What time's do you consider to be elite?

Hingle McCringleberry wrote:

Well a good fart can last 5 to 10 seconds. 10 to 20 seconds you are talking sub-elite Anything above that is elite

Absolutely awesome. Comedy gold right there!

I am ashamed of myself for reading this entire thread. Touche, LetsRun, touche.

5k PR=15:03

So please tell us in which country can a 2:17 guy become a "national hero." There are many places where a 2:17 guy could become an Olympian, but marathon runners are not national heroes in those countries.

Coming from an elite wrote:

Neutral Observer wrote:

You are clearly one of those people who argues just for the sake of arguing. Your insecurities should not be this transparent.

Resorting to name calling undermines any argument you have.

He's not an elite runner, period. If he was, he'd be proud to post under his real name, but he's not. Case closed.

Being a longtime peruser of Letsrun, it's generally not wise to post under one's real name.

You're still missing the point. My first post was (for the most part) agreeing with you (at least relative to all the people posting crazy "elite" standards. However, you got your knickers in a twist. Perhaps you could remind me what "name" I called you? I just wasted my time rereading this thread and it looks like you cast the first stone when you responded to me when you said "No need to continue arguing with a bunch of Letsrun armchair critics who have no idea, or respect, of the work that goes into making a National Championship/Olympic Trials. You're average for a reason." I have actually qualified for the Olympic Trials myself, but you wouldn't know that since you came into this thread with the attitude that you were better than everyone else. The "worst" thing I did was to challenge your reading comprehension. I think this was reasonable. Your time for the marathon is great. Congratulations. Stop being so insecure.

It's usually best to use the dictionary for definitions when there is some confusion about what a word means. The one given above is it.

For running performance we can't simply use time. If we're referring to the select group ..."all runners" in a particular event, then it seems quite sensible to assign elite status to roughly the top 200 or so in the world. Now the cutoff is fuzzy not exact.

A 3:37 guy is 10 sec slower than the fastest guy in 2014 and he only ran that fast once. That's about 65 m back. Very few runners in the world can get that close. Anyone that close is not just some weekend road racer.

If you're a woman 4:07 is clearly elite but not for a man. Very few women can go that fast and she's probably in the top 200 in the world?

If you're a guy in HS, 3:50 is elite.

If you're a 55 yo, 4:40 is elite.

So you've got to consider the group of runners you're judging. And if we don't want to do that because we're only talking about elite among all runners in the world, then I think we ought to be clear about that in this discussion.

Neutral Observer wrote:

The "worst" thing I did was to challenge your reading comprehension. I think this was reasonable. Your time for the marathon is great. Congratulations. Stop being so insecure.

Yes, because my reading comprehension is fine, and I'm most definitely not insecure. You didn't seem to understand that times have changed-- the bar has been raised for good reason. I think I gave a reasonable response to what should be considered elite. You seem to think it's lower, and I disagree. Lets agree to disagree and leave the name calling out of it.

You're not elite, you haven't run 2:17, and since Bill Rodgers, Greg Meyer, George Malley, etc...have all posted on here before, you definitely haven't run the same times as they have, so what are you hiding? A big lie perhaps? An elite wanna be? Insecurity issues due to overwhelming short comings? Are you that arrogant that you don't think we all know that times have changed? Do you think we don't know how marathon times and making teams have gotten harder since the 90's? Do you think you train that much harder? I bet you haven't even broken 3 hours...have you? Seriously, how stupid are you?

Coming from an elite wrote:

Neutral Observer wrote:

The "worst" thing I did was to challenge your reading comprehension. I think this was reasonable. Your time for the marathon is great. Congratulations. Stop being so insecure.

Yes, because my reading comprehension is fine, and I'm most definitely not insecure. You didn't seem to understand that times have changed-- the bar has been raised for good reason. I think I gave a reasonable response to what should be considered elite. You seem to think it's lower, and I disagree. Lets agree to disagree and leave the name calling out of it.

"Coming from an elite" is a troll people. This is Letsrun.

i'm guessing that he's a 2:22 marathoner who just can't get there and has some personal issues.

Coffee Smellererer wrote:

"Coming from an elite" is a troll people. This is Letsrun.

Natural Observer wrote:

You're not elite, you haven't run 2:17, and since Bill Rodgers, Greg Meyer, George Malley, etc...have all posted on here before, you definitely haven't run the same times as they have, so what are you hiding? A big lie perhaps? An elite wanna be? Insecurity issues due to overwhelming short comings?

Are you that arrogant that you don't think we all know that times have changed? Do you think we don't know how marathon times and making teams have gotten harder since the 90's? Do you think you train that much harder? I bet you haven't even broken 3 hours...have you? Seriously, how stupid are you?

Coffee Smellererer wrote:

"Coming from an elite" is a troll people. This is Letsrun.

No I'm not. Real person, made the Olympic Trials a few times, been on a US Team. I don't see why what I said is objectionable or flags me as a "troll"? I think it's fair and objective to say anyone who's qualified for a US Championship or Olympic Trials can call themself an elite, whether they hit the qualifying standards in 1972 or for 2016.

Not if it's the marathon trials and the person has run 2:21 as that's not elite, except maybe in your biased eyes. If I had run 2:18, I would never have the guts to call myself elite, and you're even slower. You must live a sad existence not letting go of the dream that didn't happen and then labeling yourself an elite for self-esteem.

