I can't run too fast because I'm banditing and I don't want to stand out.
I can't run too fast because I'm banditing and I don't want to stand out.
As a "blue collar," what's even funnier is hearing the excuses from the gear junkies at the end of a race of why they lost.
My wife is the most unassuming gal at the starting line (cotton t-shirt and old soccer shorts) and recenty won a half marathon. Then came all the Hammer Gel popping, Lycra wearing girls with heat-rate monitors sort of congratulating her. One gal said (direct quote), "I wish I could have stayed with you on that hill, but I have diseased knees."
What the HELL are diseased knees?
I'm not being combative, but most of these seem legitimate. I race sick and when I'm coming off injury all the time. I tempo races all the time too, and if someone asks, I see no problem telling them what I'm expecting and why. Would you prefer someone say that they're 100% so you can feel better when your age-graded time beats theirs by 5 seconds?
I do tend to only race when I know I'll win or be in contention for prize money even if I'm sick or running it as a workout, so maybe that's a factor as well.
The guy who said context matters is right. Telling someone the honest truth when they ASK is one thing, grabbing the bullhorn from the RD and announcing to everyone is another
have to take this one easy, my epo will congeal in this hot weather
?I never talked to other runner before a race, this will probably negatively impact my performance."
"I'm having a heart attack, oh god call an ambulance."
Typical hobby jogger crap, you know.
The pollen count EXPLODED this morning.
I'm not really peaking for this race.
My dog ate my mask and I left the spare on the Nike jet.
My dog ate my mask and I left the spare on the Nike jet.
My favorite is the classic "I only got 3 hours of sleep" or any low number like that.
"I ate _________ for dinner last night and it is punishing me"
"I feel like d*ck"
"Still recovering from my last marathon _______ weeks ago"
"I just left your girlfriend's house, not sure how I'll do, but better than you judging by last night"
I once heard someone complain about a race being "too flat" because without some hills it was hard to "build a rhythm." I had heard people complain about hilly courses before but never totally flat ones. . .