The saddest thing about self obsession related to what other people are thinking of you is that nobody else has given you and what you are doing the slightest bit of thought.
Wrong, I think a lot about 18 minute 5k runners and why they heck they sent $250 on shoes when then really should be training more so they can actually break 18.
I really wish I was trolling here. IAnd it's not so much that others view me as a weirdo, it's that I think I'm a weirdo. Like I can't let go. Imagine if an old football player was still going around jumping in pick up games full of guys half his age...and he did this every weekend.
So I really do feel foolish for continuing to run and race. Yet I truly do love it. It's a weird love-hate thing. I love it, but I hate the fact that I love it.
Keep running stop racing.
I am older than you and run every day because I like running and it keeps me from getting fat.
When I think about how much effort the local 40 somethings put into running and how much their life revolves around it, it makes me depressed as I don't want to end up like them. Yes they run a 1:12 half and a 15 5k but there's more to life. I still want to get out of the country and experience living abroad, do some interesting things.
When I think about how much effort the local 40 somethings put into running and how much their life revolves around it, it makes me depressed as I don't want to end up like them. Yes they run a 1:12 half and a 15 5k but there's more to life. I still want to get out of the country and experience living abroad, do some interesting things.
This is a good discussion.
When you see the competitive masters guy in your area, what is your reaction: respect or pity? Is he the grizzly old guy who shows up younger competitors? Or is he pathetic for devoting so much time and energy to something so trivial? Is he living the life or does he need to get a life?
When I think about how much effort the local 40 somethings put into running and how much their life revolves around it, it makes me depressed as I don't want to end up like them. Yes they run a 1:12 half and a 15 5k but there's more to life. I still want to get out of the country and experience living abroad, do some interesting things.
Why are running and living abroad even correlated. People who live abroad can't devote time to running - even though its an even bigger sport in many countries people move to like the uk? I don't get it. I would think running clubs would be a great way to make friends while living abroad as your other mentioned activity of "living abroad" by definition would only be partaked in by people who are leaving once you are abroad. Or once you are abroad, do you plan to make your interest "living" in which case everyone is into it - but oh no, what if they run. Oh and "interesting things" as every person who hit tourist trap after tourist trap says.
I know my 20:32 5k at 25 is horrible by letsrun standards, but I didn't run in HS and I probably have better times in me, but also it was enough for 2nd of 14 in my age group at a local race and that race was a ton of fun. I know I suck by letsrun standards, but even still I'd have a hard time finding another hobby that I'd do the equivalent of getting an age group podium spot in a local race in. Sure it's dumb and I'm not really competitive in a meaningful sense when you really think about it, but I'm decent by local road race standards and I get a lot of fun out out of it, so who cares if my times aren't anything all that special?
Yep, exact reason why I quit “competing” many years ago and took up casual lifting. Even stopped following my college alma mater (and all ncaa and pro running) that I ran for 20 years ago after records lists started to get obliterated with the emergence of shoes. People will complain that I’m whining, but it’s hard to watch less-talented, less hard-working runners sit at the top of those lists because of tech.
In any case, I stopped running because I suddenly realized how silly it has become lately.
I’m am 43, still fastish (4:30, 16, 1:10). Running has been large and small parts of life for 30 years. My approach now is to train and do workouts but not at the expense of a full life. So I kinda screw around & run 40 MPW and do life most of the year then for 10-12 weeks run 50-60 MPW and focus on the event, two hard sessions and a lr each week. For sure leaving some of the minutes on the table, but at this point in life, it’s not worth it to me to chase that last couple of percent.
Yep, exact reason why I quit “competing” many years ago and took up casual lifting. Even stopped following my college alma mater (and all ncaa and pro running) that I ran for 20 years ago after records lists started to get obliterated with the emergence of shoes. People will complain that I’m whining, but it’s hard to watch less-talented, less hard-working runners sit at the top of those lists because of tech.
In any case, I stopped running because I suddenly realized how silly it has become lately.
This is ridiculous and if you're really as old as you say you are, you need to read "No Country For Old Men" to help you understand that your inability to accept that life changes and that the most unstoppable things are progress and death.
I ran competitively when I was young, got hurt all the time, had to settle for being better than most people my age, kept getting injured, and had to learn to accept that running was something I loved and to accept whatever my body told me to accept as far as my limits. It seems like a lot of people can't handle that their lives never led them to Olympic glory, but if you love the sport, you'll still love it when you're 54 like me and stop comparing yourself to kids in high school or college. Those kids will also learn what it's like to have their bodies fall apart and age soon enough. You should either regain your love of the sport, which has always been something for all ages, or find something else that doesn't remind you of your glory days and how they passed you by.
When I think about how much effort the local 40 somethings put into running and how much their life revolves around it, it makes me depressed as I don't want to end up like them. Yes they run a 1:12 half and a 15 5k but there's more to life. I still want to get out of the country and experience living abroad, do some interesting things.
This is a good discussion.
When you see the competitive masters guy in your area, what is your reaction: respect or pity? Is he the grizzly old guy who shows up younger competitors? Or is he pathetic for devoting so much time and energy to something so trivial? Is he living the life or does he need to get a life?
I helped out our middle school cross country team this fall. At one of the races there was a citizens race on the 2-mile middle school course, so I did it to show the kids that the coaches aren't just chumps putting them through the paces. I'm 45 with 2 kids- my wife and I said we weren't going to torpedo running, so we've kept on to try and be a healthy example for them.