A little something about "elites" (Read 976 times)

Speedy Dickheads

Thank you -- now I have a name for the racing team I'm planning on forming. I've got the 2nd part down, now I just need to work on the first part! This is a very interesting question. In my mind during my runs the last few days I've been formulating all sorts of responses and personal anecdotes. But I'll just shut up and (try to) be brief: 1. During a run, anyone can be unresponsive. I've run an out-and-back in my hometown and after I passed the turn, I probably knew and waved to half of the people in the race. And a lot of them didn't even look like they were on the same planet. No problem. Everyone at every levels have differing awareness while racing. 2. After the run: no excuse for those jerkwads to not say something when you went out of your way to talk to them. I know that if I were in their shoes and single, if a couple of ladies took a few breaths out of their race to say something in my direction, I probably would have turned around, sidled on up and been like *Joey Tribbiani imitation* "Hey -- how you doin'?" The key thing is not to change your good behavior based on the bad behavior of others. If it's in your nature to make a joke (and it sure seems to be), then continue to be yourself and be sure not to let their arrogance change that. Most arrogance is actually derived from a need to compensate for a self-esteem shortcoming; their lack of self-esteem and resulting arrogance is purely about them and not about you. Jeff: the thing I've done when jogging a course back is to offer encouragement and also let people know how far they have to go. That way, you're not only encouraging them but also informing. It's good to hear "Nice job! Only half a mile to go!" (Though this probably isn't so good the farther you go on you cool-down. "Only 4 miles to go!" might not be encouraging. ) Cheers, Jeff

I know that if I were in their shoes and single, if a couple of ladies took a few breaths out of their race to say something in my direction, I probably would have turned around, sidled on up and been like *Joey Tribbiani imitation* "Hey -- how you doin'?"

That's hot! /paris hilton k

Jeff, I have YET to hear a cheer sent my direction that I did not appreciate! While I don't do a lot of road races, I will put a plug for trail runs here...the longer the run, the more true this is...the only difference between the elites and the back of the packers is their speed. Just this past Saturday, I met the front runners on an out and back and sent my hearty encouragement to which EVERY ONE of the top 5 or so acknowledged with something like "thanks, you're looking good (liars, every one)" and a big smile... This was repeated over and over as I met each of the runners ahead and behind me on the rest of the out and back... This past Feb, the first place male (Anton Kuprika sp?) and female (Jenn Shelton) in a 100 mile race stayed at the finish line for at least 4-5 HOURS after their finish to cheer/welcome other finishers...I know they were still at the finish line after midnight!!! Someone asked why they didn't go to their hotel and go to bed and one of them said..."I just want to see everyone finish"...true champions! They didn't make it through the night, but were back the next morning greeting almost every one of the finishers in the final hours before the race cut-off. Trail running is the best! Lynn B

Jeff, I have YET to hear a cheer sent my direction that I did not appreciate!

Yeah, I guess I was just overthinking things. It's an occupational hazard.

Ok, I'm going to play devil's advocate here for a second. 1. Lead runners probably aren't going to acknowledge any cheers if they are giving 100% effort to the race. For a few reasons: you zone out and don't hear it and could break your concentration on the race. Also it would be wasted energy you could put into the race. 2. After they had finished and you saw them jogging on the course you started joking with them. This is a signal that if you can take the time to joke around during the race it seems you are not taking the race very seriously. Also after the race they were probably really tired and didn't feel like cheering people on. The extra jogging was just a warm down to help recover faster. They're not there for the social aspcet, they are there to run fast. These guys are trying to excel at running, putting in up to 140 miles a week and for those without sponsorship doing so while working a 40 hour a week job. When you have taken running as seriously as they have then you can comment on whether or not they are assholes. You don't understand what it is like to be them since you have never experienced it. You say they made you embarrassed to be a runner, well you jogging 30 miles a week and talking and joking during your races makes them feel embarrassed for the sport.

Dan, I must say, you have chosen poorly for whom to advocate...IMHO If I follow your line of thinking, then I would understand if ALL elites acted this way. But, if a top runner acknowledges one of us who may be considered an embarrassment to the sport of running, that would (according to you) eliminate him/her from the elite gene pool. Granted, we cannot put ourselves into the skin of the elites and may not be fair in our judgement...but if the running shoe fits... Just sayin' (to quote a RA elitist) Lynn B

my nickel and dime...i think there are just different people both in elites and non-elites... some elites maybe more outgoing and have no problems yelling out encouragements, some are just maybe more reserved and really have a harder time engaging other people. Same with us mid to back of the packers...some of us like to get encouragements some of us take it as an insult...me depending on the day, sometimes it drives me batty when people say you're almost there when i know i'm not or when i'm looking good when i know i'm not...some days i feel like i actually need not encouragement, but more like insults just to get me going . I guess either way it'll motivate me either by pissing me off or making me feel good...what was i saying ? i have no idea...really..i need to go running..

I hope the more gifted runners also don't forget that were it not for the majority of "slower" folks on the course there would be no races for them to excell at. The top 10% of the field is not enough to fund a race. No races means no opportunities to show their talents...no smaller races full of mediocre runners means no qualifier events like Boston, no Olympic marathon, etc. Rather than look at the average runners as beneath them, those with the physical gifts that allow them to run fast for great distances should thank us for spending cash to enter events that we know we have no chance of winning. They may be there to win, but most of us are there to test our own abilities and progress. I race only my PRs and maybe a few other people on the course ahead of me (like the gal in the pink shorts who was ahead of me until the last half mile on Sat.--my goal was to have her looking at my back for at least a few feet ).

I hope the more gifted runners also don't forget that were it not for the majority of "slower" folks on the course there would be no races for them to excell at. The top 10% of the field is not enough to fund a race. No races means no opportunities to show their talents...no smaller races full of mediocre runners means no qualifier events like Boston, no Olympic marathon, etc....

This is crap. Running as a sport existed and thrived for a long time before road races became a trendy mass fitness activity. Races only cost as much as they do now because they have become so big and logistically complicated. Lets not turn this into a pissing match between the fast and the slow. The fact is some small group of runners--who were probably not elite runners at all but just belonged to the same running club--acted rudely. You made a generalization about "elites" that many have chimed in to say does not hold for most fast runners. The end.