When did you realize you were one of "those" runners?

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8 years ago 07/09/2017 2:57am EDT

re: Yyyjjjujujujjjj

Took up running to lose weight. Ran a bit faster than expected. Enjoyed it. Set higher goals. Read more to find out how to improve to beat said higher goals. You're naturally going take anything more seriously if you want to keep improving.

Before you know it, you're going home in a bad mood because you were a few seconds down on your target in a local 10k.

Law of diminshing returns, injuries and realising I was 'one of those' runners all played a part in me giving up races, and just running into work for my health.

Then I watched old track club friends run a marathon and get a kick out of the times they finished in. All hobby joggers, split shorts, flats type of runners too. There didn't seem anything negative about it. I wished I was racing too. So now I'm back to chasing PRs that nobody but me will ever care about, and enjoying it.

8 years ago 07/09/2017 7:21am EDT

re: Now a Weird Runner

Why don't you look for a more competitive race. If you can win the local thing in 1605, run a race where you won't be top 10 if you run 1530. You'll find a lot of other people like yourself at those.

8 years ago 07/09/2017 7:50am EDT

re: Now a Weird Runner

Why not find some faster races? I live in the outskirts of a large city where you can find multiple races every weekend. Depending on which ones you choose, you can pull off an easy win or you can race all kinds of ex-college runners who still like to compete. It sounds like you would fit right in with the latter and probably would enjoy socializing with them afterward too. Does the no wife/no kids thing bother you? If you're taking running so seriously that it's preventing a social life then maybe you should shift your focus a little. I'm also 34 and meeting women online still feels a little taboo for my generation but if I were single I'd strongly consider it. The internet is a gold mine for people seeking each other out and you have something you're passionate about (running) which is an attractive quality. Maybe you can meet someone who likes to go to these races with you.

8 years ago 07/09/2017 7:54am EDT

re: Now a Weird Runner

I thought the 56 year old was banging on the table saying that he was going to go home and train harder and come back next year in the race and pound that Kenyan woman who beat him.

8 years ago 07/09/2017 11:30am EDT

re: Randy Herard

Randy Herard wrote:
We eyeball f*** each other during warm ups.

Either you don't know what that expression means, or you're one creepy guy to do that to a high schooler.

8 years ago 07/09/2017 4:33pm EDT

re: Yyyjjjujujujjjj

get a bicycle. If you don't get hit by a car, your body will thank you. You will also enjoy the after ride drinks at the pub.

At 16 minute 5 k, you will not be leaving anything on the athletic table. And you might find that you have some greater ability than the cyclists

8 years ago 07/09/2017 5:23pm EDT

re: Now a Weird Runner

I was one of "those" runners and knew it when I was in 5th grade.

I've always been a loner who follows his own path.

That being said, if I was living in my parents basement in my 30s or 40s playing XBOX all day long and still a virgin, I would take one bullet to the head.

8 years ago 07/09/2017 5:53pm EDT

re: Make me get fast

Make me get fast wrote:
.just need to race my best on any given day, and let the chips fall where they may.

if your chip falls then you won't have any time record at all, unless it falls on mike rossi.

8 years ago 07/09/2017 7:49pm EDT

re: Lock Wood

Lock Wood wrote:
That's Great! Thanks for posting!

Seriously man, you have been doing this for years and not once have I ever seen it "work," as in, ending the thread or whatever it is you are trying to achieve.

It must be frustrating, and I find it quite disturbing that you continue doing this in any thread and it doesn't please you, because it accomplishes nothing. It's just a blip that nobody cares about on a page of the message board.

8 years ago 07/09/2017 7:57pm EDT

re: First Time Old Man

First Time Old Man wrote:
Ghost of Igloi wrote:
Wait till you are 66, battling a 12 year old in a 1500m race at a summer all comers track meet. No banana, no awards and no other people with gray hair.
When I was only in my late 40's, I did run a 3200 at the last minute at a summer all comers track meet. I only did it because I was there with my daughter who was running a 1600 in her first track meet and because there were older men running in the 3200. I was in the middle of the 3200 when I hear a woman screaming 6 feet from me "beat that old man". I look around and see her son behind me. He looked like a middle school runner and realized I was the "old man". That was the first time and only time someone called me an old man in front of me. The other disappointment is I looked behind me at the finish line to see all the runners I passed finish their races. I saw few. I thought either they or I miscounted laps. Then I realized that at least some of them dropped out of the race because they did not know how to pace a 3200m race.

