How to justify competitive running at the amateur/hobbyjogger level?

It always puzzles me when people ask questions about running like the one the OP did. It's a sport. We should be doing it, in whatever form it takes, because we like doing it. There are no imperatives and if doing less of it or none at all and replacing it with some other activity seems appealing then do that.

You never see these questions asked about other sports. My wife is crazy about tennis and probably plays about five times in a typical week. She'd probably do it more often if she found more people to play with and she has a bunch of "tennis friends" who are pretty similar. No one asks them how they justify the time they spend playing tennis or why they do it so much. I just don't get why runners get that sort of question.

I do is for the pV55y

why o why wrote:

Thing is, I liked chasing PR's because getting faster meant getting closer to the front and eventually winning some races. That was fun. Being in the race itself.So I can't get into age-grade or time for its own sake. And the masters division is just a race within a race.

I just want to hear from people who have transitioned from competitive running to casual "jogging" and the occassional race here or there. O is it all or nothing for people with my competitive mindset.

Casual "jogging" sounds like a nightmare to me. Super boring. But if you hate mater's running that much then why don't you try it? No use hanging on to the sport if you're not actually enjoying it.

When I get old (sorry) and stop getting better at standard distances, I'll probably try some ultras. If I can't handle the training at all, I have a feeling I'll still want to stay involved with the sport, which will mean either coaching or officiating.

Honestly, it's not that unusual to compete at an amateur level in sports when you're an adult. Lots of people play in tennis leagues, 3-on-3 basketball tournaments, softball clubs, etc.

Examiner your beliefs. Did you generate them yourself, or are they imposed on you from the culture at large, or just some loud mouth D-bag telling you what to think?

That being said, for myself, I enjoy the process of things as much or more that the result. I just ran a hard 7 miles this morning. It was FUN. That's good enough in my world. I do win age group races from time to time, and that is fun too, but no more or less that this mornings run, really.

i love these type of threads

You're competing against yourself for the love of the sport. If that's not enough for you, then you are wasting your time.

I think we're getting behind the real issue.

Runners define "fun" or what is "enjoyable" in different ways. I'm getting the impression that most of you here, not all, define "fun" in the competitive sense.

as in...

It's fun to improve. It's fun to win my age group.

If I told you that all races henceforth would be cancelled and you could never again race, would you still train? Would you record your training in logs? Would you go out and run a hard 7 miler?

Can we make a distinction between racers and athletes who simply "enjoy" running hard and often without feeling the need to race?

I just think there's more ego involved in our pursuit of running excellence than just the purity of "oh, I love to run."

Agreed and well put.I think its sad for the OP to ask that question. The OP doesn't enjoy trainng and competing and challenging ones self. The OP enjoys being faster than others and winning. (We all enjoy that too but we enjoy so much more to the sport, the OP doesn't) All that training and competing is not enjoyable to him but only a means to an end.So naturally when he gets to that point where he can no longer be the fastest or faster, he can't understand why anyone would compete and train.I think training and competing is such a big part of running is sad to obtain joy only from the results and the winning.

HRE wrote:

It always puzzles me when people ask questions about running like the one the OP did. It's a sport. We should be doing it, in whatever form it takes, because we like doing it. There are no imperatives and if doing less of it or none at all and replacing it with some other activity seems appealing then do that.

You never see these questions asked about other sports. My wife is crazy about tennis and probably plays about five times in a typical week. She'd probably do it more often if she found more people to play with and she has a bunch of "tennis friends" who are pretty similar. No one asks them how they justify the time they spend playing tennis or why they do it so much. I just don't get why runners get that sort of question.

Gazed a gazely stare wrote:

HRE wrote:

It's fun. Running for nothing but fitness doesn't seem like it would be fun.

I used to hold that belief also. My current idea of "fun" is a 1-hour romp on a gorgeous trail through a pine forest. The road race thing got very redundant for me.

