Mid 30's hobby jogger here (19:30 5k)...question for the college fast guys..

Here's the funny thing...the 15, 16 minute 15k runners always seem to be a bit more disdainful of slower runners than people who are faster than them. Once you start running low 14s or under 14 you start to lose that attitude because, even though you've put all that work in, there's still guys who are wayyyyyy faster than you'll ever be. There's always a bigger fish. So keep working away and don't worry about it. The gulf between you and some 16 minute guy winning your local 5k is way smaller than between him and those making the worlds team.

Google cheats 777 wrote:

...when I was a college aged stud I probably wouldn't even think anything when I seen you.

College aged, but obviously not college educated.

And if you were concerned about "sub 17 guys", the guess what - you weren't a stud, either.

Nothing. At the very worst "why does anyone slower than me EVEN BOTHER RUNNING?." The latter are my own thoughts.

You get mass respect from me. Some younger runners only run because they are "good" at it. They like beating people and feeling superior. It comes easy when you're young and on a team, because you have a practice everyday with your peers/friends at 3pm.

Once you turn 35, work 40+ hours per week, and have multiple kids it takes commitment to break 19:00 in the 5k. You're doing your training at 5am before work, or at 9pm after your kids bedtime. Most often alone. You learn to love running for different reasons.

I don't think about other runners much, you'd just be another face in the crowd, but keep at it man. Your friends and family will probably think you're fast.

rcjason wrote:

You get mass respect from me. Some younger runners only run because they are "good" at it. They like beating people and feeling superior. It comes easy when you're young and on a team, because you have a practice everyday with your peers/friends at 3pm.

Once you turn 35, work 40+ hours per week, and have multiple kids it takes commitment to break 19:00 in the 5k. You're doing your training at 5am before work, or at 9pm after your kids bedtime. Most often alone. You learn to love running for different reasons.

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rcjason wrote:

You get mass respect from me. Some younger runners only run because they are "good" at it. They like beating people and feeling superior. It comes easy when you're young and on a team, because you have a practice everyday with your peers/friends at 3pm.

Once you turn 35, work 40+ hours per week, and have multiple kids it takes commitment to break 19:00 in the 5k. You're doing your training at 5am before work, or at 9pm after your kids bedtime. Most often alone. You learn to love running for different reasons.

And we have a winner.

This is exactly how I feel. It's easy for some kid or college student who only has to worry about themselves and their training. It's another for an adult with family commitments, a job, perhaps still working on education, and their training. I often run solo, at 5am or 7pm 7 days a week. When you kids grow up and have obligations other than your ego then you will know what it's like and have an entire new prospective on people who get out there to attempt to give their best on race day.

as a low 17 guy most races I think anyone under 20 minutes is doin pretty well, especially if they're "older"

19:30 5K for a 35 y/o is very good and the vast majority of runners who are older than about 25 couldn't run close to 19:30. Be happy with that. Most runners (people who actually train) can't run 6:15 pace for 1 mile, let alone 3.1 miles.

15 and 16 minute guys might seem "fast" to you but they certainly aren't making a living from running and would get lapped multiple times by top runners in a track race.

It's all relative. Enjoy running for what it gives you (fitness, satisfaction).

I'm late 20s and still training hard most of the time. If I think back to college...most of the guys wouldn't think of you at all. They show up to maybe one road race a year. They don't see you as part of the same running world they occupy. I think plenty would have respect for you and your running. It's just hard for them to relate to you much more than someone who plays tennis or golf. And they're not thinking much about what they'll be doing in 15 years.

Almost all the middle-aged guys i've met at races are really cool guys. Out there doing it because they like it and don't care what other people think. Anyone who shows up and is actually racing gets my respect.

Same here. (also met enough sub-14 jerks to know that talent doesn't make you better than anyone else...)

Wack wrote:

47yroldrunna wrote:

19:30 is hardly a "hobby jogger" pace. Ok it's not a competitive time for high school or college track runners but for mid 30s, if you're breaking 20min, and just a "hobby jogger", then you have some talent.

I started running at 40 at 40-50mpw with speed workouts every week by my 2nd year. My best Half Marathon pace was 7:06 in my 4th year. I doubt I'd be able to run a 19:30 5K but I'd be ecstatic if I did even in my mid 30s.

Okay lets not be using 19:30 and talent in the same sentence.

LOL. Pardon me.

JasonBidal wrote:

What do you really think of people like me at races?

Do you guys respect me cause I'm a decade older and still running and staying in somewhat good shape??

Do you think that you will still be running when your my age?

What are your honest thoughts. When you see me. 35, running in tank and short shorts, about 175 pounds and 6 ft tall. And I run a 19:30 5k.

What are your thoughts?

It solely depends on how many gaget$ you're wearing and how obnoxiou$ your shoes are.

Judge Dredd wrote:

I wonder what all of those former college runners who aren't fast enough to make a living off it professionally think of me when I walk into Whole Foods with my beautiful wife and kids while they are bagging my groceries. They probably wonder what someone like me, who makes 500k and is a millionaire at 40 with a beautiful family, thinks of them making close to minimum wage and living at home.

Probably laughing at you spending all of your energy to compensate for your lack of self esteem and confidence. And how your wife is likely cheating on you and will divorce you and take all your money.

Not a thing wrote:

To be honest, and it's not a bad thing, but I don't think about the people who finish behind me at all when I do organized runs open to everyone. You look for people you know and people who you think can beat you, and that's about it.

I have noticed this phenomenon in myself. During 45 years of on-again off-again training and competition, I've made a few serious "comebacks." And each time, I target potential competitors, look for them at races and in race results. But as I improve, and consistently beat them, they may as well not even exist. I don't notice them at all as I chase the runners in my "new peer group." I feel a little guilty about this, though.

The OP posed his question to the fast college guys, but in my current comeback, I'm afraid I would have stopped noticing him sometime between last December and this past April ... ;-)

I always raced against the clock and not other people. I was a low 14-minute 5k post-collegiate runner. But growing up, I had a local Master's runner that was breaking 26 for 5-miles, so I always raced against some older runners. I also grew up in a different era where you treat people how you wanted to be treated. My parents instilled in me high morals and values that I expressed in everyday life and just not on a track or roads. I made a "comeback" when I was 34 and ran a 4:12 mile at a meet in the Netherlands. I was now looked at as the old guy. I say keep it up, it is a lifestyle. I won't give two cents on what other people think of me at races. Go and enjoy yourself at them, meet new people, look at the scenery, etc. Life is way too short to worry or think of things like this.

JasonBidal wrote:

What do you really think of people like me at races?

Do you guys respect me cause I'm a decade older and still running and staying in somewhat good shape??

Do you think that you will still be running when your my age?

What are your honest thoughts. When you see me. 35, running in tank and short shorts, about 175 pounds and 6 ft tall. And I run a 19:30 5k.

What are your thoughts?

I think "cool he's out here, but he can run a lot faster if he understood what he's capable of."

The last time I broke 16 min for 5k I was in my mid-40's. I trained hard for it, but even if you just go to the track once every 10 days or so and do something fast and challenging with a bit of volume, any able-bodied fit man can probably run under 6-min pace.

I realize not everyone wants to be constantly challenged but that's how I'm wired at least.

Nice trolling. I agree, as long as you run once every 10 days and put in some intervals during that one run every week and a half, you can run sub 6-minute mile pace. Totally agree.