Hobbyjoggers are very friendly, better runners are snobbish

I used to be snobbish, but now I'm very friendly.

Actually, I've found that runners that are fairly good tend to be more snobbish than elite runners, who are more secure in their abilities, and are usually more approachable.

In my experience the true elites are generally humble and friendly. Of course they prefer to be left alone as it gets ear race time, but that’s understandable. The goofy snobs (generally sports) are the frustrated wannabes who are just a little too slow to ever won a race of any significance.

In running and other fields, I also find that the people at the very top are often super nice. The snobby douchebags are usually the people who are better than the casuals, but still quite far away from the top. These types often feel like it is unfair that they are not at the top due to bad luck, poor genetics, someone screwed them, etc. and are quite bitter. They often spend nearly as much time on their activity as the pros, but their chosen activity turns out to be a huge time and money sink for them. Their best options would be to go fully casual or to focus their energies on a field where they are more talented or that at least makes them some money. Until they figure this out, they will continue to be angry jerks. See 90% of letsrunners.

Professional runners are often super cool and genuinely respect all of their fellow athletes. They often feel blessed to be so talented and are quite proud of unlocking their potential through their hard work and consistency. They respect their fellow competitors, the letsrunner types who work hard but will never reach their level, and the hobby runners alike. They have no reason to be snobby because they are genuinely confident and happy.

Ugly girls are very friendly, hotter girls are snobbish.

Very well said! We admire the faster runners and we try to learn from them, and we are willing to buy the best gear we can get. So, what’s wrong with this? And by the way, I’m still trying to get down to a 25 min. 5K!

Everyone that I've met at a Parkrun USA has been very friendly. No snobs there, but some pretty good runners as well as the rest of us.

OldXCguy wrote:

I used to be snobbish, but now I'm very friendly.

Actually, I've found that runners that are fairly good tend to be more snobbish than elite runners, who are more secure in their abilities, and are usually more approachable.

East African runners are almost all very approachable and humble. Most come from very humble backgrounds and place their families' needs on top, which is why they are such down-to-earth people who don't look down on so-called inferior joggers.

Definitely too broad of a term to begin with and not properly defined. A true & accurate definition would be someone (of any age) who jogs simply for a hobby. More than likey that's someone who doesn't race, or jogs at races just for participation. But it could also be defined as a fitness jogger/runner who does it consistently as a "hobby" for fitness benefits & pure enjoyment.

I'm an old cat with arthritis & chronic injuries so my racing & hard training days are long gone. It's a few days of running or jogging per week (15 mpw) for purely fitness benefits and the enjoyment of jogging. So I considered myself "jogging" as a"hobby" for fitness benefits now. If the term "hobby jogger" is suppose to be demeaning & belittling to anyone who jogs, young or old, then so be it. There's worse things we can be called. And everyone has a hobby. One of my neighbors drinks as a hobby, so I call him a hobby drinker and he gets a kick out of it. ?

Most track clubs are majority hobby joggers. Most hobby joggers are hobby joggers because they don't know how to train. Their workouts are more about socializing than anything else. People who actually know how to run fast rightly disdain that kind of mass stupidity and don't have time to help them unlearn it on an individual basis.

If you want to find snobs, look to cyclists. They all think they're awesome because even the weak ones can go very fast in a group, and they have all these categories for racing so everyone can imagine themselves a serious competitor. All runners slower than sub-elite know they're not fast. Unfortunately that has produced low self-esteem resulting in finisher-medal syndrome and celebration of mediocrity.