Good ideas. Certainly I’ve noticed the doping element, and I commented in the Bekele vs. El Guerrouj thread about who was more likely to be doped that it has led to the most cynical fan base for any sport I can think of. I try not to be cynical, but I don’t blame others for being so, as doping is heartbreaking as a fan.
Yeah, one of the biggest differences between this and other sports fan message boards is that most of us are or were runners ourselves, usually competitively. Although I still do think that a lot of people who visit football or baseball websites probably used to play themselves, too.
I do see a ton of hostility towards “hobby joggers.” Why anyone would be hostile towards someone who jogs for fun is absolutely beyond me. So there whole life isn’t running—who cares? They could make the same point and say we’re hobby readers or hobby musicians or hobby whatever. WHY IS THIS SOMETHING TO BE UPSET OVER?
I feel like if your PR is slower than 20 minutes for 5K you’re not even allowed to post on here for running advice, which is just obnoxious. I try to call out the bull— (oh wait, I’m not even allowed to use that word on this website...which totally makes sense) whenever I see it in threads, but just get insulted using epithets that have popped up in the last few years like “white knight” or “beta” so that makes me think it’s a younger audience doing the insulting, but who knows.
Edit: Woah, instead of “beta” I originally put a four letter word starting with a C (and, no, it doesn’t rhyme with “runt”), but I’m amazed that LR doesn’t allow it anymore. It rhymes with “muck.” Well, at least that obnoxious term will stop being thrown around on here as much.