Coming from an elite wrote:

Coffee Smellererer wrote:

"Coming from an elite" is a troll people. This is Letsrun.

No I'm not. Real person, made the Olympic Trials a few times, been on a US Team. I don't see why what I said is objectionable or flags me as a "troll"? I think it's fair and objective to say anyone who's qualified for a US Championship or Olympic Trials can call themself an elite, whether they hit the qualifying standards in 1972 or for 2016.

NAtural Observer - My nickname is not registered. More people will believe you are me posting if you use Neutral Observer instead of Natural. It seems like a win win situation. I certainly won't lose any sleep over it and I am sure your boat would be well and truly floated.

And, "fast genius" - this is why I said you seem insecure. Those of us who actually are elite or have spent a lot of time with elite runners have no doubt that you almost certainly are who you say you are. I didn't particularly like your attitude, but I am sure you have run the times you said you ran, and I respect that. Of course, you are an elite.

There was a reason that I responded to you and not these other jokers. You DO present a valid definition, which I mostly agree with. Consider it a compliment that these other guys think 2:11 or 2:12 is so incredibly good that no such runner would ever venture to LRC. You are not going to convince these guys that you are who you say you are.

Keep in mind any further posts under this name will probably be from the boy who was trying to pretend to be me before. He's going to have a field day now he knows I didn't register this nickname.

Thanks Brah! I appreciate all my fans. Always keep looking, I post my genious in random threads.

look forward to your posts wrote:

Hingle McCringleberry wrote:

Well a good fart can last 5 to 10 seconds. 10 to 20 seconds you are talking sub-elite Anything above that is elite

Absolutely awesome. Comedy gold right there!

Do you both realize how pathetic you look? Neutral (Natural) Observer and coming from an elite, both of you grow up as neither one of you is that special. Meb wouldn't come on here and post with such arrogance. Trying to convince others on a forum that you are so good that you know more than anyone else on this board. Talk about insecure! Neither one of you are 2:12 marathoners, period. You're not national class let alone "ELITE". Give it a rest as we don't care and your opinions are not universal. Maybe you 2 can move in together and compliment each other day and night.Seek counsel, and soon!

Fuzz Lightbeard wrote:

Not if it's the marathon trials and the person has run 2:21 as that's not elite, except maybe in your biased eyes. If I had run 2:18, I would never have the guts to call myself elite, and you're even slower. You must live a sad existence not letting go of the dream that didn't happen and then labeling yourself an elite for self-esteem.

What are you talking about? Did you not read my post? I reached my dreams and made them a reality by making a US Team. I think I earned the right to call myself an elite by having represented the US in International competition.

No, you may have reached your dreams by making a team (that remains to be proven), but that doesn't mean you're elite except in your own mind. Sorry pal, 2:20 for a marathoner is not elite, except to you. Making the marathon team is done by dozens and dozens of runners. There were 87 qualifiers in 1976, 1980 had 225, 1984 had 201, and so on. They are all not elite. So then, what are you talking about and did you read my post?

Coming from an elite wrote:

Fuzz Lightbeard wrote:

Not if it's the marathon trials and the person has run 2:21 as that's not elite, except maybe in your biased eyes. If I had run 2:18, I would never have the guts to call myself elite, and you're even slower. You must live a sad existence not letting go of the dream that didn't happen and then labeling yourself an elite for self-esteem.

What are you talking about? Did you not read my post? I reached my dreams and made them a reality by making a US Team. I think I earned the right to call myself an elite by having represented the US in International competition.

You guys do understand what threads like this do to the sport of running don't you? I mean, you understand that potential fans of the sport could come here and see your posts, right? Any normal person would be horrified at the incredible as**olery and sociopathy on these boards.

When you wonder why more people don't come out and support our sport, you might do well to think about that.

u mean people who come on & pretend to be great runners? is that what u mean? potential fans don't read these threads and i agree with the others, this two guys neutralizer and elite are phonies. grow up.Pied Piper

You Are What You Is wrote:

You guys do understand what threads like this do to the sport of running don't you? I mean, you understand that potential fans of the sport could come here and see your posts, right? Any normal person would be horrified at the incredible as**olery and sociopathy on these boards.

When you wonder why more people don't come out and support our sport, you might do well to think about that.

Fuzz Lightbeard wrote:

No, you may have reached your dreams by making a team (that remains to be proven), but that doesn't mean you're elite except in your own mind. Sorry pal, 2:20 for a marathoner is not elite, except to you. Making the marathon team is done by dozens and dozens of runners. There were 87 qualifiers in 1976, 1980 had 225, 1984 had 201, and so on. They are all not elite. So then, what are you talking about and did you read my post?

Again, you didn't read my prior posts- I have the personal credentials. This shouldn't be an unwarranted personal bashing. Stick to the discussion.

One guy said we shouldn't let Glen Latimer's personal standards dictate what's considered elite, as he thinks what's considered elite is slower than this. I disagree. 2:20 is NOT elite nowadays. The Trials in 1984 had a standard of 2:19:04 with 201 qualifiers, thanks to a tailwind-aided, perfect weather 1983 race (possibly on a short course). You can nitpick all you want, with the large number of men qualifiers for this generation, but men's depth was likely at it's all-time best too. I would still say all those who qualified as capable of calling themself "elite" for their generation.