Watching a lot of running influencers it seems like there are a lot of runners in their mid to late twenties who are afraid to admit that their time has passed. So many running influencers seem like they’re using distance running to live an immature lifestyle and prolonged adolescence.
What is it about distance running that attracts these personalities?
I am 69 and I am still running including in races. Are you accusing me of living an immature lifestyle? Or is it because I love running. Runners run because that is what a runner does. It does not mean one is immature no matter how long past their prime they may be.
Also... immature running influencers are alright compared to the countless women who prostitute themselves on Instagram.
I don't know about that. Ashlee Powers could be categorized as both. She's insanely hot IMO, and with her recent PR at Grandma's quite fast. I hope she stays immature forever and doesn't stop prostituting herself on instagram. She's hustled to get where she is and she could change the sport
The Boomers who downloaded Instagram in the last five years are addicted to the products that the beautiful runners are selling for FREE...
Entire supply chains are orbiting around the delusions of these influencers...
Ultra races ... UTMB circuits/stones... WESTERN STATES golden tickets...
So much PTSD from Covid19 quarantines... fueling obsessive personality types...
and don't forget STRAVA addicts
Saw this in the wedding and travel industries. Got married 6/24/22 and wedding bookings were exploding as early as 12/2021--it was hard to get a booking in but we lucked out. Same with booking trips to just in the US. COVID PTSD is a thing.
It's not just runners. Everyone in their mid to late twenties is attempting to live a prolonged adolescence. They aren't getting married, having kids, buying houses, starting careers, planning for the future, etc. They're the new "Me generation", sharing many qualities with the boomers they deride.
Those damn millenials/gen z peter pans not buying houses that are historically more expensive compared to average starting salaries than at any point in history (with 7% interest rates as well). Just pull yourself up by the bootstraps and save 150k for a down-payment and closing costs so you can buy a home like all us real men did in the the 1950s through 80s.
I will say Xers will make it out w/o issues. All of the Xers I know, ages 42-64, are in exec or management-level roles and have great jobs...
Those damn millenials/gen z peter pans not buying houses that are historically more expensive compared to average starting salaries than at any point in history (with 7% interest rates as well). Just pull yourself up by the bootstraps and save 150k for a down-payment and closing costs so you can buy a home like all us real men did in the the 1950s through 80s.
You think you're making a point. It just sounds like whining. By the way people in the 1950s to 1980s would have killed for a 7% interest rate.
Also... immature running influencers are alright compared to the countless women who prostitute themselves on Instagram.
I don't know about that. Ashlee Powers could be categorized as both. She's insanely hot IMO, and with her recent PR at Grandma's quite fast. I hope she stays immature forever and doesn't stop prostituting herself on instagram. She's hustled to get where she is and she could change the sport
There's a lot of fast GenX to GenZ females in the running scene (in the Midwest) that are sub-3:10 with great jobs and good looks in America. I think Instagram females who run fast have a lot of clout in our sport so they have value! Source: Blogsnark mentions them often.
This post was edited 20 seconds after it was posted.
Distance running is a good marker for discipline and I like it on resumes. Sadly, sports on a resume doesn't mean as much as in past decades. Our corporate culture has become an environment where internships matter much more than any other factor for our young hires. I think we miss out on employees who can bring the same amount of passion to work as they did with sports.
I don't know why the down arrows. Are the down arrows from male 2:12 to 2:20 Marathoners over age 30? It is a relevant discussion topic.
There are guys in my region (25-35 year old) who run 2:15-2:35 and have jobs and families, so it may be a regional thing. I am in Columbus.
Some of them that run fast are able to do so b/c they have 8-to-5 jobs and can fit their running in.
I don't believe your associates, 2:15 to 2:35 Marathoners are the gents O.P. is discussing. I don't believe O.P. is discussing anyone who works full time or full-time graduate/professional students.
