So, I love to run. I absolutely enjoy heading out on a trail.. such as the one pictured above.. and being out there for hours. It's the one place I can clear my mind. It's the one place I can just let my mind wander, through it's ideas and thoughts. I can have a very serious issue that I need to work out, and I can run until it's figured out. I run to relieve stress. In the summer I run to get tan, and get a workout in at the same time. I run to feel fit. I run to enjoy time with Nichole. I run, because I just flat out enjoy it. There is only ONE thing I cannot stand about running - - - - - People that think too damn much.
Now hear me out. I love running with other people. I love ultra running for that reason. You get to talk with the person next to you and get to know about their life, really know who they are. Why? Because there is a certain amount of comradery while you're heading up a hill. Yeah there is the competition but it's different than other kinds of running events. The first real ultra I did, I was out there bonking hard and someone handed me a gu and asked me if I was alright. At another, one of the aid stations was out of water, so another runner handed me his bottle and told me to take half. You don't get that in a 5k or hell even in a marathon. It just doesn't happen.
So WHO do I hate? The ones that turn it into a competition ALL the time. Don't get me wrong. If I toe up to a line on a 5k and you're trying to get in my way, you're getting an elbow. If we're at the last straight away of a race, you're not getting past me. I promise. It's the people that turn everything into a YOU or ME... it's over thinkers. Just shut up and run.
See I was at a team workout/practice the other day and I encountered two people. One, I ran behind ( I had no idea where I was going, so I followed him instead of making wrong turns) for a 1/2 mile hard street run. The coach wanted to simulate the end of an upcoming 10k. When we finished, he gave me the traditional "fist bump" and said "good run." Then we talked a little and headed over to the track for the second half of the work out. The next part of the workout was hurdles and a 400. We did a ton of hurdles (low ones, think doing, tires on a football team) Then lined up for the 400. I ran pretty fast. At the end of it, I turned around and there was no "Nice run" fist bump. There wasn't even a plain "nice run"
The other person asked me about my running and what I like to do. The second I started mentioning anything about Ultra running all I heard was "I could never" and "You're too fast for me" "you wouldn't wanna run with me" "I'd only slow you down."
The way I see it is we're all runners. Running to me is just about doing better than myself. I want to do the best I can every time. I also want to have fun. To address Mr.SourPuss runners that have people run faster than them. Sir, it will happen. Period. Don't get pissed about it. That doesn't mean they're better than you, just in that moment they're faster. You were taller than me. I didn't get upset about that.
To address all of the Mr. and Mrs. "I can't run that far, I'd only slow you down, you're too fast for me, you wouldn't wanna run with me"
SHUT UP! If someone asks you to get together and run with them, take them up on the offer. It doesn't mean you have to run the WHOLE 15 miles with them. Run 2. Run 4. Meet them at where they're starting go out for a mile with them and then turn around. It's nice to find friends that you can run with and share a common passion with. You don't have to be right next to them the entire time. Who knows, you may be the reason that they get up and hit the trail that morning. YOU may be the reason they get that long run in. Because they have to for the upcoming race, but you gave them a reason to not talk themselves out of it. You might even find a new trail, or a new path. So.. honestly and truly.. if you're a runner. I want to run with you. I want to at least log a mile with everyone I know that runs. So, drop me a line, ask me when I'm going out again. I'll run at YOUR pace for YOUR mileage... and then, I'll do my thing. We both win.
Now hear me out. I love running with other people. I love ultra running for that reason. You get to talk with the person next to you and get to know about their life, really know who they are. Why? Because there is a certain amount of comradery while you're heading up a hill. Yeah there is the competition but it's different than other kinds of running events. The first real ultra I did, I was out there bonking hard and someone handed me a gu and asked me if I was alright. At another, one of the aid stations was out of water, so another runner handed me his bottle and told me to take half. You don't get that in a 5k or hell even in a marathon. It just doesn't happen.
So WHO do I hate? The ones that turn it into a competition ALL the time. Don't get me wrong. If I toe up to a line on a 5k and you're trying to get in my way, you're getting an elbow. If we're at the last straight away of a race, you're not getting past me. I promise. It's the people that turn everything into a YOU or ME... it's over thinkers. Just shut up and run.
See I was at a team workout/practice the other day and I encountered two people. One, I ran behind ( I had no idea where I was going, so I followed him instead of making wrong turns) for a 1/2 mile hard street run. The coach wanted to simulate the end of an upcoming 10k. When we finished, he gave me the traditional "fist bump" and said "good run." Then we talked a little and headed over to the track for the second half of the work out. The next part of the workout was hurdles and a 400. We did a ton of hurdles (low ones, think doing, tires on a football team) Then lined up for the 400. I ran pretty fast. At the end of it, I turned around and there was no "Nice run" fist bump. There wasn't even a plain "nice run"
The other person asked me about my running and what I like to do. The second I started mentioning anything about Ultra running all I heard was "I could never" and "You're too fast for me" "you wouldn't wanna run with me" "I'd only slow you down."
The way I see it is we're all runners. Running to me is just about doing better than myself. I want to do the best I can every time. I also want to have fun. To address Mr.SourPuss runners that have people run faster than them. Sir, it will happen. Period. Don't get pissed about it. That doesn't mean they're better than you, just in that moment they're faster. You were taller than me. I didn't get upset about that.
To address all of the Mr. and Mrs. "I can't run that far, I'd only slow you down, you're too fast for me, you wouldn't wanna run with me"
SHUT UP! If someone asks you to get together and run with them, take them up on the offer. It doesn't mean you have to run the WHOLE 15 miles with them. Run 2. Run 4. Meet them at where they're starting go out for a mile with them and then turn around. It's nice to find friends that you can run with and share a common passion with. You don't have to be right next to them the entire time. Who knows, you may be the reason that they get up and hit the trail that morning. YOU may be the reason they get that long run in. Because they have to for the upcoming race, but you gave them a reason to not talk themselves out of it. You might even find a new trail, or a new path. So.. honestly and truly.. if you're a runner. I want to run with you. I want to at least log a mile with everyone I know that runs. So, drop me a line, ask me when I'm going out again. I'll run at YOUR pace for YOUR mileage... and then, I'll do my thing. We both win.
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