What's your default answer for "so do you run?"

typical runner or sockpuppet wrote:

Better question: what's your default answer for "wow, I'll bet you've run a lot of marathons."

"Nope. I prefer running shorter, faster stuff like the mile and 5k. Doing a bunch of really long slower runs to train for a marathon doesn't appeal to me"

Ive been running a long time. Usually I try to end this line of conversation pretty quickly. So if people ask if I run, I usually just say "I get out there most days." and leave it at that.

.... me as how insecure many of "you people" are about the sport of running and seemingly yourselves.

So what if someone asks you about it? How about engaging them in conversation. They may wanna legitimately learn something about you or about running. Some of you act as if people who dont understand high mileage training or intervals or whatever ask you about running or dare to think that running a marathon is a great feat are doing you some injustice. Or perhaps they are so below you, how dare they ask you. After all, all they do is golf or play tennis.

I also love the responses where people drop their "crappy, doesnt mean much compared to the real runners" times that are excellent - like a 31 min 10K or a 4:17 mile. Really, you just responded to boast your achievment. Almost ubiquitous on this website.

Enjoy running while it lasts, because for most of you, it wont. When people ask me about running, I respond that I used to run but now enjoy other sports and had to quit because of injury.

Funny that if you ask guys/gals who are good at tennis, golf, swimming, etc most everyone is more than happy to engage in conversation about, recount stories, give advice without any elitism that their sport is somehow sacrosanct.

just mho....

I often find runners need to preface what they believe to be slow times (myself included) relative to what they believe their ability is. For example: if you ran a 10K in 35mins but believe you are in 33min shape, you don't need to say that you are injured or otherwise constrained. To a non-runner there is no difference between 35 and 33mins, you are just some guy who runs a fast. Very rarely will someone call you out on it.

First you say runners should engage in conversation then call a guy out for talking about his times. What a DB

Your MHO is moronic

Yes! Exactly this

edward teach wrote:

For me the question is more like so have you run a marathon? Or Occasionally do you run marathons?

Sometimes they ask how much I ran that morning or last night if they saw me out running. Its always a question about that one run and never about the big picture, average mpw over a year or more.

Yes

If it's any consolation, the letsrun population does not reflect most of the normal people who run.

Hahaha I can relate VERY much to this. I've run 71 in the half and low 15s for 5k but never a full marathon. People who know how much I run are astounded that I haven't done a marathon. It's funny how the average person thinks completing a marathon automatically signifies you as a "good" runner.

edward teach wrote:

For me the question is more like so have you run a marathon? Or Occasionally do you run marathons?

Sometimes they ask how much I ran that morning or last night if they saw me out running. Its always a question about that one run and never about the big picture, average mpw over a year or more.

here is how it goes wrote:

I've had pretty close to this conversation like 50 times:

"Do you run?"

"Yep, I run competitively"

"What does that mean?"

"I have a coach, I train every day, I enter races."

"Like you run marathons?"

"No, my best distances are mile, half mile. I'm impressed by marathoners, I would never want to run that far. I like the short fast stuff."

"Where can you run that?"

"College meets often let you enter if you're competitive. Sometimes there are meets for unattached runners. It's fun."

"What is your mile time?"

"Right now I'm injured but last spring I ran 4:17"

"That's ridiculously fast"

"It's pretty good for my age, but I'm middle of the pack with the college kids"

"Neat"

Was this a recent conversation with Potsie Weber?

Ted Underhill wrote:

Was this a recent conversation with Potsie Weber?

I Googled Potsie Weber but I still don't get it.

Never ceases to amaze.. wrote:

I also love the responses where people drop their "crappy, doesnt mean much compared to the real runners" times that are excellent - like a 31 min 10K or a 4:17 mile. Really, you just responded to boast your achievment. Almost ubiquitous on this website.

I've had people ask me if I could make the Olympics with my 4:17 mile. Wouldn't you feel obligated to put that into the proper context? I do.

I'm honest. I'm good locally. I'm pretty good for my age. Compared to college kids I'm mid-pack. Compared to Olympic caliber athletes I'm over a football field behind them. That is neither exaggeration nor false modesty. If people ask me how good I am, that's the answer.

Well the average person, not runner, recognizes that you can just wake up one day and run a 5k. All they have to do is walk outside and grab the newspaper daily to train for a local turkey trot.

Call me a douche. I don't care. I run for myself, not the approval of people on here with their noses up their arses.

Yep, how about you?

Small Town wrote:

"I used to run a lot more in HS and college but now I just have delusions of a track comeback"

"I used to run a lot more in HS but now in college I just have delusions of a track comeback"

:(

No but I crush alot...

Small Town wrote:

"I used to run a lot more in HS and college but now I just have delusions of a track comeback"

I tell them that I take Kaopectate when I get the runs.

Holiday Inn Expert wrote:

Well the average person, not runner, recognizes that you can just wake up one day and run a 5k. All they have to do is walk outside and grab the newspaper daily to train for a local turkey trot.

Call me a douche. I don't care. I run for myself, not the approval of people on here with their noses up their arses.

Settle down douche. Keep bragging about your BQ. I've run BQs while getting a handy from my missus.

I respond by saying "barely".