NYCRuns starts offering prize money, facebook girl complains that they get too competitive

Related... found this gem on The Spring Lake Five (New Jersey's biggest road race, with about 10,000 runners) facebook page:

"I'll be there bright and early... It's not about TIME, it's about participating and FINISHING!!!"

Thank you, sir, for speaking on behalf of 10,000 other people on what their motives are/should be for participating in an athletic event. The organizers could surely save some money and effort by foregoing the timing of this race all together, and I hope you've suggested this to them.

Ted Underhill wrote:

I would guess her objection lies in either her place relative the top place. Or more likely, it could be that if faster women are showing up, she is getting bumped out of age group prizes or merely just down the list. She could be finishing top 5 without the faster people and now her 12th place in her age group is not sitting well with her.

This ^

They are upset because they're no longer able to "win" and AG award.

Ted Underhill wrote:

I would guess her objection lies in either her place relative the top place. Or more likely, it could be that if faster women are showing up, she is getting bumped out of age group prizes or merely just down the list. She could be finishing top 5 without the faster people and now her 12th place in her age group is not sitting well with her.

I see your point, but that would make her a fairly competitive person. If you're a competitive person, you honestly don't mind being bested by superior athletes. I like to win races, but if someone shows up who is clearly faster than me, I don't go complain to the RD. I train harder...

That concept just seems so ridiculous. Is this the millennial "everyone is a winner" thing? I am a millennial, by the way.

NoNoNoNONoNo wrote:

I see your point, but that would make her a fairly competitive person. If you're a competitive person, you honestly don't mind being bested by superior athletes. I like to win races, but if someone shows up who is clearly faster than me, I don't go complain to the RD. I train harder...

That concept just seems so ridiculous. Is this the millennial "everyone is a winner" thing? I am a millennial, by the way.

I don't think people like that are competitive, I think they're vain. They like to win age groups because they can post a selfie of them with their medal, not because it reflects self improvemet or a competitive spirit.

themanontherun wrote:

NoNoNoNONoNo wrote:

I see your point, but that would make her a fairly competitive person. If you're a competitive person, you honestly don't mind being bested by superior athletes. I like to win races, but if someone shows up who is clearly faster than me, I don't go complain to the RD. I train harder...

That concept just seems so ridiculous. Is this the millennial "everyone is a winner" thing? I am a millennial, by the way.

I don't think people like that are competitive, I think they're vain. They like to win age groups because they can post a selfie of them with their medal, not because it reflects self improvemet or a competitive spirit.

someone ask the complainergirl what she is complaining about exactly. She's on FB.

I'm preserving anonymity for myself.

I'm not too familiar with the road racing scene. Is $100 really going to attract that many people?

The jig is up on me. I'm going to confess my deep-seated homosexuality now. I love me some RIPPED and SHREDDED oiled up male bodybuilders.

Our Delicate Egos wrote:

I'm thinking this is more the mentality that allows those "Planet Fitness" gyms to thrive, the ones where you are kicked out if you have any visible muscle or are looking for anything other than ellipticals and plastic 10lb dumbells.

That is certainly possible and fits the annoying profile, but it doesn't explain the comment regarding that she doesn't have any chance now, or whatever the hell she said. At the risk of agreeing with themanontherun (which I try to limit to once or twice per year), I think he is right. This is more about vanity. I honestly don't think she was winning AG or even receiving prizes, but the "optics" of top 5 or 10 or whatever she was getting doesn't sit well when her spot tumbles. She equates that with the prize money being offered all of a sudden, even though the money doesn't likely attract anyone finishing ahead of her in her AG.

themanontherun wrote:

I don't think people like that are competitive, I think they're vain. They like to win age groups because they can post a selfie of them with their medal, not because it reflects self improvemet or a competitive spirit.

I will defer to you on this because I assume you have met people like this in the past. I would just assume that most people who care about placing are somewhat respectful to competition.

Sad.

I agree, someone who doesn't mind posting on Facebook should ask her why she is upset. Her comment says "makes it impossible." I don't see why having faster runners makes it impossible for her to race. The only answer would be your theory, so you're likely correct. But I have a hard time believing that someone would admit to that on Facebook.

I kinda agree to an extent. As a frequent racer i enjoy showing up to run with the regulars. If a race offers money, the ringers will come in and ruin the atmosphere of the race.

They have no connection to the local running community. Their prize usually outweigh their entry fee, so it's a net loss to the community.

