Do you hate discussing running--especially your times or PRs?

I meet random people (say guys) who've run a marathon and they're proud and it's like a 3:45 time and I have that same blank stare like "huh"?

I have a hard time saying I run too and can run almost an hour faster. It just feels like bragging so I don't even bother.

Yes! Exactly! It feels like bragging, especially if you break it down for them...as I did yesterday when I said that my marathon time is a 6:57 pace over 26.2 miles. What a trap this is. I end up walking away feeling ridiculous.

I don't like talking about my times or most races even with very good runners. I'll talk about an xc race that went well or something, that's about it. But I like talking about elite track and field as well as just the aspect of running, you know run up such and such trail, the overlook is nice. If you run x place in the evening, there are a lot of deer, etc.

kvothe wrote:

I don't like talking about my times or most races even with very good runners. I'll talk about an xc race that went well or something, that's about it. But I like talking about elite track and field as well as just the aspect of running, you know run up such and such trail, the overlook is nice. If you run x place in the evening, there are a lot of deer, etc.

I like this approach.

I had no idea you had to run a qualifier for New York

Agreed, this is even worse for the 800m or 1500m, a distance the general public just doesn't understand. I've had conversations with non-runners where they have told me they could probably run under 60s for one lap of the track, 'maybe 55?' etc. and there is nothing you can say.

At least most people know elite marathoners run "2 hours" so if you say 2:59 they think it's world class.

I think in recent years the popularity of the 5k has increased and so people start to realise what a decent time is. People often ask me what my 5k is when a conversation about running comes up, and the answer I give doesn't suitably impress when they know that I train x times a week.

Hopefully more 1 mile road races will pop up and the masses will understand!

Good points, Metric Miler. Yes, 55 seconds...what can one say in response to this?

I guess those 400m laps look easy. Actually, all of our running looks so easy. Why train so much? Just go out there and knock off a 55 or 15-flat whenever we please.

All this to tell us you ran a 3:02 marathon, geesh.

I HATE pigs!

It makes me uncomfortable when I discuss running with non-runners and even some inexperienced runners. The inevitable question is - "how far do you run?" I just try to downplay it and say "it depends on the day." But sometimes they pry a little further and insist that I give a concrete answer. The problem is, if I tell the truth they're going to think I'm either bragging, lying or superhuman.

"Oh yeah I ran 10.9 when at my school sports day"

No one cares about running, except for runners.

That's like if someone came up to me at school/work and started talking about their weightlifting maxes or their kid's gradecard. I wouldn't really care.

Several in my office run and they talk about their races. I race a lot, but don't bring it up. Sort of a don't ask don't tell.

Sometimes I get asked if I'm doing any triathlons. At least that one is easy to answer since I just tell them that they'll never see me on a bike or in a pool. How people see me running through the neighborhood and that translates into triathlons I have no idea.

Dodge Ball wrote:

It makes me uncomfortable when I discuss running with non-runners and even some inexperienced runners. The inevitable question is - "how far do you run?" I just try to downplay it and say "it depends on the day." But sometimes they pry a little further and insist that I give a concrete answer. The problem is, if I tell the truth they're going to think I'm either bragging, lying or superhuman.

I know what you mean. i have dodged questions, too.

Office space wrote:

Several in my office run and they talk about their races. I race a lot, but don't bring it up. Sort of a don't ask don't tell.

Why is that? Because they know you're too fast for them?

mediocresprinter wrote:

"Oh yeah I ran 10.9 when at my school sports day"

Usually this is a 100y time.

no one knows about running. it's an obscure sport... but we're expected to know everything about every other sport.tell someone you ran a 4:15 mile and they start telling their friends and everyone in the room that you're a 4-minute miler. my wife, who has heard about running from me for years, even does this.geeezwhen someone is dumbfounded about times, i ask them what the fastest mile they have ever run is. they usually say something between 6-7 pace. Then i just say my fastest marathon is fastest than that, in the fives, for every mile in the most humble way possible. if they don't understand that, they never will. they usually start stupidly blathering about this guy who runs 5-minute miles in a marathongeeez