Why do people on here hate ultra runners?

young bloods, let live.

this is not a battle of who's better. none of us are arguing that krupicka is better than rupp. different strokes for different folks.

me personally, i run both. i run both competitively. i run both because i innately like to run. i'm not hunting deer on these 30 mile runs. shoot, it's america and i'm just going to buy that deer chopped up. i'm enjoying the gawddang soil and weather. i'm enjoying the high; the same high i'd get from a speed workout, but with a mundane track leash. maybe not the same workout intensity, and shoot maybe i should invest more energy on that rubber oval to get a second or two faster. but then again, why? i love what i currently do. if you move to a mountain city, you'll understand.

the problem is simple:

you compare yourself to the elites.

separation is only a matter of time.

you are not happy with your current times.

you seek to improve those times.

you don't improve those times and get frustrated.

frustration leads to a need for self assurance.

self assurance comes by putting down slower runners.

ultra-running is the slowest form of running.

and also you just do not understand it.

an ultra runner posts a blog, they get 10k likes.

you get 1000k mad.

you get mad because you know you're a better runner.

you compare yourself to the recreational runners.

runbobbitrun wrote:

[quote]

Hello, straw man.

You do not understand the meaning of "straw man."

The OP accurately observed that most people, including the overwhelming majority of LRCers hate ultra runners. He asked why. I answered.

I've been bashed on here. And I've been bashed on ultra running sites (iRunFar etc) and ultra runner blogs. Considering how many less people run ultra marathons (compared to road races like half and full marathons and 5km/10km), I'd say that the ultra-folk have been more critical of me as a percentage. This is kind of ironic because many in the trail running community say they are "laid back and open and welcoming to all"....the vast majority are, but there are always some very, very critical folks. There is a certain "us vs them" attitude when it comes to a new road/track runner (who may have run in college) decides to move up and try their first 50-miler or 100km or "gnarly mountain race." The older establishment and people that have been doing trail ultras for a long time "vs" the 20-something who ran a 2:20ish marathon or a low 14-min 5km. To the "pure trail" runners these "fast roadies" have been slowly invading over the past 5-10 years. I even made a film/video on it called "MUT Runner." I think sometimes they like to see us epically fail at 100-milers (And we do at lot of times...especially me...in the 4 that I have tired). The sheer distance and duration can be humbling. Guys that couldn't crack 2:30 in a road marathon or 32-min for a 10km can beat me at a long-trail ultra sometimes. Likewise there is a certain "us vs them" attitude when an (older) ultra runner rants about how much harder a 100-mile trail race is [compared to shorter races] and says that the track runners on here don't know real distance running pain. The pure track and road guys don't like races where people are "powerhiking" and carrying fanny packs full of gels. It is hard to relate too unless you've done it. I've walked at times in almost every single ultra with more than 10,000 of climbing and 50-miles in distance. Like in a road marathon you can hit the wall very hard, bonk, and experience some fairly severe cramping or stomach distress when you really push yourself. A long race will strip you to your core whether it is 12.5 laps on a 400m track at Vo2max or 105-miles in the alps at 12-min mile pace. Of course what I wrote above about "us v. them" are stereotypes somewhat. Most people that have been around the sport of distance running in general (whether it be a track 1500m or 100-miles in the mountains) have a decent amount of respect for what it takes to run far...but also to run fast. If they know structured training, intervals , tempos and long runs they should have some respect for Any Surface and Any Distance. It all hurts when you push yourself 100%. A 10km is not twice as hard (or even harder) when compared to a 5km because it is a longer distance. The pain should be a constant. Burn yourself with a hot flame or slowly roast over a bed of coals. Of course also the competition depth is far less in most ultras (which are trail-mountain races usually). There are less numbers in ultras! Everytime I toe the starting line of a mountain-ultra-trail race I think I have a chance to win. Now it is quite tough at the most competitive ultra in the world (Comrades) and I've been very, very far off the lead pack at races like UTMB and Western States. But I honestly thought I at least had a chance of winning....and I will keep trying to win races like those ultras. However, when I toed the starting line at NCAA DI XC, or the Boston Marathon or the Olympic Trials Marathon I knew I had a 0% chance of winning. I was going for "top 40 or top 20" or just sub 2:19:00. When you run these times on a road and track (and place where you do in these types of races) you know exactly where you stand. I know I don't have the talent to run a 2:10 marathon and I never did....even a sub 2:19:00 is enough of a challenge now...but so is finishing UTMB or Western States well.

