define a "serious runner"

serious runner = someone who loves running and therefore runs a lot. Striving for continuous improvement is also a characteristic. I put myself into this category. "A lot" is maybe subjective - in my case 50s, shooting for 70s.

talented runner = someone who is considerably better than the average runner, and can win most races against strong fields.

There are many, many "serious runners" who aren't "talented runners." Mind you, this is the view of a non-talented runner. I'm interested to hear what others think.

34 minute and getting trashed? Over the past year or so, I've seen sub 2:20 marathoners getting trashed because they ran 90 miles/week in their prime instead of 140-150. It used to be the one who got to the finsh line first would be the winner/most admired. Now on the one hand you have the penguin set who proclaims "everyone a winner." (some of the most conceited/self-centered runners I've met never break 20 minutes in a 5k), and on the other hand you have some 15 min 5k/2:25 marathoners who run 140 miles a week and everybody goes ooh ahhh, but the 30 something bloke who trains at 60 miles a week while balancing career & family but still runs 14:30 gets bashed.

No doubt there are many degrees of serious (professional runners have to be more serious than the weekend warrior), but a runner who places training and competition at a high priority in their life can be considered "serious" if they want to. Once again, its to each their own.

Anyone that live in Palo Alto = Serious Runner.

The rest of the US= Casual Jogger

[quote]King of Karma wrote:

(some of the most conceited/self-centered runners I've met never break 20 minutes in a 5k),

I snipped a lot...

I am guessing these people are conceited in their everyday life as well. Crai Virgin still takes the cake as the most conceited runner I have ever met. However, some local runners are close and they do not have the resume of Virgin (Fatoldguy probably knows some of the people!).

You are all the reason running has such a bad reputation or lack thereof. Runners are so focused on what a real runner is that they forget we are all part of the same struggle.

We should be trying to point out all of the great things our sport has to offer regardless of talent level. Instead we are bashing each other based on how fast we are.

I guarantee that a 31:00 10k to the average person is no different than a 27:00 10k. Runners are the only ones who know the difference. So when all the elite runners treat non-elite runners like nobodies, remember that you are nobodies to the rest of the world.

The word serious (from Webster)

1 : thoughtful or subdued in appearance or manner : SOBER

2 a : requiring much thought or work

b : of or relating to a matter of importance 3 a : not joking or trifling : being in earnest b archaic : PIOUS c : deeply interested : DEVOTED 4 a : not easily answered or solved b : having important or dangerous possible consequences

Once you cross the line of working out to stay in shape as opposed to being competitive, you can no longer consider yourself a "serious runner." If you are training 50 miles per week with the intent on winning a road race, setting a PR, etc.- then you are serious. Otherwise, you have graduated to the realm of weekend warrior- which there is nothing wrong with. Furthermore, applying the term SERIOUS implies that there will be consequences if you do not set out what you intended to accomplish. Bottom line, the term SERIOUS has to be examined in the context of your intent- only you would know if you were a "serious runner." I am no longer a serious athlete because I choose to not compete. I choose not to compete because I do not have the time, nor commitment, to be a serious athlete anymore. Therefore, I work out to stay in reasonably decent shape.

Need to see "100" in the logbook at least a few times, more is better.

he doesn't post on message boards

What's this "runners are a community" stuff? That sounds like some horrible "new age" crap that people throw out there to create a sense of belonging or boost self-esteem.

While I define a serious runner as someone who strives to improve and remain competitive at a self-set level (ex: a 50 year old guy trying to break 4:00 for the 'thon AND working harder than before to do it = serious, a "Gallowalker" just running enough to "do" a marathon = not serious), true passion for SPORT is what makes the difference not an arbitrary time figure.

Runners are not a community. They are people with families, jobs, and other interests who happen to run. "Community" is the kind of PC bullshit espoused by magazines to make everyone feel special. Think of it this way, is there a sanitation worker's "community"? A special copy machine repairman's "family"? I don't run down the street looking for my "brothers and sisters" and then greet them with a secret handshake.

Bottom line, look inside yourself for motivation and esteem. Stop trying to turn running into some sort of enlightening experience that's bigger than what it is. It's running, not religion. Quite honestly, I've never seen a serious runner who romanticizes the sport. A serious runner will tell you that it's all about hard work, sweat, overcoming pain, and willing the body to outperform its limits. Leave the "new age" crap to RW, The Penguin, Hal Higdon, and their ilk.

"I don't run down the street looking for my "brothers and sisters" and then greet them with a secret handshake."

I hope you at least wave, for goodness sake. That's common courtesy in these parts (although I have run in places where this doesn't happen - maybe Portland is one of them?) whether you're fast or slow.

You forget your Monday morning coffee today PR? I don't think you have to romanticize the sport to have a feeling of "community" or something "in common" with other runners, both serious and not.

Who are you running for? Why care one whit what anyone on this message board thinks about your running?

Now, I?m not saying don?t care what ANYONE thinks about your running. If someone is married, or perhaps married with children, or are responsible for looking after people other than you who are dependent upon you, then any or all of this becomes the bottom line.

Running is one way by which we are righteous, but it?s sure not the only way. There are hierarchies of responsibilities, and some of our responsibilities to others supersede most of our responsibilities to ourselves.

Your message indicates that you fit the bill described above.

Bottom line: take care of those who depend upon your care.

Do it.

And recognize that you?re blessed in an otherwise desiccated and evacuated social toxic waste dump to have people you care about, care for, and who need you.

You can still run. Maybe before the other folks wake up. Maybe after they go to sleep. Maybe around the playground. Maybe during lunch at work.

And yeah, maybe you won?t run nearly as much as you would if you weren?t blessed with people to care for. We?re talking about life, not a television show.

If, in the future, when your kids are grown and you legitimately find more discretionary time, then the solution is obvious.

Kill your TV.

Run.

With friends when you feel like it. By yourself when you feel like it.

When it comes to running?That?is?all?that?matters.

When it comes to life, well, you?ve still got your wife and kids and it?s good to find a balance that prominently includes them. If you?re lucky to grow old, they?ll be there after the running isn?t any more.

Two things not to do: First, don?t visit this message board looking for approval, it invites input from some really troubled wretches out there (advice, on the other hand may be worth seeking). Second, don?t visit the Dyestat High School General message board for the same reason. There is a lot of insecurity and hostility roiling around on both boards.

I hope you have a nice run today!

Good post.....especially the part of killing the T.V.

A subject who not only "loves" running, but respects it. They look at the overall picture and listen to their body. They do not run the killer track workout when their achilles is still feeling devestated by a past workout. A serious runner would not sacrifice their career for that great feeling you get from a good and fast workout. The serious runner is willing to put running aside for a time being to study everything but running, in the belief that their overall knowledge of self is what improves their capability to run.