It happened today (Read 982 times)

Ahhhh...that is what I called unplanned fartlek (speedplay). If a runner faster than me passes me running I almost always speed up (sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally). If they are a LOT faster I speed up for 20 or 30 steps, if they are a little faster, sometimes I'll run with them for awhile if initial chatting seems friendly or its a runner I know. Makes for a good run if you keep it in control. The only time I remember NOT speeding up even one step was during Hood to Coast...the elite teams start LATER so that they dont finish in the middle of the night. Around 3 am I hear pit-pit-pit-pit-pit....and an elite runner swishes softly by me at some sub 5mm pace and is off in to the night. smooooth and silent.

I got passed by a dude pushing his kid in a stroller once...... had to watch him run away from me for 2 miles. Not fun! Jason

My last 5K, I had my eye on a lady and her much-older-than-me mother, quite a bit ahead of me in the starting queue. I wanted to start slow, and then pass them up - at least the grandmotherly type. She blew me AWAY!

Yeah that's a good reason to get into shape

I got passed by a dude pushing his kid in a stroller once...... had to watch him run away from me for 2 miles. Not fun! Jason

I have seen this before on some of my long runs from two different individuals. One of them was a guy that was really flying... he was hardcore and I didn't feel bad about being passed by him. The other was a lady on a short run that was busting it out b/c I passed her on a short uphill later and she turned around. Remember that people pushin' those strollers are pretty motivated a lot of times

I was trying to catch up with an 80-sumpin' on a 10K race a year or two ago, thought I'd reel him in, but I couldn't get even an inch closer. The whole time he just cruised along, looking totally relaxed, while I was working hard. Turns out he's a local hero and ultra runner - I see him often now and I still tease him about wanting to catch him someday. Arla

Some of these stories are really funny! Here's a couple of my experiences- I ran a small 10k last July 1st., Canada Day, saw a guy with long white hair and flowing beard, like a slim Santa Claus, probably in his middle 60's. The course was out and back for 5k and two loops for 10k. I saw him coming back as I was heading out, he was far ahead of me, his time was 8 minutes faster than mine. Another time I was doing a training run with a fast finish and was flying along, 400 metres to go, when I thought I heard footsteps. I realised it must be an echo off a wood fence I was passing, so did not look back. Next moment a woman flies past me, gives me a friendly smile, and leaves me in the dust.

I live in a college town and my run goes RIGHT BY the college track & field area... and it's right after one of my major hills so I'm usually going at a slow pace to catch my breath and I'm always worried they will laugh and make fun of me! LOL I always get passed when I'm out and a college kid comes up to me!