Annoying, but... whatever (Read 1558 times)

Is it possible that it's true? I meet these naturally talented people pretty often. If I could only get them to work! Anyhow, I have a freind, fairly athletic, involved in various fun sports and ultimate frisbee and so on. About 5'-11, 30 years old, 150 lbs... So, on a whim, went out and ran a marathon. 4 hours. (3:51) Said it was horrible. walked/ran after mile 10. After he signed up, went for a 5 mile run, then a ten mile run. That was his training. Next marathon, (chicago 2004?) He puts in maybe 10 runs. Figures he should train up to 13 this time. Runs a 3:32. Next marathon, talks to me. Wants to run faster. Has 6 months. I talk to him, try to get him to commit to run 3-4 times a week minimum. He runs 1 or 2 times a week. (maximum). Not counting the six weeks he decided to take off. But he put long runs, including a 27 miler just for good measure. 3:02. He lost the chance to go under 3 hours just in the last 2 miles. Really close to that. Very few problems. So he talks to me again. He's really excitied. He says he really, really, really will be dedicated and wants to run a 2:30 marathon. He thinks he can. Hell, I can, and if I can do it, I KNOW he can do it, based on how damn much I had to run to break a single mile at 7:00. So I tell him he can, but it won't be free. The price is he'll have to run. Most days, building slowly to every day, and it might take a year of training. But that I think he could do it on fairly low volume, and it would likely be less than 80 miles per week. He thought I was kidding. Then he figured I was just being (spiteful? difficult? angry? cruel?) mean spirited. He has not talked to me much since then. He ran a 3:05 the year after that, 2006, off no training that I know of.

I can hold my breath under water for 4 minutes- just not consecutive minutes!

Id just say "thats nice" and go on about your business.......cause it doesnt matter and they dont understand..... Im sure you have to much to do to worry about someone that doesnt have a clue to begin with..... I have made a habit of only talking to runners or people in RA about such things...cause everyone else just doesnt understand......

Exactly. I don't discuss any training or times or races or anything to do with running with anyone but dedicated runners. Actually my wife, after all these long years, does understand so I do discuss my training with her though she has never run a single step since I've known her. Anyone else I just smile and give the shortest, non-performance related answers I can. It's a running thing - you wouldn't understand.

Try actually running marathons at 5:40ish/mile and having people doubt that you know what you are talking about because they don't think people can run them that fast My wife still calls me about once a month and puts me on the phone with some coworker/acquaintance who is telling her she is full of it about my (former) times.

Wow. Just wow. A crying shame he doesn't really use that talent. Or let me borrow it.

Tell me about it. And his form doesn't even look good. However, it is obvious the physical talent must be matched with the mental fortitude for superior results. And... "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing." -Abraham Lincoln

I can hold my breath under water for 4 minutes- just not consecutive minutes!

swoon!

So, one day in the future... after you've completed a long run... you get dressed up and go to the Church... and as part of your eulogy to your fallen co-worker you mention that... "for a guy that didn't exercise, he sure could flat out run". Big Picture.