12 stupid things Non runners say to runners (Page 2)

[QUOTE\]"On marathoning :1. How far is that marathon?"

Last year when I was training for my second marathon, someone I work with was making a contribution to me since I was raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As he was giving me the check, he told me that I was way to big to run a marathon (6'3", 230lbs). I continued to tell him that this is my second one and that I don't plan on qualifying for Boston anytime soon and that I do stop and walk when I absolutely have to. He than told me that big guys my size die when they run marathons and that I was going to die if I do marathons. Talk about great support. I proceeded to tell him that my doctor has cleared me and knows I run marathons even though he (my doctor) thinks I'm a bit off my rocker but regardless, thinks it's a great idea. His voice started to get louder and louder at work and people started to look over to see what was going on. The whole time he started giving me medical advice on big guys running and what it does to your body. Finally I told him that I'm not here to get lectured and the purpose of me to run this marathon is to raise money for people who have blood related cancers so that they have a future. BTW...the guy lecturing me looked like he never seen a gym before.

Anyway...as you can see I'm still alive after finishing two more marathons in 2004 as well as 3 half-marathons and currently training for my first tri, St. Anthony's.

OK, I'll play. When I started running last year, I picked the same route all the time because it was flat and I knew it was a 3/4 mile loop. At the time I started run/walking I was still around 350 pounds (6'2"). Over the summer, there was a guy out on his front porch drinking just about every time I passed his house. One day he finally decided to provide commentary and it went something like this...

Beer swilling guy on porch: "Ain't yuns too big to be runnin'?"
Me: "Ain't cha' too skinny to be sitting on your a$$ drinkin' beer?"

I suppose I could have been nicer. Never said a word to me after that...

-Frank

One of the office assistants says, "I knew a girl who did triathlons once. She was skinny as a post." She looks me up and down and I know what's coming. "I guess you don't train as much as she did. You're supposed to lose weight doing those things, you know."

The line that I have always used about marathons is this:  "The first guy to do one had his heart explode.  Why would I want to follow that?"  *ducks incoming vegetables*

To be fair, I may have to eat those words...eventually.

A complete stranger who was walking past thought he was doing me a favor by telling me I shouldn't be riding because someone my size would have a heart attack riding a bike. At the time, I just thought he was nuts.

The truth is I am caring less about what people think a little more each day. My brother doesn't really encourage me, my sister-in-law just thinks I'm nuts. My friend Amy is really the only one who believes in me... and above all she wants me to stop underestimating my physical potential. If anyone asks me, I am generally happy to share what a 5K is. Its nice to see the look of surprise on their face when you realize they are thinking, "You did a 5K?" Feels good.

I was coming back from a long run on a rainy, cold dark afternoon and I needed to stop at my office to pick something. I like to push my pace at the end of the runs and this time I had done 12 miles. As I approach the front entrance of the building I was pretty much out of breath. At the entrance of the building I see two coworkers, (obviously fond of fast food), ducking the rain, very cold and smoking cigarrettes.. when they saw me out of breath one of them says,  referring to my run and breathing... "and the point of that is?"..


Edited by velasqu7 2005-02-09 10:16 AM

My personal favorite: When the person who appears never to have picked up the pace beyond a casual stroll says to me, "Oh, but it's easy for you. You're a natural athlete." Right. I don't know if I've ever met a natural athlete, but I definitely know people who try harder than others. They're my heroes.

I walk in this morning, two of my coworkers are arguing. They look up, see me, then asked how far I ran yesterday. I told them I did 11.6 miles and then they questioned my time. I told them I did it in 1:53:47 or something to that effect. They look at each other and one of them says, "Yeah, that's pretty slow, but this one guy I knew..."

They apparently have no concept of distance and they sure don't know what an LSD day is