What to say when fellow runners call you fast?

Thanks. I'm flattered but it's all relative.

I usually deflect it by pointing out someone else in the conversation.

them - "This is Bob...he's fast!"

me - "Well, Jim's been working pretty hard lately. He's going to be sneaking up on some people this summer!"

If that doesn't seem possible, I'll sometimes say something like, "Thanks, that's really nice of you to say. I've been really lucky lately to stay healthy and run a some races I was really happy with. How's your running been going lately?"

If you are uncomfortable with people talking about your running, talk about theirs instead.

Just say thanks. Otherwise you're implicitly calling them slow.

I'm at that awkward stage where I'm like average for a high schooler (high 16s for 5k), which means I'm really good in local races. All of my parents friends think I'm fast so I just say that there are a lot of people who are better and leave it at that.

Phenom Man wrote:

I'm at that awkward stage where I'm like average for a high schooler (high 16s for 5k), which means I'm really good in local races. All of my parents friends think I'm fast so I just say that there are a lot of people who are better and leave it at that.

That is obviously better than average for HS, but nice try.

Good Lord, I am NOT fast! I mean, there are women that are faster than me. WOMEN!!!!

women? You mean like with breasts and va-ginas and stuff?

I always say, "you're very kind" and leave it at that.

Yeah, that's pretty much my response: "I just try to outrun the fastest woman in the 50-54 age group." Or I say "I'm nothing special. On any given weekend, literally thousands of people run faster marathons than I ever have or probably ever will."

I'm not very fast by LRC standards and I hate when anyone calls me fast. Usually it's done by a slow jogger type. I get that it's all relative, but it's uncomfortable anyway. Sometimes I just slug these people in the balls and walk away with no comment.

Depends on the state and division (5-A versus 2-A) and the schools that compete. For his group, high 16's might be middle of the road. Or, maybe he is just comparing himself to other competitive high school runners, as opposed to eevry Tom Dick and Phillip that go out for a cross country spot, or do it just to train for antoher sport.

Raptured wrote:

Phenom Man wrote:

I'm at that awkward stage where I'm like average for a high schooler (high 16s for 5k), which means I'm really good in local races. All of my parents friends think I'm fast so I just say that there are a lot of people who are better and leave it at that.

That is obviously better than average for HS, but nice try.

grits and eggs wrote:

Thanks. I'm flattered but it's all relative.

I actually say something similar to this when told that I'm "really talented" or "an incredible runner"...

I usually reply with "Well, thank you, but I can't run the furthest nor the fastest. I just do what I can."

Considering high 16's would have been about 6th for the team that won our division 1 state meet, I think its WELL above average for HS.Seriously, there are TONS of dudes that run 20-25 minutes in HS.

bguyj200012y1 wrote:

Depends on the state and division (5-A versus 2-A) and the schools that compete. For his group, high 16's might be middle of the road. Or, maybe he is just comparing himself to other competitive high school runners, as opposed to eevry Tom Dick and Phillip that go out for a cross country spot, or do it just to train for antoher sport.

Raptured wrote:

That is obviously better than average for HS, but nice try.

"Thanks! I'm getting there."

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

I usually reply with "Well, thank you, but I can't run the furthest nor the fastest. I just do what I can."

"I can't run the furthest nor the fastest"??

You sound like an utter douche.

"I just do what I can"?

Acceptable.

Although I'm giving this guy a hard time, he has it right. Be gracious. Saying "no I'm not" when you know (or should know) you're faster than the others in the conversation makes you look, well, socially retarded. And while many runners are socially retarded, you don't need to actively promote this view.

Changing the focus to someone else is good, I think:

"Hey, Joe, you like to run. I want you to meet John. He's really fast: he has a 5k PR of 19 minutes!"

"That's nice of you to say, Jim. Hey, aren't you doing that triathlon this weekend that Lance Armstrong's entered in?"

Just say, "Thanks dude" and move on. Quit overthinking it.

+1

I usually say, "Well, yeah, I'm fast compared to the average charity runner. But, woah man, I'm ain't nothin' compared to the average LetsRunner." Then I put my hand on their shoulder and ask, "Do you have a minute to talk about LetsRun, brother?"

Raptured wrote:

Phenom Man wrote:

I'm at that awkward stage where I'm like average for a high schooler (high 16s for 5k), which means I'm really good in local races. All of my parents friends think I'm fast so I just say that there are a lot of people who are better and leave it at that.

That is obviously better than average for HS, but nice try.

above the national average or 50th percentile for high school in general, but within the middle group of some strong areas. it's good, but not amazing

I usually say, "thanks a lot, but those two guys standing below me on the podium wearing the embarassing crap medals are pretty fast, too"