QOTD: “Zero. Zero bit of regret..." - Andrew Wheating on retirement

Really just seems like he didn’t like the running lifestyle and competition. If you want to maximize your talent in this endeavor, or any endeavor, you have to love what you’re doing. Personally, I love to compete and grit my teeth at the end of a race. He didn’t, and it seemed like more a job than something he loved to do.

Sounds like he crushed in college and that season after because it was balanced and novel. After the race, party with some hot girls. Go to class and be well known. And then once he got in that steady grind, it was subconsciously not what he wanted. I can understand it.

Bros just gotta be bros, bro

vivalarepublica wrote:

Really just seems like he didn’t like the running lifestyle and competition. If you want to maximize your talent in this endeavor, or any endeavor, you have to love what you’re doing. Personally, I love to compete and grit my teeth at the end of a race. He didn’t, and it seemed like more a job than something he loved to do.

I'll only care about the professional runners who I think would be runners even if they weren't elite. Who love the sport for what it is and not just for what they can get out of it. Jenny Simpson, Meb, Shalane, Kara, Bernard Lagat. These guys would be running every day no matter what.

Guys like Wheating and Ryan Hill and Robby Andrews and Rowbury...I just feel they're in it for the money

agip wrote:

vivalarepublica wrote:

Really just seems like he didn’t like the running lifestyle and competition. If you want to maximize your talent in this endeavor, or any endeavor, you have to love what you’re doing. Personally, I love to compete and grit my teeth at the end of a race. He didn’t, and it seemed like more a job than something he loved to do.

I'll only care about the professional runners who I think would be runners even if they weren't elite. Who love the sport for what it is and not just for what they can get out of it. Jenny Simpson, Meb, Shalane, Kara, Bernard Lagat. These guys would be running every day no matter what.

Guys like Wheating and Ryan Hill and Robby Andrews and Rowbury...I just feel they're in it for the money

Would you go to work and do your job every day for no money?

What an odd, judgemental outlook you have.

Andbro Broting

Trolo wrote:

[quote]agip wrote:

Would you go to work and do your job every day for no money?

What an odd, judgemental outlook you have.

I suspect he feels that was because he does run (their job) every day for no money. I don't know a single person who does my job for recreation, even at an amateur level.

agip wrote:

vivalarepublica wrote:

Really just seems like he didn’t like the running lifestyle and competition. If you want to maximize your talent in this endeavor, or any endeavor, you have to love what you’re doing. Personally, I love to compete and grit my teeth at the end of a race. He didn’t, and it seemed like more a job than something he loved to do.

I'll only care about the professional runners who I think would be runners even if they weren't elite. Who love the sport for what it is and not just for what they can get out of it. Jenny Simpson, Meb, Shalane, Kara, Bernard Lagat. These guys would be running every day no matter what.

Guys like Wheating and Ryan Hill and Robby Andrews and Rowbury...I just feel they're in it for the money

I totally agree but I think all top runners enjoy running to some extent, or they would never get into 3:30 shape. I think Nick Symmonds actually enjoys running but tries too hard to do the "bro" thing and acts like he doesn't.

cooptastic wrote:

Trolo wrote:

[quote]agip wrote:

Would you go to work and do your job every day for no money?

What an odd, judgemental outlook you have.

I suspect he feels that was because he does run (their job) every day for no money. I don't know a single person who does my job for recreation, even at an amateur level.

If you were paid to run, you would almost certainly enjoy it less. This is well-documented in psychological studies. When you are compensated for doing something, it turns into an obligation, and your perception of its intrinsic enjoyability goes down.

agip wrote:

I'll only care about the professional runners who I think would be runners even if they weren't elite. Who love the sport for what it is and not just for what they can get out of it. Jenny Simpson, Meb, Shalane, Kara, Bernard Lagat. These guys would be running every day no matter what.

Guys like Wheating and Ryan Hill and Robby Andrews and Rowbury...I just feel they're in it for the money

Thank you for being the great decider of those who actually enjoy running. I'll take your opinion as fact.

agip wrote:

[quote]vivalarepublica wrote:

Guys like Wheating and Ryan Hill and Robby Andrews and Rowbury...I just feel they're in it for the money

since you are the one decider of those who love running and those who do not... would you rather an athlete stick around until they are 40 or more.. at what point in your mind does a guy go from great athlete chasing the dream to sad sack washed up runner clinging to past glories?

He may have had more talent than Centro.

macdaddy wrote:

agip wrote:

I'll only care about the professional runners who I think would be runners even if they weren't elite. Who love the sport for what it is and not just for what they can get out of it. Jenny Simpson, Meb, Shalane, Kara, Bernard Lagat. These guys would be running every day no matter what.

Guys like Wheating and Ryan Hill and Robby Andrews and Rowbury...I just feel they're in it for the money

Thank you for being the great decider of those who actually enjoy running. I'll take your opinion as fact.

When an athlete says "nope, don't miss that at all" you can safely assume they do not enjoy running that much.

vivalarepublica wrote:

Really just seems like he didn’t like the running lifestyle and competition. If you want to maximize your talent in this endeavor, or any endeavor, you have to love what you’re doing. Personally, I love to compete and grit my teeth at the end of a race. He didn’t, and it seemed like more a job than something he loved to do.

Or maybe he didn't enjoy the lack of improvement.

It's exciting to train hard and go out and beat your PRs.

It is very hard to put in that same effort year after year without ever getting faster or placing higher.

And getting constant nagging injuries sucks.

His PRs were set in 2010.

He gave it 7 more years. That's not giving up easily.

You're welcome wrote:

macdaddy wrote:

Thank you for being the great decider of those who actually enjoy running. I'll take your opinion as fact.

When an athlete says "nope, don't miss that at all" you can safely assume they do not enjoy running that much.

did you read his quote, he was referring to the battle, the big races, hurting yourself... He didn't say he wouldn't go for a run on a trail etc.. The pressure these guys are under is intense. I can see why many are glad to be out of "the game".

I think running was kind of an unexpected talent for him...as I recall, he only started late in HS. He had rapid progress & had some really results for a while, but I guess he was really not into running the way many others are.

I doubt he maximized his potential but evidently he maximized his interest.

Star wrote:

vivalarepublica wrote:

Really just seems like he didn’t like the running lifestyle and competition. If you want to maximize your talent in this endeavor, or any endeavor, you have to love what you’re doing. Personally, I love to compete and grit my teeth at the end of a race. He didn’t, and it seemed like more a job than something he loved to do.

Or maybe he didn't enjoy the lack of improvement.

It's exciting to train hard and go out and beat your PRs.

It is very hard to put in that same effort year after year without ever getting faster or placing higher.

And getting constant nagging injuries sucks.

His PRs were set in 2010.

He gave it 7 more years. That's not giving up easily.

That could be true. Or maybe the times and places stalled because of motivational factors. Whatever works for him.

I doubt that that the typical pro contract is conducive to freely pursuing your love of the sport. It’s probably a ton of pressure and can create stress. I watched an interview with Meb after he won Boston and it seemed like the Skechers sponsorship allowed him to train and race with way less pressure than Nike. Probably was a factor in the longevity of his career.

Middle Aged Man wrote:

Andbro Broting

Brodrew Wheatbro