Is this place a fair reflection of the US running community?

As an outside observer being in the US I would say yes.

In my running group are people from all corners of the political spectrum. We have Trump voters and even one guy who went totally to the deep end after January 6th. But he is not coming any more.

Probably not all running groups are like this.

It’s anonymous, so it is more enticing to say things people wouldn’t say in public or even on Instagram and Twitter. I feel like it used to be more civil 10 years ago. Of course it seems to be a couple dozen posters that hijack most threads and bicker back and forth.

Also, most of the casual runners I know don’t follow track and field. They may know who Kipchoge and Rupp are, but they probably couldn’t name the new Women’s mile world record holder.

Of course most of the running I do is with other hobby joggers who are just happy to be running and most have simple goals like a BQ.

The guy who introduced me to this site almost 20 years ago was a former college XC runner and he is a really chill guy and successful businessman now.

I have talked to several in my running community and asked them if they have heard of it, and their voices go quiet. It's very taboo to reference LRC in public running spaces and clubs...

It is customary to publicly distance oneself from the "toxic" atmosphere on LRC while simultaneously checking in multiple times a day on your favorite or most hated threads. They go together like Peanut butter and Jam.

People are the same everywhere. If you have people in your group who are argumentative then those people will find something to argue about. The larger your group is, the more likely that arguing will ensue. Letsrun is a large group, thus you get arguments. This is not representative of your average in-person running group in the US.

I never talk politics on social runs and anyone who brought it up would get shouted down for being boring. If its a workout you ain't got the breath for it anyway. And if we go for a drink after, again I'd never talk politics.

Not really. Its probably a closer refelection to a high level college team or the part of the running community that follows elite running. Most people don't reach the level of passion those on letsrun have, even about not running related topics. It takes a certain mindset to want to use a message board. However, the up and down votes do wonders in showing what letsrun viewers really think.

This is an alt right website.

no

Correct, we are each more virtuous than all the rest.

No. Most of the worst posters here would never show up to a run club. Lots of lone wolf tin hat specialists.

Yes, American runners are vivacious gregarious folks that love to talk about all kinds of wholesome topics on their runs like the IQ of blacks, Baltimore, Chicago, The Bell Curve, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia and the like.

LRC is comprised mostly of JV scrubs looking for attention, mediocre age-groupers, long past their prime sub-elites that fancy themselves tougher than the current generation, and alt-right bomb throwers with a tangential relationship to running.

The majority of elites hate this place or view it out of amusement. The trolls and political screamers chased off the coaches and agents. Elite women loathe LRC. The vast majority of runners in America have no idea that this place even exists.

Most people in running clubs would not know the name of any of these pros. They would not know the Diamond League exists, that there are pro running clubs and would not know up and coming collegians. They could def not name a 1500m runner including Jakob. They do not know of a place called Eugene, OR.

They may know Kipchoge, Ryan Hall and Meb. Maybe Des. They are on the whole 95% nice and inclusive and not snarky. They think a 25min 5k is the s--t. This is a very niche site in terms of running. In terms of general topics of discussion, it's also not reflective of the population at large. It's more like, if you can't say it out in public, say it here.

I would say LRC is more reflective of social media vs. a running community. Lots of arguments, hyperbole and a general lack of civility.

I've never been belonged to a running club, but can't imagine it would be similar.

A lot of the most active posters here are weirdos with low T, who wouldn't dare espouse some of the things they say here on a daily basis in person. Or if they did would be given a wide birth by most people and be outcasts. This site is taboo in the real world and a stain on the running community.

It’s a woke website controlled by authoritarian leftist mods.

The owners must make more money than I would guess because otherwise, having it how it is doesn't withstand rational thought. They must go through some amazing mental gymnastics to justify it to themselves.

It’s a great website. But it’d be even better if it were moderated far less