I'm a male. I out-kicked a female at the end of a race. Am I evil?

Let me be the first to say you will benefit far more if you bother to shave a whole minute off of your 5k than you will be focusing on taking 3 seconds off of that final 200. In fact, it will be easier shaving 3 seconds off of that final 200 if you improved your 5k by a minute as you have already averaged a grand total of 2 seconds per 200m.

2012xxx wrote:

Your friend that called it "unnecessary" is probably the type that has no kick. So instead of developing one, he simply mocks those who have one and choose to use it. Never, ever let people like that discourage you and never, ever let a female outkick you. Among the other people who you should never let outkick you are younger people, older people, people in your same age group, etc. Once you just let people outkick you, you should stop entering races.

I was running next to Shalane Flanagan in the latter part of a half marathon. When we approached the finishing shoot I backed off a bit and went to the side of the road slightly so as not to get in the way of her finishing picture.

In regards to outkicking females:

- if she is asking for it (as in its blatant she's trying to race you), go right ahead.

- if you are already running balls out, go ahead

- if there are more than one male around, definitely start kicking

- if the female is going in for a overall placing, if you can't put in a true sprint at the finish, move to the side and slow down

- if you are treating the race as a tempo run (and are nowhere near the lead) or a jog, you are basically asking to get chicked or refroshed (HS freshman beating you) so don't bother putting in a kick at the end.

- if the event is in jeopardy of getting chicked or refreshed, DON'T LET IT, especially if this is an event that you like and support.

Why are they mutually exclusive? I agree with 2012xxx. A kick is part of a race - why would finishing with a controlled pace and not maximizing your result be encouraged?

////????//// wrote:

Let me be the first to say you will benefit far more if you bother to shave a whole minute off of your 5k than you will be focusing on taking 3 seconds off of that final 200. In fact, it will be easier shaving 3 seconds off of that final 200 if you improved your 5k by a minute as you have already averaged a grand total of 2 seconds per 200m.

"Train more", blah blah. You have no clue what a RACE is about. You're out there to place as high as possible. And it's WORSE to have a woman place before you than another guy.

In contrast to OP, you and this jerkstore guy have no balls. In fact, you would both be eligible to compete in the women's class.

As surprised as I am by the various justifications for not racing your best at all times, I'm even more surprised no one has asked: was she hot?

New term

Honor kick: to kick to the finish in a race soley because a woman just passed you.

Billy Quickstart was slogging it into the finish but after Mary Freshpace passed him with 100m to go he started his honor kick.

no future wrote:

New term

Honor kick: to kick to the finish in a race soley because a woman just passed you.

Billy Quickstart was slogging it into the finish but after Mary Freshpace passed him with 100m to go he started his honor kick.

You stole my name, but you're wearing it well. Nice one.

after further review wrote:

It is only a jerk move if you outsprint the winner of the women's race and break the tape in front of her. Any other time is acceptable.

+1

I agree. Even if the results are divided up between male and female, it's a race and you are all racing on the road at the same time. Everyone should try to beat as many other people as they can whether they're a man or a woman. That's how races work - it's what makes them races.

The only exception I can see is what I quoted, which would be interfering with the woman's finish and would indeed be a jerk move. If someone is entitled to break the tape, let them do it.

fefsd wrote:

////????//// wrote:

Let me be the first to say you will benefit far more if you bother to shave a whole minute off of your 5k than you will be focusing on taking 3 seconds off of that final 200. In fact, it will be easier shaving 3 seconds off of that final 200 if you improved your 5k by a minute as you have already averaged a grand total of 2 seconds per 200m.

Why are they mutually exclusive? I agree with 2012xxx. A kick is part of a race - why would finishing with a controlled pace and not maximizing your result be encouraged?

I get the sense in that they aren't entirely exclusive in the long term, but if you are concerned about maximizing your position, (say I was originally a 16:00 guy) I'll take shaving a whole minute off of my 5k to get down to 15:00 than focusing on maximizing the kick to get 15:52

It seems as if some people only read the first line of my quote. I did state that it becomes easier to develop that kick once you have improved your aerobic capacity.

////????//// wrote:

I did state that it becomes easier to develop that kick once you have improved your aerobic capacity.

What the eff has training to do whether or not you should kick past a female? You enter a race with whatever training you've got under your belt and then you push yourself to your limits.

I've been chicked many times before by national-caliber runners but no self-respecting male runner allows himself to get out-kicked at the end of a race.

There's something about getting passed on a sprint finish by Dorothy that is both demoralizing and demasculating.

mgm wrote:

I've been chicked many times before by national-caliber runners but no self-respecting male runner allows himself to get out-kicked at the end of a race.

There's something about getting passed on a sprint finish by Dorothy that is both demoralizing and demasculating.