Lots of reasons in this thread but I think it's a lot simpler: it's because you can do the training and participate on your own. If you have delusions of grandeur over football, soccer, etc. you need to find a high level team that will take you which isn't happening unless you're actually good enough. In other words, it's over after college for 99% of them no matter what they want. Meanwhile the only thing a runner needs to be able to do in order to prolong their career is know how to tie their shoes and hop the fence of the local high school track.
I’m not going to read through this entire thread to see what reasons are already mentioned but it seems as if there are an abnormality large number of insecure betas that are distance runners. You only need to spend some time on this forum to figure that out.
It's not just runners. Everyone in their mid to late twenties is attempting to live a prolonged adolescence. They aren't getting married, having kids, buying houses, starting careers, planning for the future, etc. They're the new "Me generation", sharing many qualities with the boomers they deride.
Those damn millenials/gen z peter pans not buying houses that are historically more expensive compared to average starting salaries than at any point in history (with 7% interest rates as well). Just pull yourself up by the bootstraps and save 150k for a down-payment and closing costs so you can buy a home like all us real men did in the the 1950s through 80s.
We’re now blaming the housing crisis on why these nerds are compelled to run in college races at age 28. Ok nerds.
I don't think this happens any more in running than it does in other sports or activities. Think baseball batting cage owners, CrossFit box, dance studio, equestrian barn, gymnastics club, aau basketball coaches, music store owner, community theatre and travel bloggers.
Many people would rather make a modest living on the fringe of their hobby, than make more money in a 'job/career' they are unhappy in.
Lots of reasons in this thread but I think it's a lot simpler: it's because you can do the training and participate on your own. If you have delusions of grandeur over football, soccer, etc. you need to find a high level team that will take you which isn't happening unless you're actually good enough. In other words, it's over after college for 99% of them no matter what they want. Meanwhile the only thing a runner needs to be able to do in order to prolong their career is know how to tie their shoes and hop the fence of the local high school track.
Exactly. You can even get by without the bit about hopping the fence at a track. I think another sport that attracts this sort of thing, though to a somewhat lesser extent, is baseball, though you need to have somewhat better than average talent in most cases. It's most obvious if you ever talk to guys who play in unaffiliated, independent, minor league teams. It's almost impossible for these guys to get started on a career because who's going to hire someone for a career path job when they'll be gone from April to October? But these guys love the game, hope they'll be that one in a hundred who catches on with a major league organization, and reckons they'll work out what to do when they're too old to play when the time comes. It's more possible to do this in baseball than with basketball or football because baseball has so many lower level leagues than other sports. Look at a guy like Bill Lee. He was out of the majors after 1982 but has pitched in organized ball into his 70s.
There are guys in my region (25-35 year old) who run 2:15-2:35 and have jobs and families, so it may be a regional thing. I am in Columbus.
Some of them that run fast are able to do so b/c they have 8-to-5 jobs and can fit their running in.
I don't believe your associates, 2:15 to 2:35 Marathoners are the gents O.P. is discussing. I don't believe O.P. is discussing anyone who works full time or full-time graduate/professional students.
Exactly, a full time career/family man who can run under 2:20 in the marathon has my utmost respect.
I’m talking about the 27 year olds running 2:18 and calling themselves pro runners on Instagram while living off mommy and daddy
I don't believe your associates, 2:15 to 2:35 Marathoners are the gents O.P. is discussing. I don't believe O.P. is discussing anyone who works full time or full-time graduate/professional students.
Exactly, a full time career/family man who can run under 2:20 in the marathon has my utmost respect.
I’m talking about the 27 year olds running 2:18 and calling themselves pro runners on Instagram while living off mommy and daddy
I'm slow, I get you now on that. There are tons of them on Insta. TRUSTAFARIANS!
At least we have the family men in the 2:18-2:40 range who represent the sport well, and the women in the 2:35-3:10 bracket who do the same.
This post was edited 37 seconds after it was posted.