I feel the same way, but still jump in the occasional race. I'm mostly for XC or all-comers college track meets now when I do race.

if it doesn't come bursting out of you

in spite of everything,

don't do it.

unless it comes unasked out of your

heart and your mind and your mouth

and your gut,

don't do it.

if you're doing it for money or

fame,

don't do it.

if you're doing it because you want

women in your bed,

don't do it.

if it's hard work just thinking about doing it,

don't do it.

if you have to wait for it to roar out of

you,

then wait patiently.

if it never does roar out of you,

do something else.

don't do it.

unless it comes out of

your soul like a rocket,

unless being still would

drive you to madness or

suicide or murder,

don't do it.

unless the sun inside you is

burning your gut,

don't do it.

when it is truly time,

and if you have been chosen,

it will do it by

itself and it will keep on doing it

until you die or it dies in you.

there is no other way.

and there never was.

Conundrum,

I don't agree with your assessment. If running was just a means to an end, and all I enjoy is the winning and beating other people aspect, I would take up another activity where the same was possible or even easier to do given my natural abilities. I could turn to competitive eating or transfer that ambition to the workplace..etc

For me, running fast is an art in itself. There's nothing magical about a 7:00 mile. But when I'm floating down the road at a 5 minute clip and it feels effortless, that is very much enjoyable.

why o why wrote:

I think we're getting behind the real issue.

Runners define "fun" or what is "enjoyable" in different ways. I'm getting the impression that most of you here, not all, define "fun" in the competitive sense.

as in...

It's fun to improve. It's fun to win my age group.

If I told you that all races henceforth would be cancelled and you could never again race, would you still train? Would you record your training in logs? Would you go out and run a hard 7 miler?

Can we make a distinction between racers and athletes who simply "enjoy" running hard and often without feeling the need to race?

I just think there's more ego involved in our pursuit of running excellence than just the purity of "oh, I love to run."

Oh absolutely, given that this particular activity: (i) deals in the objective measurement of time and (ii) involves pushing one's body to its physical limits for long periods of time, and on a regular basis. But if what saps the motivation is the inevitable age-driven decline, isn't it motivation enough to confront and resist that decline? And if you need proof of and a badge for your successful resistance, I would agree with others who say the age-graded PLP serves the purpose. And finally, I am not sure the 7:00 minute mile would feel all that slow when you are 100, in that you would be used to ambulating proportionally slower by then :)

Every new training cycle you get improvements, not necessarily over your self from previous years, but you get in better shape after each layoff, so you got that going for you.

You cannot resist the onslaught of time, the age-driven decline. Any idea to the contrary is delusional. Perceived exertion does not substitute for excellence.

LikeBekeleButSlow wrote:

[quote]

Oh absolutely, given that this particular activity: (i) deals in the objective measurement of time and (ii) involves pushing one's body to its physical limits for long periods of time, and on a regular basis. But if what saps the motivation is the inevitable age-driven decline, isn't it motivation enough to confront and resist that decline? And if you need proof of and a badge for your successful resistance, I would agree with others who say the age-graded PLP serves the purpose. And finally, I am not sure the 7:00 minute mile would feel all that slow when you are 100, in that you would be used to ambulating proportionally slower by then :)

who o why wrote:

Perceived exertion does not substitute for excellence.[quote]

For a lot of us it does. I had just as much fun running 19 minute 5ks when I was 12 as I did running 14 minute 5ks in my mid 20s and as I will when I'm running 30 minutes with chubby housewives pushing strollers blowing by me.

Have to quote Oprah on this one.

"Running is the greatest metaphor in life,because you get out of it what you put into it."

She should try it again it might help some of her current stress issues.

why o why wrote:

For me, running fast is an art in itself. There's nothing magical about a 7:00 mile. But when I'm floating down the road at a 5 minute clip and it feels effortless, that is very much enjoyable.

You do realize that on a global scale your 5 minute mile is about as special as the 7 minute mile don't you? You ain't grabbing no Olympic medals with either.

It doesn't sound like you're that passionate about running, and that's okay. There are many other things in life, and girl_runner's suggestion may be your best bet.Why does Geb still run? You know part of the reason why he's the GOAT? http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/12/sport/athletics-haile-gebrselassie/index.html

why o why wrote:

You guys missed my point. I'm trying to justify it to myself, not because I care what others think.

Also, most of you are assuming (maybe bc of the age demographic) that it's still possible to chase PR's. Of course it's fun when you're getting faster! But when age and reaching your physical limit kicks in, what would be the point then? I think winning your age group is lame but that's me.

What's the alternative? Broaden your base of activities within an active lifestyle. Things that right now you're precluded from doing because it would be counterproductive to training.