I get they have a right to do it and I know the remedy is train harder but I will never be a kenyan ringer.

They must be proud beating a bunch of hobby joggers. I know when I look for races. I don't look for slow times so I can win.

For all those who say "it's a race". Well the best races aren't always about $$. It's about performing against the best.

You guys are being way too mean!

What's important is what miles they hit us with the color! I need to get my selfie stick ready. Stop giving away money and start making prettier T-shirts.

:)

Hobby Slogger wrote:

I get they have a right to do it and I know the remedy is train harder but I will never be a kenyan ringer.

Because you're not fast or you're not Kenyan?

Hobby Slogger wrote:

For all those who say "it's a race". Well the best races aren't always about $$. It's about performing against the best.

So you're against prize money because it brings in better runners (i.e., ringers), but you also say races aren't about money but are about performing against the best.

So you're against running against the best, but you're for running agains the best.

WHICH IS IT?

I hope you're trolling. Hard to believe that as a frequent racer you would rather run in a race like you described. Doesn't matter where in the pack I am in, I want competition.If they offer $100 prize, the race will probably bring out the local elites. No Kenyan is travelling more that 20 miles for that amount.Actually, I kind of feel the opposite, I am tried of these races being won in 16 - 17 minutes for 5k. Can't we at least have a 5 minute pace? I cut my teeth in the late 70s early 80s racing scene and the only time I got a 3rd place AG award was when I found a super low-key race no one knew about.The faster winning times bring publicity. When Stephen Sambu set a new LI 5k all-comers record, it made the newspaper and was the buzz among the running community.End of ramble.

Hobby Slogger wrote:

I kinda agree to an extent. As a frequent racer i enjoy showing up to run with the regulars. If a race offers money, the ringers will come in and ruin the atmosphere of the race.

They have no connection to the local running community. Their prize usually outweigh their entry fee, so it's a net loss to the community.

I get they have a right to do it and I know the remedy is train harder but I will never be a kenyan ringer.

They must be proud beating a bunch of hobby joggers. I know when I look for races. I don't look for slow times so I can win.

For all those who say "it's a race". Well the best races aren't always about $$. It's about performing against the best.

I think that offering prize money actually helps raise the charity more money. My local race added a 10k prize purse, upped the race fee by $25 a person, and had an additional 500 people show up. So basically they gained approx. $85k in race entry money for adding the $10k prize purse. I'd say that's good for the charity, even if the winner pockets $1000.

Hobby Slogger wrote:

I kinda agree to an extent. As a frequent racer i enjoy showing up to run with the regulars. If a race offers money, the ringers will come in and ruin the atmosphere of the race.

They have no connection to the local running community. Their prize usually outweigh their entry fee, so it's a net loss to the community.

I get they have a right to do it and I know the remedy is train harder but I will never be a kenyan ringer.

They must be proud beating a bunch of hobby joggers. I know when I look for races. I don't look for slow times so I can win.

For all those who say "it's a race". Well the best races aren't always about $$. It's about performing against the best.

You are an enormous vagina. I am sorry; you are. You are not a runner.

It would seem to me that this hobby jogger who originally complained on Facebook is the type of jogger who displays a "5k", "10k", and "13.1" sticker on the back of their Toyota RAV4 to show the world. The root of the problem with hobby joggers is that they want to be seen as a grinder; one who goes out and bust their ass week in and week out, one who can truly rip on race day. BUT, the problem with this is that they are not this whatsoever. They jog for leisure. On race day, this candy ass isn't going to the well, she shows up to display her geo tag on Instagram and Facebook so all of her friends get the impression that she's a grinder. A simple hobby jogger is content with a field who snags top of the line Nike gear just to run 11 minute pace for 5k, and is threatened by the nature of running, which is a racer incentivized by prize money.

As a letsrun community, we need to assemble to rid our local contests of such hobby joggers.

actually, its the guy who seeks out weak competition to win races that is the real pu$$y and you know it. I do race whoever lines up. anytime and every time, but the fact is they aren't part of the local community and never will be. im sure I've ran more miles, races and faster than some kid.

Also, the guy who's a bada$$ on letsrun is pretty brave.

shizzy wrote:

You guys are being way too mean!

What's important is what miles they hit us with the color! I need to get my selfie stick ready. Stop giving away money and start making prettier T-shirts.

:)

Why can't everyone win prize money?