Sometimes I think I'm better off just doing ultras. I'm doing crap at regular distances these days. I have done sub 16 on the track for 5,000m 3 years ago(exactly 4 years after taking up running). I'm training alone these days, but still doing a variety sessions, easy runs, long runs. I can't seem to run races faster than low 5:3x pace per mile. I'm sick of running 5ks and just getting sub 17:10. I don't know what is wrong with me. I feel so bad after every single race these days. I feel like I'd be better at ultra running because I find it hard to warm myself up, and get into races. I want to get back to running pbs again. Sometimes I finish races feeling like I could have kept 5:3x pace for longer, although during the race it feels like I can't go faster. That is why I think of longer distances(I may become a half decent marathon runner). You naturally want to move up when you do badly all the time. Although a 5k would probably benefit an ultra runner for the speed working and sharpening up.

I dont consider Running a talent period (i like it, i appreciate it, encouraged my kids to also do track). I dont consider anything that can be drastically improved instantaneously by a drug a talent. i.e. you can do cocaine and instantly run way faster.

Cant do that with violin, computer programming etc.

Thats just my personal litmust test for a talent.

Things that are difficult but not talents to me...

Spelling Bees

Running

holding breath

Weightlifting

Things that are talents but are kind of absurd to me

Juggling

Things that are talents and are difficult

Musical Instruments

Computer Design and Related (animation, sound processing, programming)

Painting

above average runner unless among runners wrote:

I dont consider Running a talent period (i like it, i appreciate it, encouraged my kids to also do track). I dont consider anything that can be drastically improved instantaneously by a drug a talent. i.e. you can do cocaine and instantly run way faster.

I seriously doubt one who attempts to replicate Tony Montana in the later stages of Scarface magically then sprints sub-10 100m.

Does anyone have any success stories of people who run crap like me for ages, and suddenly improve. I need some motivation. I feel like a failure after all my races(up to 10k distance). I don't want to move to ultra races yet though. Would be good to know if people who were in this situation became successful at shorter distances eventually. If I became an ultra runner, I'd want to be sure that I did everything to improve at regular distances first.

Give it a try. Sign up for a trail 50k and see how it goes. You'll probably like the atmosphere in contrast to a road 5k. Regarding marathons - they hurt more than a 50k, and a 50 mile hurts less but once you get to 100k it hurts like a marathon and a 100 mile hurts like two 50 milers.

Obsession with everything running related- except training.

An ultra is just a hike spoiled by not having a pub break for most of the field.

Sage you get bashed on here for being an OverExplainer. Kudos to checking off that box once again with your most recent post.

'Bashed in iRunfar?' I doubt it, Sage. They do a pretty good job moderating their comments section. Unless you consider any criticism as bashing.

Honestly, you're probably one of the most popular and best liked ultrarunners in the US.

They don't like sprinters because they are faster.

They don't like ultra runners because they can run farther.

Only people who compete within the arbitrary distance range from 400m to 26.2 miles are actually runners, though, so the thread is moot. You may as well ask why people on here hate cauliflower.

Just say "I have the FKT on Mt Elbert" and drop the mic 8)

I will eventually do a 50k trail race. I'm tired of under performing with shorter distances. But I still think I have potential to improve a lot here first. I did get sub 16 after all. My ultimate dream is sub 15. If I got down to that level, then I would expect great things for a 50k. Has any other runner been in my situation, and eventually achieved a similar goal, off a similar background to me?

Banana Bread wrote:

I will eventually do a 50k trail race. I'm tired of under performing with shorter distances. But I still think I have potential to improve a lot here first. I did get sub 16 after all. My ultimate dream is sub 15. If I got down to that level, then I would expect great things for a 50k. Has any other runner been in my situation, and eventually achieved a similar goal, off a similar background to me?

Your 5k time literally means nothing in an ultra.

Bad Ben wrote:

portsea57 wrote:

Well, as Zatopek said, " If you want to win something, run the 100m, but if you want experience something, run the marathon".

And, of course, we can add to that with something like " If you really, really want to experience something run the Badwater ( Death Valley ) Ultramarathon.

Badwater is the most over rated "hardest race on earth" event ever with almost a 90% finisher rate.

You have to actually qualify to do it. Thats why It has a high finisher rate. Im guessing you do it?

Banana Bread wrote:

I will eventually do a 50k trail race. I'm tired of under performing with shorter distances. But I still think I have potential to improve a lot here first. I did get sub 16 after all. My ultimate dream is sub 15. If I got down to that level, then I would expect great things for a 50k. Has any other runner been in my situation, and eventually achieved a similar goal, off a similar background to me?

This thread isn't about you. Stop trying to hijack it.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

Obsession with everything running related- except training.

An ultra is just a hike spoiled by not having a pub break for most of the field.

I hope you aren't really a coach. What a display of ignorance. The average ultrafinisher trains more than the average LRCer. And yes, they do workouts too. Ultrarunners have been doing hill repeats since before you guys ever heard of them.

LRC: go run a mountain 100k, then report back on how easy it is.

The biggest reason to hate ultra hobbiests is their strange, seemingly insatiable, requirement to come on actual running websites looking for validation of their weekend pastime.

It's kind of pathetic - why bother continuously seeking reassurance from people who clearly don't, and never will, respect you...