So, yesterday on a nice easy run I turned off of a road with a decent incline and onto a walking trail. I stopped to stretch a bit when along came a couple (apparently male and female, apparently married) about 60ish in age, thus being just a few years older than me. As the couple walked past me the man said, "You should do ten sprints on that hill". My first inner reaction was "what's it to you?", but I actually responded that I had done that workout in the past (admittedly, not a bad workout, which I had done in the past). However, the man had no knowledge of my ability. As we went our separate ways, I thought about the interaction, and considered whether the man could even do the workout that he suggested that I do. I thought about whether I should have asked him if he could do the workout, or whether I should have challenged him to a contest on the hill to prove his manliness in front of his women. The whole thing kind of bothered me because all that was needed was a simple greeting, but the man for some reason took things beyond that. How would you respond to such unsolicited training advice?
Smart Aleck Walker: How Would You Respond?
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Small talk can be awkward. 99% chance they were trying to say something about running because you're a runner.
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Hobby_Jogger_999 wrote:
Small talk can be awkward. 99% chance they were trying to say something about running because you're a runner.
+1 -
I'd smile and say "after you"
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He was probably trying to be pleasant and encouraging--whether that's how it came out or not.
Best response is maybe something similarly pleasant and encouraging; "Enjoy your walk." -
trail time wrote:
Hobby_Jogger_999 wrote:
Small talk can be awkward. 99% chance they were trying to say something about running because you're a runner.
+1
Seems like a friendly gesture. You are being super-soft about this. -
Too much time here. Not everyone's a sociopathic a-hole with ill intent.
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I would show him my concealed carry
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I think he was trying to give you helpful advice to be a better runner and not being a military corporal as you may have thought.
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Only one rational response... once they've walked past you start a sprint workout, sprinting by them and yelling on your left... once you've cleared them by about 100m turn around and jog back past them, staring straight forward deadeyed and not even acknowledging them. Then once you're about 30 meters behind them turn around and sprint past them again,once again yelling "on your left"
Repeat until you have completely scared them off the path -
I thought I was thin-skinned, but not even I would have taken that as some sort of challenge or insult.
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CrispyChicken wrote:
How would you respond to such unsolicited training advice?
I'd laugh, say "maybe tomorrow," and go on with my day. You know, like a normal person who doesn't have severe anger management issues.