Reminds me of a race about a decade ago. About mid way a man shouts out to me "first grey haired guy." It would be "white haired guy" today.

Igy

8 years ago 07/09/2017 10:41pm EDT

re: Villanova alum

Yeah, those results were from the USATF Masters 5k Road Champs, held every October in Syracuse, NY.

http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2017/USATF-Masters-5-km-Championships.aspx

8 years ago 07/09/2017 10:42pm EDT

re: What's your motive?

What's your motive? wrote:
Lock Wood wrote:
That's Great! Thanks for posting!
Seriously man, you have been doing this for years and not once have I ever seen it "work," as in, ending the thread or whatever it is you are trying to achieve.
It must be frustrating, and I find it quite disturbing that you continue doing this in any thread and it doesn't please you, because it accomplishes nothing. It's just a blip that nobody cares about on a page of the message board.

How do you know it doesn't please him ?

If someone laughs , it accomplishes something .

You disturb me .

It humors me !

Carry on !

7 years ago 06/06/2018 4:24pm EDT

re: chilhowee

I guess the National Masters Championships isn't very well-advertised or something. Clearly there are dozens, if not over a hundred more than just three 50-55 year old men in the USA who can break 16 in the country. The rest of these times are equally suspect. Only three sub-17 runners from 55-59? This list is useless.

chilhowee wrote:
Check it out man. If you're still rollin' when you hit 40, you can join the USATF and go to events and try to keep up with these guys. I'm sure they'll be glad to talk strategy and running, among other things.
USATF NATIONAL MASTERS MEN'S AGE GROUP: 50 - 54
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLACE NAME AGE TIME RESIDENCE ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Kristian Blaich 50 15:49 Decatur GA
2 Carl Combs 51 15:55 Cheney WA
3 Nat Larson 54 15:57 Amherst MA
4 Robert Arsenault 50 16:08 Riverside CA
5 Michael Kent 51 16:23 Conklin Forks NY
6 Francis Burdett 51 16:37 Worcester MA
7 John Stadtlander 51 17:03 Clifton Park NY
8 Ron Lombardi 52 17:05 Southington CT
9 Ryan Mitchell 50 17:11 Troy NY
10 Michael Strickland 50 17:15 Marietta GA
11 Jeff Haertel 54 17:18 Atlanta GA
12 Alan Evans 53 17:18 Beaver Dams NY
13 Ruben Henderson, Jr. 54 17:20 Grand Rapids MI
14 Mike Nier 51 17:23 Rochester NY
15 Dale Flanders 51 17:37 Allegany NY
16 Jeffrey Brison 52 17:46 Schenectady NY
17 Dan Arsenault 53 17:53 Santa Ana CA
18 John Van Kerkhove 54 17:55 Rochester NY
19 Jorge Lopes 53 17:58 Linden NJ
USATF NATIONAL MASTERS MEN'S AGE GROUP: 55 - 59
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLACE NAME AGE TIME RESIDENCE ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Dave Bussard 56 16:55 Elkhart IN
2 Kerry Barnett 56 16:56 Keego Harbor MI
3 Casey Carlstrom 57 16:59 Ithaca NY
4 Fred Zalokar 56 17:15 Reno NV
5 Gary Droze 55 17:16 Tallahassee FL
6 Matt Ebiner 55 17:19 Covina CA
7 Joseph Mora, III 55 17:21 Fayetteville NY
8 William Enicks, Iv 57 17:24 Signal Mountain TN
9 Charlie Andrews 59 17:31 Rochester NY
10 Derrick Staley 57 17:44 Ballston Lake NY
USATF NATIONAL MASTERS MEN'S AGE GROUP: 60 - 64
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLACE NAME AGE TIME RESIDENCE ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Brian Pilcher 60 16:39 Ross CA
2 Tom Ryan 60 18:14 Johnson City NY
3 Kyle Hubbart 60 18:21 Broomfield CO
4 Brian Cummins 61 18:50 Cortland NY
5 Mark Rybinski 61 18:58 Manlius NY
6 John Holcomb 62 19:05 Pacific Palisades CA
USATF NATIONAL MASTERS MEN'S AGE GROUP: 65 - 69
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLACE NAME AGE TIME RESIDENCE ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Tom Bernhard 65 17:32 Castro Valley CA
2 Peter Mullin 65 18:16 Houston TX
3 Doug Bell 65 18:31 Greeley CO
4 Kirk Larson 65 19:27 Atlanta GA
5 Bob Giambalvo 67 19:31 Delhi NY
USATF NATIONAL MASTERS MEN'S AGE GROUP: 70 - 74
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLACE NAME AGE TIME RESIDENCE ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Gary Patton 70 20:03 Rock Rapids IA
2 Dave Glass 70 20:16 Glenville NY
3 Jim May 70 20:55 Williamson NY

