For us newbies, or slow runners, or "older" runners - it's intimidating to join a group of people with the runner's mentality. More, faster, better...
People who don't run admire us. People see me out and about in my running clothes and ask - are you coming back from a run? a race? They are impressed. I get told now by some people that the "don't recognize me" unless I'm in my running clothes. (clearly I've got some social issues as I should probably dress a little better at times!)
The not so easily impressed are other runners. They want to know - how you did. Pace per mile, how far ....comparing the whole time. It's human nature - I get it.
What bothers me is how quick they can be to tell you about their accomplishments - in a way that puts yours down.
I run 15 - 20 miles a week. A year ago I didn't run. AT ALL. 15 - 20 miles a week, just about every week, for 9 months now is a MAJOR accomplishment for me. I'm PROUD. Those that run 15 miles in a day - put runners like me in a different class. I am in a different class - no doubt. But I would like to be supported and recognized for my efforts.
This past week I got it in my head that I want to run a Ragnar. I went on their website and discovered that they have one in September up near where one of my closest friends lives. She's always
I sent her an email asking her to check with her book club if they are interested in putting a team together. Here's a snippet from the email she got back from one of them ...
"Ragnar is the same concept of HTC but on a smaller scale. HTC is a shining gem of a race, suspended in time that can't be replicated. But I'm sure it's quite fun in it's own right"
What the f does that mean? Anyways.....she's out. Not interested.
No responses from the rest of them.
Then - there's my other friend's sister who is a tri-athlete. She's done / does it all. When we ran our first 5 mile race a few months back - she told us the time we should be able to run it in. Who does that? I'm just happy I'm running and I'm finishing. If I have a time goal - that's personal. It's mine. It's not for someone else to tell me what I should be doing.
I run for myself - so I know what others think isn't relevant. But as a new runner, a SLOW runner (one that's 42 and 5'1 so let's face it - I'm not gonna get that much faster!) , it's intimidating. I love it. I do. I do it begrudgingly some days - but I get a lot of joy out of it. My accomplishments, the improvements to my health and my self esteem make it all worth it.
I hate that other runners are the ones trying to take that away.
