, the challenges of finishing would be the primary motivation. And frankly, there's not much wrong with that. You can't complain that people are fat and lazy and won't get off their couch and then complain when they do because they have different goals and motivation than you do. The marathon is a recognizable distance and really the longest (for the most part) on the roads. There is a history behind the marathon, they read stories of friends/family doing it and they take their own shot at it. Personally, I think it's great.
Who are these hoards of people celebrating 5 hour hobby joggers over the 15 minute 5kers (not that either is particularly special)? And why are you hanging out in the runners world forum anyway?
Same problem with liberals, no real understanding.
Ted Underhill wrote:
You can't complain that people are fat and lazy and won't get off their couch and then complain when they do because they have different goals and motivation than you do.
And still, far too many LRC posters do just that. Inexplicable behavior.
Because we pimp the marathon in Runners World. And people love taking selfies with me at race expos.
show me the proof wrote:
And why are you hanging out in the runners world forum anyway?
Because that's where we read that this is a good place to troll!
Used to be Rono wrote:
Ted Underhill wrote:You can't complain that people are fat and lazy and won't get off their couch and then complain when they do because they have different goals and motivation than you do.
And still, far too many LRC posters do just that. Inexplicable behavior.
Thank you!
Can we drop the term "hobby jogger" as a pejorative? 99.99% of the runners in the world are hobby joggers, most likely every person who has posted in this thread.
big pig wrote:
Used to be Rono wrote:And still, far too many LRC posters do just that. Inexplicable behavior.
Thank you!
Can we drop the term "hobby jogger" as a pejorative? 99.99% of the runners in the world are hobby joggers, most likely every person who has posted in this thread.
Jogging starts at 8 or so min per mile. If your 5K or 10K paced are in that range or slower you are a jogger. The hobby part is more subjective and variable, so to each their own on that.
big pig wrote:
Thank you!
Can we drop the term "hobby jogger" as a pejorative? 99.99% of the runners in the world are hobby joggers, most likely every person who has posted in this thread.
If you think it's 1) pejorative and 2) describes everyone in this thread, that reveals more about you and your own hateful attitude toward strangers.
Hobbyjogger is not a pejorative, it's a useful descriptor of those more interested in participating than racing. And no most likely everyone in this thread is not a hobby jogger.
nothing wrong with jogging wrote:
Hobbyjogger is not a pejorative, it's a useful descriptor of those more interested in participating than racing. And no most likely everyone in this thread is not a hobby jogger.
Oh please... stop. Just stop.
Sylvan rock runner wrote:
big pig wrote:Thank you!
Can we drop the term "hobby jogger" as a pejorative? 99.99% of the runners in the world are hobby joggers, most likely every person who has posted in this thread.
Jogging starts at 8 or so min per mile. If your 5K or 10K paced are in that range or slower you are a jogger. The hobby part is more subjective and variable, so to each their own on that.
No. Anyone who doesn't get paid to run is a hobby jogger.
confused carlton wrote:
What's wrong with 10ks?
Why are you so obsessed with what others do that likely have no impact upon you?