7 years ago 06/06/2018 4:38pm EDT

re: Now a Weird Runner

I used to do some stuff like that. Emailed race directors how disappointed I was that the 10k was way short. Emailed the RD that I was mad that last year's Jingle Bell 5k winner received 100 dollar gift card and me, this year's winner, received nothing. I go to races when my wife and kids are still sleeping, collect my award to one or two obligatory claps, sometimes waiting around over an hour, hoping they would just announce the names a little faster so I can just collect another stupid medal, and then go home. I'm ind of over the petty stuff now. I can figure out which races are more concerned with raising charity money and costume contests than actual racing, and those are the ones that are more organized and competitive.

I did go off on the LA Marathon though, Their website map showed aid stations in way different spots than their official program map. Their website actually had 2 different aid station maps, and when I tried calling someone they didn't know and didn't seem to care. I thought that was a pretty important thing to just be blown off, no way the BAA would not have answers. BUt yea sometimes I guess I take this stuff too seriously, more than I should, but IMO if you put on a race, assume that some people actually care about things like, winning, pr's, bq's prize money, course accuracy, etc, and not just dressing up and the post race festivities.

7 years ago 06/06/2018 5:04pm EDT

re: Lone Wolff

Lone Wolff wrote:
I ran my last race in 2013 and it was a local 5k.
I was 5 or 6 years out of college at this point and wanted to try and put together some solid training and get back to racing (I had run a 2:30 marathon a year prior to this).
I won the race and was sitting around alone afterwards and kind of just watched people after the race socializing.
People were having fun and I was sitting around, disappointed with my time and thinking about how I should head out for a 4 miler or something when I get home - "to get some mileage in".
It was a poignant moment because I realized that my running had changed and I was chasing the past or at least trying to live in it.
I stopped training after the race and now only run 3-4 miles a couple times a week.

7 years ago 06/06/2018 5:18pm EDT

re: FFF

I was a few years out of college, and on some weird 10-day schedule. It was early April in the midwest, cold as crap like it often seems to be, and I had a Sunday morning workout of 8x400 with 200 jogs. I was warming up on this high school track, and wondering if doing 600s would allow me to drop 15 seconds from the 10K times I was running last season. My legs were sore, it had been a hard week.

I reached maybe 120 meters on my first 400, and just stopped.

Diminishing returns. It just hit me.

I'd won a bunch of road races the past couple years, and was planning on winning more, if I could keep ahead of the incoming college graduates. What was the point again?

That was a long time ago. Checking race results here and there, my times when I was 24 were faster than what everyone seems to run these days. I run two or three times a week if I'm up for it. Otherwise I do other stuff.

7 years ago 06/06/2018 5:27pm EDT

re: Now a Weird Runner

Now a Weird Runner wrote:
HELP. I don't want to be that 56 year old dude wearing split shorts and banging on tables and creepily asking people "what time are you trying to run?"

So, what excactly is wrong about being me?

