Think is the key word. Go ask many runners: Ben True, Marc Nenow, Todd Williams, Shadrack Kipchirchir, Kibiwott Kandie, Lawi Lalang, Frank Lara…
These studs kept their mouths shut and put their dues in. They experienced success a few years down the line after not posting obnoxious things on social media…
The main reason this person is receiving criticism is because of their obnoxious behavior and statements.
I won't include the name but you'll probably guess who it is.
A runner at the McKirdy Micro Marathon this morning spent months claiming he was going to run a 2:12 marathon in his debut. His entry time was a 62:5x downhill half marathon at altitude. Then at McKirdy he ran a 2:16 (great mark, still an OTQ in his first outing).
Then on Strava, he gave several excuses for why he didn't run well, citing a side stitch and a one missed water bottle, and says "like I said 2:18 is easy". He caps it off by saying "I am definitely not a 2:12 marathoner in training, I'm a 2:10 marathoner."
If I'm alone on this, I'll shut up, but people like this guy annoy the hell out of me. He's like the JV miler who aims to run a 4:40 mile but runs 4:50, and then proceeds to say "well I could've run like 4:20 but it was windy and I felt kinda sick and I had a calf cramp and..." Like just shut up, you're not a 2:12 guy, nor a 2:10 guy. You ran the race and you're a 2:16 guy. End of story.
I’d like to be the first to say that the ethos of a blowhard runs counter to the virtues we espouse in this public forum of reason and decorum.
I hope he sees this and apologizes to any group that he may be looking for sponsorship from. He is a young man and everyone makes mistakes. I’m sure any of the three coaches mentioned earlier would be understanding of a guy that see his faults.
If I'm alone on this, I'll shut up, but people like this guy annoy the hell out of me. He's like the JV miler who aims to run a 4:40 mile but runs 4:50, and then proceeds to say "well I could've run like 4:20 but it was windy and I felt kinda sick and I had a calf cramp and..." Like just shut up, you're not a 2:12 guy, nor a 2:10 guy. You ran the race and you're a 2:16 guy. End of story.
Off-topic, but did everyone on LRC besides me just go to some elite running high school? My JV teammates were running closer to 5:50 miles than 4:50.
I agree with the weirdness of “2:18 is easy”, but when he says “I’m a 2:10 marathoner in training” I didn’t read it at all as saying that’s what he thinks he can do now.
I read it as someone who is an apprentice and learning something, for example, “I am at culinary school; I am a chef in-training” or “I am taking my accountant exams; I am an accountant in-training”. I think he’s saying “I might be a 2:10 marathoner in-training”
I mean the guy doesn’t seem that bright, so yeah the phrasing is probably weird.
Wow, I had no idea who you were talking about and thought you were being unreasonably mean, even for Letsrun standards. But I found the guy on strava (not hard to search a few of the 2:16 guys in the results)… and he really did say 2:18 is easy. The fact that he doesn’t realize (or doesn’t care) how elitist that statement is…. Just wow
I don't know if the elitism is the most annoying thing; it's the assumption that every other person that's run a 2:12 - or better - did it on a perfect day. You'd be hard pressed to find a single runner that couldn't find some additional obstacle that prevented them from running faster, but most won't hoot'n'holler about it.
If you ran the race, and the time was a 2:16 - then you're a 2:16 man. Excuses are for insecure douchebags.
Wow, I had no idea who you were talking about and thought you were being unreasonably mean, even for Letsrun standards. But I found the guy on strava (not hard to search a few of the 2:16 guys in the results)… and he really did say 2:18 is easy. The fact that he doesn’t realize (or doesn’t care) how elitist that statement is…. Just wow
Who gives a fk if it sounds elitist. Sorry your feelings got hurt.
can confirm, this dude is an absolute a$$ in person, met him on several occasions and he just has a massive "better than you" complex. He's become a running joke between me and another friend. Definitely not someone you would want to spend much time with