You're a hobby jogger if you live for Strava, but a runner if you run to race

Discuss wrote:

I know a few people who can't live a day without their pace seen as "blisteringly fast" on Strava. Then when it comes to races, the amateurs can't run at a faster pace than what they normally do.

Why do people sabotage themselves like this? Is it like asking why some people are heroin addicts, because they're just wired to make dumb decisions? I'm glad I'm not a coach and I don't have to deal with these people.

It’s actually like asking why so many people sabotage themselves by trying to make running a career when the vast majority make so little and burn out after a short youthful period and it’s too late to acquire new skills.

The recreational runners are running for enjoyment, or to tell themselves they can run fast, or use social approval to get a good workout. They don’t seem to get injured at rates much more than anyone else, and if they do, they can simply take time off from running and attend to other aspects of their fulfilling life and career instead.

Different people, different outlooks. They seek approval on Strava for their real self from their friends. At least they are not wasting time on some anonymous running site being all holier then thou.

Take that, Molly Seidel!

I see this all the time. They train at 7 minute miles and race at 7 minute miles.

I've read somewhere that 10K @ 10K pace +10s/km (+15s/mi) is a strong tempo. Anything wrong with that?

great post

Strava just drags everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, into heroic overtraining.

I genuinely think being a Strava hero contributed to such a big injury for me. Deleted it now and the feeling is spectacular. Completely cathartic.

I have a lot of Hobby Jogger friends. They honestly don't know the difference between racing and training runs.

The only reason they enter races is for the "swag" (I hate that word) and the social aspect.

That's fine, most of them are healthy and enjoy what they're doing but they really don't get that when you race you step it up to another gear. They'll post PR's in training runs and actually count them as PR's.

You spell it "discus".

At least 25% of strava users run at 7 minute miles and race at 7 minute miles. Some cun t down voted that but the point stands. Thankfully I don't visit this echo chamber much anymore.

Strava didn't make men train too hard. It just snowballs. A guy in the locker room will read a quote from a world class runner stating he runs once a week at 4:xx per mile and two to five more runs at 5:xx per mile. Before long, running at 5:xx per mile like the world class guys, but it destroyed more than a few of us.

'cause most humans are scum.

Hobby Joggers often thrive on the day to day "You're a rock star" comments they get from they're hobby jogging and non-running friends.

It's like the "That workout kicked by butt" comments or the "I'm dreading the workout my "coach" is making me do".

They get reassured daily that they're a great athlete.

Then they race and the obligatory- Well, the race didn't go as planned. But I tried despite the perfect weather and flat and fast course. (that's sarcasm by the way).

I never claim a pace on Strava is my HM, 10K or whatever.

If you bet everyone that does do this that their pace on race day will be slower than what they claimed on Strava you’d win 90+% of the time.