I had a moment of self realization where I realized I was one of those adult runners at a fun run who take the whole thing too seriously.
I was at my towns 4th of July 5K and I was lining up on the start line. I was dressed in my typical hobby jogger best (split shorts, singlet, racing flats). I asked some younger dude (maybe 17) what he was "trying to go" in the race.
He looked at me like I was some sort of weirdo. Then that creepy and smelly middle aged basement dweller who wears a bandana and lives with his mom walked up to me and said "I see you at all of these things! What are you trying to run?"
I realized that to the casual running community, I am no different. I don't have friends at the races, or family or kids. I am a 34 year old man who woke up to run a local 5K alone... not even socialize afterwards. I literally ran a 16:05, waited for my award alone while eating a banana and then went home.
So my question is, has anyone else had a moment of running self realization? Did you change your ways? Or did you ignore it?
HELP. I don't want to be that 56 year old dude wearing split shorts and banging on tables and creepily asking people "what time are you trying to run?"