"Recreational Runners"

Her husband was probably green from her beating him with a whip in a lame attempt to establish his own PR.  This woman needs to grow up and get a grip on life.  There's nothing wrong with beating your head against the proverbial wall during an athletic event, but to expect everyone else to do the same is just plain idiotic.

Yup, you hit it right...you pay your entry fee and you thus earn the right to race it at any speed you desire.  As long as you're not creating a disturbance to others, I say enjoy the day.  That's why I'm out there!

I'm not sure what the Cherry Blossom is, but I'm presuming it's a charity/community run.   The object with that type of run is to:

1. Raise money for the specified charity
2. Establish a sense of community--hence the cherry blossom reference (were they in bloom?)
3. Get people involved, and off their butts, hopefully having fun so that maybe they will continue to stay active and improve their overall health.

I am at a point where I am trying to consistently improve, and set a PR each time I hit the race course.  I prefer to do it in charity runs because of the whole environment, but that's me.  I could certainly set PR's by running faster and faster around the high school track, but what fun is that?  It would be unreasonable to presume that EVERYONE else in the race is trying to PR.  If you want to be surrounded by ONLY serious athletes, all of whom are always trying to PR, you need to join a competitive club and seek out sanctioned meets.  If it were a requirement that all entrants had to meet that woman's criteria, charity/community runs would cease to exist, and the T-shirt industry would be crippled!

Apparently my patience for ignorant people is not what it used to be.  My first reaction was you should have kicked her *** and said, "I hate recreational train riders."

First off great race.  I understand from first hand accounts that the trees were in full bloom and the weather was gorgeous.

The elite snobbish attitude of better athletes toward average runners/bikers/swimmers is quite common.  I think I understand it as a self-motivational tactic.  The person who says something like that has had some success and has moved up in the pack.  She is separating herself from the people she can now beat and with that separation congratulating herself for being better than them and pushing herself to continue to improve.  I hope she made the comment to someone who shared in her goals and enjoyed her success.  Most people would find it arrogant.  Me too, but I understand the perspective and I've seen it before, lots.

TW

Unless you are getting paid as a professional to run, you are a recreational runner.

Right on.  I cant wait until I am good and fit and fast so I can drop you BT deadbeats!   There are just a lot of folks out there who prop up their self esteem or image by trying to undermine other people.  It is kind of a delicate balance out there cuz sometimes there are folks who dont give a d@mn about others trying to pass.  That is just as obnoxious as the uppity types. 

One thing I have to say about this is that as long as people are exercising in ANY way its a good thing. We have way to many obese people in this country.

An another note though, I do have a problem with casual runners and walkers getting up front in a mass start and clogging up the road so you spend more time going side to side than forward. The Walkers and slower runners keep right rule is not followed around here unfortunately.

I think it is her simple way to feel all hardcore fitness about herself or something like that.  I know a few folks who excercise for status.  It is usually a short term thing though where they do a race and call it quits.  Dunno, could be wrong here, but just saying it could be part of the motivation.  To fully understand some folks I think it is necessary to crack oneself on the head with a hammer.  Is that really worth all the trouble?

I agree- I don't like it when people don't properly position themselves at the start, or don't estimate their pace correcly for corrals.  But what can we do??  I guess just pass them with a smile.  Or...if they start walking and don't stay to the right, can we trip 'em?  Just kidding.  I do get annoyed when slower people stay to the left, which makes it really difficult to pass- especially in large starts.

The race is open to the public, not restricted to, oh I don't know what to call them, serious runners only?

There was a woman in front of me on the metro on the way home from the race that also got sick. Good thing someone had one of the plastic goodie bags to hand her.

I figure her husband probably puked on her, which works as well... 

You pays your money you dos whats you wants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A lot of people do races for different reasons, IMHO I can't think of any of them that would be bad or negative.....

My girlfriend and I did a race and we were racing against each other, in a friendly way... at one point in the race we were next to each other and I belched, a girl in front of us turned around looked and laughed a little. I jokingly motioned that it was Pam (my girlfriend). A short time later I caught up with the young girl and said "it was me who belched,,,, my girlfriend belches way better than that"..... Girl cracked up laughing.

Later in the race going by some condos with people on the upper balconies, I can't recall exactly what was said, but something like offers for refreshrements, I responed, "how about a beer and cigarette, can ya help me out?" I could hear people laughing way behind me.. (I gots a pretty loud voice).

 Anyway my point is you can run a good race and have fun,,,, as a matter of fact if it's not going to be fun why do it.  In most races I always try to say someting positive or funny to those around me and to thank the volunteers for their support.

Run the race for yourself and be glad all those recreations runners are there,,,,, or they wouldn't be able to support races  for  beitchs like her to compete in. I think someting like that would be appropriate to say to her,,,,,,, well for me it would anyway....

Have fun,,,,,, there is nutin funner than fun!

Yep, and that's the way I approach it.  Funniest thing on the course, there were some gals running along, and they saw a spectator with M&M's - so one ran over to ask if she could have a couple, next thing you know she's charging back yelling, "OH MY GOD, HE GAVE US THE WHOLE BAG!!!"  

The spectators were really great.