7 years ago 06/07/2018 6:38am EDT

re: chilhowee

chilhowee wrote:
Check it out man. If you're still rollin' when you hit 40, you can join the USATF and go to events and try to keep up with these guys. I'm sure they'll be glad to talk strategy and running, among other things.
USATF NATIONAL MASTERS MEN'S AGE GROUP: 50 - 54
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLACE NAME AGE TIME RESIDENCE ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Kristian Blaich 50 15:49 Decatur GA
2 Carl Combs 51 15:55 Cheney WA
3 Nat Larson 54 15:57 Amherst MA
4 Robert Arsenault 50 16:08 Riverside CA
5 Michael Kent 51 16:23 Conklin Forks NY
6 Francis Burdett 51 16:37 Worcester MA
7 John Stadtlander 51 17:03 Clifton Park NY
8 Ron Lombardi 52 17:05 Southington CT
9 Ryan Mitchell 50 17:11 Troy NY
10 Michael Strickland 50 17:15 Marietta GA
11 Jeff Haertel 54 17:18 Atlanta GA
12 Alan Evans 53 17:18 Beaver Dams NY
13 Ruben Henderson, Jr. 54 17:20 Grand Rapids MI
14 Mike Nier 51 17:23 Rochester NY
15 Dale Flanders 51 17:37 Allegany NY
16 Jeffrey Brison 52 17:46 Schenectady NY
17 Dan Arsenault 53 17:53 Santa Ana CA
18 John Van Kerkhove 54 17:55 Rochester NY
19 Jorge Lopes 53 17:58 Linden NJ
USATF NATIONAL MASTERS MEN'S AGE GROUP: 55 - 59
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLACE NAME AGE TIME RESIDENCE ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Dave Bussard 56 16:55 Elkhart IN
2 Kerry Barnett 56 16:56 Keego Harbor MI
3 Casey Carlstrom 57 16:59 Ithaca NY
4 Fred Zalokar 56 17:15 Reno NV
5 Gary Droze 55 17:16 Tallahassee FL
6 Matt Ebiner 55 17:19 Covina CA
7 Joseph Mora, III 55 17:21 Fayetteville NY
8 William Enicks, Iv 57 17:24 Signal Mountain TN
9 Charlie Andrews 59 17:31 Rochester NY
10 Derrick Staley 57 17:44 Ballston Lake NY
USATF NATIONAL MASTERS MEN'S AGE GROUP: 60 - 64
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLACE NAME AGE TIME RESIDENCE ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Brian Pilcher 60 16:39 Ross CA
2 Tom Ryan 60 18:14 Johnson City NY
3 Kyle Hubbart 60 18:21 Broomfield CO
4 Brian Cummins 61 18:50 Cortland NY
5 Mark Rybinski 61 18:58 Manlius NY
6 John Holcomb 62 19:05 Pacific Palisades CA
USATF NATIONAL MASTERS MEN'S AGE GROUP: 65 - 69
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLACE NAME AGE TIME RESIDENCE ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Tom Bernhard 65 17:32 Castro Valley CA
2 Peter Mullin 65 18:16 Houston TX
3 Doug Bell 65 18:31 Greeley CO
4 Kirk Larson 65 19:27 Atlanta GA
5 Bob Giambalvo 67 19:31 Delhi NY
USATF NATIONAL MASTERS MEN'S AGE GROUP: 70 - 74
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLACE NAME AGE TIME RESIDENCE ST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Gary Patton 70 20:03 Rock Rapids IA
2 Dave Glass 70 20:16 Glenville NY
3 Jim May 70 20:55 Williamson NY

Dr. Low-T's Super 5K Championship Run

1 year ago 09/05/2024 3:35pm EDT

re: Now a Weird Runner

Now a Weird Runner wrote:
I had a moment of self realization where I realized I was one of those adult runners at a fun run who take the whole thing too seriously.
I was at my towns 4th of July 5K and I was lining up on the start line. I was dressed in my typical hobby jogger best (split shorts, singlet, racing flats). I asked some younger dude (maybe 17) what he was "trying to go" in the race.
He looked at me like I was some sort of weirdo. Then that creepy and smelly middle aged basement dweller who wears a bandana and lives with his mom walked up to me and said "I see you at all of these things! What are you trying to run?"
I realized that to the casual running community, I am no different. I don't have friends at the races, or family or kids. I am a 34 year old man who woke up to run a local 5K alone... not even socialize afterwards. I literally ran a 16:05, waited for my award alone while eating a banana and then went home.
So my question is, has anyone else had a moment of running self realization? Did you change your ways? Or did you ignore it?
HELP. I don't want to be that 56 year old dude wearing split shorts and banging on tables and creepily asking people "what time are you trying to run?"

I recently had this self realization myself. I'm a loner by nature. Single, never married, never will.

I love running and racing, but man, I'm feeling increasingly weird about it. I get up early on Saturday morning, drive to a race alone, maybe make small talk with someone who thinks I'm nuts, wait around by meself for my age group award, and drive back home alone. To an empty house, where I store away my medal with all my other ones.

God, I'm a weirdo. But I really do love running. But I hate myself for loving it and being a weirdo about it. Help.

1 year ago 09/05/2024 5:47pm EDT

re: zcxvsadf

zcxvsadf wrote:
I thought the 56 year old was banging on the table saying that he was going to go home and train harder and come back next year in the race and pound that Kenyan woman who beat him.

^^^This.

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