Is distance running effeminate?

Distance running is primal masculinity in one of its purest forms. Predatory animals used to run down thier food, as did primitive man. Running is primal.

People who go crazy trying to prove how masculine they are usually are just tremendously insecure. You are what you are. Don't fight it. Masculinity and feminitity are complexes impressed upon us by society.

Overcompensation, anyone?

I'm reminded of a certain Aussies' comments about "balls" this past summer. How many sprinters could hang in there for 5k?

justintherunner wrote:

Distance running is primal masculinity in one of its purest forms. Predatory animals used to run down thier food, as did primitive man. Running is primal.

Yeah, but NORMAL people don't care about that. Most people just want to make money and party.

Yank wrote:

Overcompensation, anyone?

I'm reminded of a certain Aussies' comments about "balls" this past summer. How many sprinters could hang in there for 5k?

I recall that. It was a winning moment for all of us.

I guess it depneds on what society you live in. In our society, i cna see how some people see running as effiminate, in Kenya, I'm guessing it is seen differently.

No, it's not effeminate. It's not masculine either.

Go with society's view of masculine and sit on your fat ass scratching your nuts while you watch Football on TV and then go out for more potato chips in your gigantic SUV with its tough sounding model name. The truth is that you would end up with a limp dick on Viagra while all of us "effeminate" distance runners satisfy the women.

Running is primal. It is what the human animal was designed to do.

I think running is masculine, just curious why many distance runners seem to have something against football players or hate football? (at least it seems that way on this site)

smiple answer wrote:

No, it's not effeminate. It's not masculine either.

Loved your handle.

marijuologist wrote:

The activity... isn't aggressive in any way.

Maybe you aren't aggressive. I get plenty of aggression out. It's the slow-burning revenge of a sustained kick, it's refusing to lose to someone because you have to believe you're better than them, it's getting out there with the will not just to win the race, but to crush everyone else beneath your heels.

Is that sounding familiar? If not, maybe you never really ran like some of us do.

justintherunner wrote:

Distance running is primal masculinity in one of its purest forms. Predatory animals used to run down thier food, as did primitive man. Running is primal.

There was a time when I feared the same as you, marijuologist, but then I realize that what justintherunner wrote is true. Distance running is extremely manly. I played ice hockey, one of the manliest sports there is, for years, and distance running blows it away in terms of manliness.

Steve Prefontaine, Haile Gebreselassie, Lasse Viren, Emil Zatopek... NOT effeminate in any way, shape, or form.

yourdad wrote:

justintherunner wrote:

Distance running is primal masculinity in one of its purest forms. Predatory animals used to run down thier food, as did primitive man. Running is primal.

There was a time when I feared the same as you, marijuologist, but then I realize that what justintherunner wrote is true. Distance running is extremely manly. I played ice hockey, one of the manliest sports there is, for years, and distance running blows it away in terms of manliness.

Steve Prefontaine, Haile Gebreselassie, Lasse Viren, Emil Zatopek... NOT effeminate in any way, shape, or form.

In all fairness haile is a bit effeminate at times

joes wrote:

I think running is masculine, just curious why many distance runners seem to have something against football players or hate football? (at least it seems that way on this site)

I for one, have nothing at all against football and football players. I love the game! I played and loved it when I was younger. It was later in H.S. when everyone else gained weight, and developed into much larger people than me, that the FB coach told me to "try another sport". He was right. It was unsafe for me. I love running, but would have traded places with almost any FB player.

Some distance runners are purest, and feel that ldr is more benificial to the body, blah , blah. The truth is, FB brings in more revenues than any other sport in H.S. or college for a reason. and, in many D1 colleges, it brings in more revenues to the college than all the other sports combined. Combined! Some college FB programs even make enough $$ to fund the xc and track programs, not to mention girls basketball, softball, swimming, etc. and many many more.

I don't think so, but I think the distance running=effeminate myth you get in high school is a result of those skinny long-haired guys who wear short shorts, perhaps shave their legs, slap each other's asses publicly and so on. Nothing wrong with it, but it will be perceived as effeminate by classmates. That just looks girly especially since a lot of those kids shunned the more "masculine" sports like football, and are hostile to kids who play those sports etc.

The notion that distance running=effeminate seems kind of dumb to me. It doesn't promote brawn, but it doesn't mean you can't be aggressive and competitive. I don't think it's necessarily effeminate. Kids who I mentioned in the first paragraph might flock to it, giving it that perception. So yeah it might be "highly perceptible" as an emasculate activity, but there're distance runners who are just as "manly" as sprinters/football players.

endurance athletes have the lowest levels of testosterone of any athletes.

A very few distance runners go around bragging about how they hate football because it is a contact sport. They are in fact effiminate and they brag about it; i.e. carry purses, look with horror on anyone with some muscle definition and sometimes get themselves neutered because they don't want children. A definite minority but they give everyone a bad name i.e. that runners aren't manly.

I cannot believe anyone responds to posts such as this one. This jerk constantly throws troll bait out there and you bite every time. It's why letsrun has become a laughing stock that no one takes seriously any more.

joes wrote:

In all fairness haile is a bit effeminate at times

I thought of that after I made my post, but I think that it's a cultural thing. His voice is high pitched and he is extremely friendly, borderline flamboyant, but I don't perceive it as feminine at all, I think he's just being Haile. El Guerrouj, on the other hand... he's a little fem!