Not that I'm looking for approval or anything, but there's something annoying about nonrunners looking down on any other race distance. Maybe I should just tell them I do 5k marathons.
Not that I'm looking for approval or anything, but there's something annoying about nonrunners looking down on any other race distance. Maybe I should just tell them I do 5k marathons.
Tell them you like to race not jog.
I usually say that I'm trying to develop speed before "moving up" to the marathon and unless they're serious runners that goes completely over their heads.
Also, you can say that it takes more time to recover from a marathon and it reduces your opportunities to race frequently at the shorter distances. Not to mention the different type of training required for the marathon.
I usually ask if Usain Bolt should do the 5k instead of the 100 or 200 ... and usually only about half the people get it. Maybe I should ask if baseball games should go 90 innings instead of 9, or some other non-running related reference.
And I tell them I will race a marathon when I think I have a shot at the Olympic Trials, and that I think I would currently come 6-8 minutes short. Explaining the nuances of racing a marathon vs. running one are lost on a lot of people.
"I'm a competitive athlete, not a marathoner."
"I like to run fast"
I had thought this was going to be an ultrarunning thread...
The problem with some of these replies like...I like to run fast...I'm a competitive athlete...is that you can also do that at the marathon level. If you can't qualify for the Trials at the marathon you most likely don't have the talent to qualify for the Trials at 10K..
The real question is...why do you choose to "race" shorter distances instead of "racing" the marathon.
If they are non-runners then ask them "why don't you?"
If they say they don't want to, then invite them to a 5k and crush their souls.
fergegtgg wrote:
The problem with some of these replies like...I like to run fast...I'm a competitive athlete...is that you can also do that at the marathon level. If you can't qualify for the Trials at the marathon you most likely don't have the talent to qualify for the Trials at 10K..
The real question is...why do you choose to "race" shorter distances instead of "racing" the marathon.
I am sure you are playing the devil's advocate ... but the problem with your logic is that generally, people are not asking that. They are asking, "Why are you running a 15/16/17 minute 5k instead of a 3/4/5 hour marathon?" They don't recognize the difference between getting in shape to finish a marathon, and getting in shape to race it.
So while your question is a valid one coming from a serious runner to another serious runner, giving their thoughts on which Trials qualifying mark, it is not really what is being discussed in this thread.
I tell people casual people, that I will, in the future. For fellow runners, who can be more persistent, I state the B standard as an immediate goal (not gonna happen, too old and slow for that). I don't really care what others think, but these answers put a quick end to further conversation about the topic.
"Marathons are for pu$$ie$. Do I look like a pu$$ie to you? Well, do I punk?"
No. People are just asking why don't you run marathons. A 16-minute 5K runner should be able to run sub-3 hrs easily, if well-trained for one. So the real quuestion is...why are you training for 16 minute 5Ks when you could be training for a 2:50 marathon?
runthecountry wrote:
[quote]fergegtgg wrote:
I am sure you are playing the devil's advocate ... but the problem with your logic is that generally, people are not asking that. They are asking, "Why are you running a 15/16/17 minute 5k instead of a 3/4/5 hour marathon?" They don't recognize the difference between getting in shape to finish a marathon, and getting in shape to race it.
So while your question is a valid one coming from a serious runner to another serious runner, giving their thoughts on which Trials qualifying mark, it is not really what is being discussed in this thread.
ncjsbcjs wrote:
No. People are just asking why don't you run marathons. A 16-minute 5K runner should be able to run sub-3 hrs easily, if well-trained for one.
So the real quuestion is...why are you training for 16 minute 5Ks when you could be training for a 2:50 marathon?[quote]runthecountry wrote:
^this
OP and his likes are nothing but insecure and defensive.
The question is "why don't you run marathons?" Answer it honestly, you self-obsessed whining beta runners.
The honest answers would almost always be "because my endurance sucks" or "because running a fast marathon is so hard" or "because I don't have the guts to do the necessary hard training" or "I'd rather run a distance that average Joe can't relate to".
You're a bunch of pvssies who can't face the truth.
ncjsbcjs wrote:
No. People are just asking why don't you run marathons. A 16-minute 5K runner should be able to run sub-3 hrs easily, if well-trained for one.
So the real quuestion is...why are you training for 16 minute 5Ks when you could be training for a 2:50 marathon?
runthecountry wrote:[quote]fergegtgg wrote:
I am sure you are playing the devil's advocate ... but the problem with your logic is that generally, people are not asking that. They are asking, "Why are you running a 15/16/17 minute 5k instead of a 3/4/5 hour marathon?" They don't recognize the difference between getting in shape to finish a marathon, and getting in shape to race it.
So while your question is a valid one coming from a serious runner to another serious runner, giving their thoughts on which Trials qualifying mark, it is not really what is being discussed in this thread.
Yes, they may be simply asking "Why don't you do a marathon?" but that is only because they don't have a deep enough understanding of quality distance running performances to realize what motivates serious runners.
In your own words, a sub-3 hour marathon should be easy for a 16 minute 5k runner, so by that logic, you think people should be asking this:
"Why don't you challenge yourself less (aiming for a sub 3 hour marathon) instead of racing to your peak fitness and trying to push your limits (racing a 16 minute 5k)?"
In the past few years, I have trained for the 1500, 5000, and half marathon, and have dropped my PRs in all of them. And when I think I can make a push for the Trials standard, I will choose to do so. But to have the attitude that as soon as I am physically able to run a respectable marathon, I should run one - is wrong, and demeaning of the effort put in to seriously training for and racing shorter distances.
I know it's rather off topic but is a sub 3hr marathon actually supposed to be easy for a 16 minute 5K runner? As in even a 16:50 5K runner?
The reason I ask is because I think I'm around 16high/17low for 5K but my primary distance is 800/400 (1:55high) and I think I would struggle to run under 3:05 for the marathon.
Why won't you run a marathon until you can make a push for the Trials standard? You could still lower your marathon PR through multiple marathon training cycles. Dropping your PRs at 1500, 5000, and HM is not mtually exclusive. I don't understand your logic.
Well, I doubt a sub-3 hour marathon would be easy for someone who is in 1:55/16:50 shape, but if you got to 1:55/16:00 shape, I bet it would be pretty manageable (and the 1:55 is still a good bit better than the 16:00).
A 16:50 5K is worth a 2:45 marathon...give or take a few minutes. But that is assuming you've had substantial aerobic development over years of training. You're not going to do it from a middle distance background. I have a friend who ran 2:41 at Chicago and at the time he couldn't run any faster than 17:20 in a 5K. He was also 39 years old.
Frabbit wrote:
I know it's rather off topic but is a sub 3hr marathon actually supposed to be easy for a 16 minute 5K runner? As in even a 16:50 5K runner?
The reason I ask is because I think I'm around 16high/17low for 5K but my primary distance is 800/400 (1:55high) and I think I would struggle to run under 3:05 for the marathon.
You guys are being way to easy on the OP.
OP - Just run a marathon to shut them up.
I have sold running shoes for years and was in your same position. So I just ran a marathon faster than 99% of the people that I meet every day, and happily train for the 5k/10k again.