Agreed no that comment, but also no self-respecting male runner allows himself to be in a position to get chicked by a weekend warrior either.

If you had to outkick Dorothy, that should still be a red flag that you need to ensure you don't need to outkick her next time around. This applies to any male runner who is getting chicked by non-world class runners (and any male who wants to shave some solid time off of his 5k)

So what happens when you outkick a female but still lose to her because of gun time?

mgm wrote:

I've been chicked many times before by national-caliber runners but no self-respecting male runner allows himself to get out-kicked at the end of a race.

There's something about getting passed on a sprint finish by Dorothy that is both demoralizing and demasculating.

We're in a RACE! Nobody passes me at the end unless I can't help it! Woman, kid or old runner! Come on people...we're in a race. If you just want to run fast do it in a work out. These are races, don't just let anyone past you in the end. Allowing anyone to get there before you, other than because you can't help it, is not in the spirit of racing! It's a race!!!!

Peace Out wrote:

I'm a chick and I don't think you're evil, although I have to say I LOVE passing guys in races because they never seem to expect getting passed by a girl.

There was one half marathon I did in Bryce Canyon, (I was 35) with like 500m left I was really struggling to speed up, and this guy beside me said, "Come on, I just turned 50 this week, YOU CAN BEAT ME!" so I started running faster and did get ahead of him. But then he outsprinted me with like 1 second left in the race, I didn't really get why he'd encouraged me if he was just going to prove to me that I COULDN'T beat him, but whatever!

_____________________

For someone who also has recently turned 50, I can understand the man's feelings. however, i probably would not have said anything.

I also, get a big kick out of seeing people celebrate when they (usually someone in their 20's or 30's) beats me by two seconds.

I, am different than that man you ran with. I like the feeling I get when I see the look on the person who beat me by two seconds, while they are looking at the results posted on the wall.

Sometimes I mumble while standing with the readers;

" huh, a 52 year old..."

"We're in a RACE! Nobody passes me at the end unless I can't help it! Woman, kid or old runner! Come on people...we're in a race. If you just want to run fast do it in a work out. These are races, don't just let anyone past you in the end. Allowing anyone to get there before you, other than because you can't help it, is not in the spirit of racing! It's a race!!!!"

Exactly where people misinterpreted my quotes on here. It is still a race and we are talking about at the shortest a 5k race. Take your pick guys (You can only choose 1 in the short term)

- 12 seconds off of your final 400m in relation to your current 5k pace

- 1 minute off of your current 5k time.

This is where I mock those who are kicking at the end: HOW Are you running a 68 final 400 to run 16:40 and still losing by 30 seconds? Because you were not pushing hard enough during the race.

16:52 pace: 81/400 (before that kick)

14:10 pace: 68/400 (on that kick)

Lands you right on 16:40, give or take a second

Here is something that will make more sense for this person with about 4-6 months of training:

16:02 pace: 77/400 (before that kick)

14:35 pace: 70/400 (on that kick)

Lands you just about 15:55, give or take a second or two.

I'll take the 15:55 over the 16:40 anyday

Mick Lovin wrote:

_____________________

For someone who also has recently turned 50, I can understand the man's feelings. however, i probably would not have said anything.

I also, get a big kick out of seeing people celebrate when they (usually someone in their 20's or 30's) beats me by two seconds.

I, am different than that man you ran with. I like the feeling I get when I see the look on the person who beat me by two seconds, while they are looking at the results posted on the wall.

Sometimes I mumble while standing with the readers;

" huh, a 52 year old..."

See, I knew it...an old runner's thoughts about beating a younger runner! You can't let the old folks beat you! Full disclosure, I'm 55 and I just don't want a 60 something getting there before me. When I was 30, I remember this 40+ )masters runner who was awesome. I just did not like the idea of some guy 10 years older beating me in a race...and we raced a few times. But, hey, he was the stronger runner and obviously more talented. Again, it was nothing personal.

The Jerkstore Called wrote:

It is kind of a jerk move.

Lets just assume that the women in front of you is in first place. She has a nice win wrapped up, so may want to just maintain her pace into the line. Her race is basically over. Sprinting past this athlete doesn't really prove you are better since she may or may not see you as a competitor and her race strategy didn't include worrying about you.

If you are all about maximizing your finsh time, go ahead and kick like an idiot at all of your races. This might be a good move if you are closing in on a specific barrier like the 4 minute mile or 3 hour marathon, but otherwise it is okay to simply cruise in and maintain your place within YOUR race.

So you only kick if you're on the verge of a milestone time. Pretty weak. You should give all you got at the end of all your races. If not, why enter races? Sounds like you are willing to not give all you got just to finish looking smooth - you're not a true competitor.