Road or Track

Alright this is my last word then I am going to go out and get drunk.

By the way fools if you think I am slow you are far from correct.

Get drunk and fall down and die. We won't have to read your stupid ass post. Last word.

I too like the track better, but like many others, my talents are more suited to track events. However, the farther I got from college, the more I dreaded driving halfway across the country to find the track meet 3 hours behind, or worse yet, my event on the track 2 hours early. Waiting around, dead time, inefficiency, etc. has led me to lose interest as a competitor. While I love the legitimacy of the track, nearly all road races are run on time and with a family, this is a big concern. Have any other post collegians had similar experiences?

I hear you my friend, but I still want to run a time well I m young ( under 30 ) Road racing is something you can do when your old. Besides most road races in my area are not that competitive. I would rather run on the track. What state do you live in ?

Its is funny how a thread about your opinoin can turn into an arguement.....anyway - I am almost sorry I started this thread. I prefer track, but have realized that I am not a world beater and hate being in college races. I often feel that I am taking the spot of a collegiate that really deserves to be in the race at a college meet when I take a spot in the fast heat. I feel that if I am given a spot in a college meet then I should lead these guys to fast times.

There aren't a lot of track meets across the country for post collegiates unless you are a sponsored athlete or have a coach that can get you in. I run for PRs and I am good, but not great. I am just having a hard time getting into college meets running a decent time but finishing behind college runners...

Plenty of meets were I m from. I sign myself up all the time with or with out a coach. Sorry you feel the way you do. Still think road racing is boring. I like track and enjoy beating most collegiate runners. Enjoy well it last.

post collegiate wrote:

I hear you my friend, but I still want to run a time well I m young ( under 30 ) Road racing is something you can do when your old. Besides most road races in my area are not that competitive. I would rather run on the track. What state do you live in ?

I agree with all you say above. Go get 'em! I still love the competitive nature of track. Nothing beats it for me. I presently live in NC, but have lived in three different states. As a sit & kicker in college, I also felt more of an obligation to make or keep things fast for the collegians in races that allowed me in the field. Good luck, have fun, and carry the post-college banner high for all of us.

Track is where it's at. Road racing is for chumps.

Those of you ripping on roads race really are chumps. Who's to say you can't find road races with good competition: racing is racing my friends, and there is something wrong with you if you are a 15 minute 5k type and you would rather be 27th on the track at Mt. Sac so you can lower your PR by 2.2 secs than jump in a good road race and duke it out with a few guys to see who can WIN a race in a time that might be a little slower. I got news for you all, PR's are not what racing is about, winning is what its about. El G would probably trade a lot of world record races for an Olympic gold, and Seb Coe always maintained he would give up his 800 meter WR (when he had it) if he could have Cruz's 800 gold around his neck. Titles impress people, not times. You tell me you are a 14:30 5k guy, I don't give a shit cause ultimately you mean very little in this game. You tell me you just won a 10k road race with 5000 people in 30:15 and had 6 guys on you the whole way; thats something to talk about cause you had some ball to be there fighting.

Track is great, and for mid-distance you gotta go there but running for PR's is mis-guided; you race to win. Period.

Before you tell me I'm slow: 1:48/4:02/14:11

I like both track and the roads. Basically, wherever there is a competitive opportunity, I will turn up. It's hard enough after college (in some areas) to find good races, so why turn them down when they come along?

I agree - race to win, wherever it is, and against whoever shows up. If I go to a race and three fat grandmothers with hammer toes show up, I'm gonna kick their wrinkly asses and enjoy it and I'm not going to apologize for it if I run my ass off and give my best effort. It's more fun to beat college punks like the one's who post here and say "Ritz sucks" or "13:22 sucks" when they are barely logging 60 a week and trying to go under 15:30 on the track, but you race who shows up and don't worry about who is not there.

I agree - race to win, wherever it is, and against whoever shows up. If I go to a race and three fat grandmothers with hammer toes show up, I'm gonna kick their wrinkly asses and enjoy it and I'm not going to apologize for it if I run my ass off and give my best effort. It's more fun to beat college punks like the one's who post here and say "Ritz sucks" or "13:22 sucks" when they are barely logging 60 a week and trying to go under 15:30 on the track, but you race who shows up and don't worry about who is not there.

Hey Zipp, What would you do if you go to a race and three fat grandmothers with hammer toes showed up?

I'd kick their wrinkly asses, take my first place swag and enjoy the day. You can only race who shows up. Since those three grandmas showed, I'd have to assume that in addition to their hammer toes, they have bigger balls than you!

Easy little man!!!! It was a joke aimed at the fact that you posted the same message about hammer toed grandmas twice.

If there is a direct correlation between hammer toes and ball size, then I want some of those grannies to drop their unitard to prove they don't belong in the mens division.

I enjoy running on the track more then running on the road.

I do think that road races can be just as competitive as track races. Road races are not for recreational runners. Many rec runners run road races but there are many elite athletes that run road races as well.

I however do believe it is more about time then about winning.

If I were to set a PR and place last I would be satisfied. Probably not happy but satisfied with my race and that I had competition to run fast.

Anyone can win something and I know that isn't what you mean. But I could go to many road races if I want to win.

Times are black and white and you know where you stand compared to the rest of you peers.

Most of the best runners throughout history have run road races during the height of their track careers. The true track specialists didn't focus on the road races, but they didn't avoid them out of some nonsensical idea that they would "screw up their track speed", either.

Here are some superstars (some still active) who ran track and roads (and cross) year-round with no worries and no regrets.

International Distance Stars:

Lasse Viren

Carlos Lopes

Moses Tanui

Sammy Kipketer

Haile Gebrselassie

Paul Tergat

International 1,500m Stars:

John Walker

Rod Dixon

Ian Stewart

Steve Ovett

Steve Cram

U.S. Distance Guys:

Mark Nenow

Alberto Salazar

Craig Virgin

Frank Shorter

Herb Lindsay

Bill Rodgers

Doug Padilla

Pat Porter

Alan Culpepper

Meb Keflezighi

U.S. 1,500m Guys:

Steve Scott

Todd Harbour

Tom Byers

Those are abbreviated lists, too. There are tons more track guys who didn't shy away from the roads and tons of roadies who ran big track races whenever they could.

Have at it!