"THAT'S why I don't run..." Stupid comments from non-exercisers... (Page 3)

Some comments I have gotten:

"All that running is going to give you arthritis"

After explaining the Ironman distances "So how many days does it take to finish that?"

"I could never find the time to do all of that" - my response "You will never FIND the time, you have to MAKE it"

This one cracks me up....while shopping with my 10-yr old niece she randomly tells the saleswoman helping us "My aunt is an Ironman!"  The saleswoman says "wow, like in Flashdance!"  I was laughing too much in the dressing room to correct her!

actual exchange:

co-worker - "going for a run?"

noz - "you bet."

co-worker - "oh, more power to you.  not me, though.  i wouldn't run if you set me on fire."

noz - "well, of course not, that would be stupid.  you are supposed to stop, drop, and roll." 

after telling my booze-bag colleague I injured my knee running, his comment was: " I never got hurt falling off of a barstool"

This is the one I hear all the time.  Always SMH

It is incredibly rude for anyone to make a joke about your friend getting hurt. Those people are morons, I completely agree with you.

But why is everyone in this post acting so high and mighty about their exercise? I cannot believe how much effort people are putting into comparing themselves to other and caring about what everyone else does.

I get that it's annoying when people who appear to be out of shape make excuses for their conditions. It's probably because they feel badly about it already,  and want to justify in some way why they aren't doing what you, someone who does run, chooses to do.

However, the amount of angst and judgement and navel gazing in this thread is, frankly, gross. Why you care so much about what other people do is more of a reflection of you than the people you are criticizing.

Normally I don't post in this forum, but I wanted to take a moment to ask everyone to reflect about why they choose to be offended or outraged over what other people do that has nothing to do with them.

Okay, not EVERYONE is responding in a way that I find ridiculous. There are some good responses in here as well.

But still. Why do so many people care about what other people do or don't do? What a waste of emotion and energy!

Because I'm a TRIATHLETE DAMMIT!

I get what you're saying but it's also really annoying when they aren't just making excuses for their own conditions but trying convince you as to why what you're doing is - ridiculuous, expensive, injury-causing, etc - altogether it's bad for you and don't even know why such a thing would be undertaken anyway. 

Why take away from people's positive experiences?

Anyway, in the example I posted, I said nothing to the bitter, jaded lady (who is bitter and jaded about everything anyway and a total nightmare to work with) - the comment stung anyway.  I still remember.  I wish I didn't because it doesn't matter. And that's what I take this thread as - just venting with the fantasy response ...

Makes me want to say "Isn't that excess weight is bad for your joints?"

Hmmmm, I may have to check into this from a qualified doctor with all the chronic pain I have in my right hip and lower back.

I volunteer at the rest stop of the mini Mussel in Geneva.  There is a lady that usually bring up the end.  I believe she has hip replacements, she has to brace both knees and the running gait is almost painful to watch. 

A few years ago she came by and we cheered and said great job! 

She replied "Not bad for having a heart attack two weeks ago". 

What the ??? I got nothing.  I see her at more and more tris.  She is no longer DFL. 

Alright, I'll bite here.

I'm the Command Fitness Leader (CFL) for my current command in the Navy. My job is literally to get these people in shape to do 'x' pushups, 'y' situps, and 'z' on a 1.5 mile run. People complain to me during command PT about how hard it is to workout, which by the way happens during working hours.

The other day we had a mock PRT, or physical readiness test, in preparation for the real one in a couple months (twice a year). I paced someone in my command so that she could run 1.5 miles in 15 minutes. After she slowed down and failed by more than two minutes even with me constantly trying to get her to speed up she flipped her lid at the finish line and told me that she just wasn't motivated and never would be motivated like people like me. I'm sorry, but if your weight and health aren't imporant, and you don't care about your job (failing the PRT is a quick way to not being allowed to reenlist), what do you care about?

In the face of that, sometimes it is hard for me to remain motivated to working with these people to help them get better. I have three people that I expect to fail this upcoming test and two of them don't seem to care.

Sorry about the rant, but it seemed to fit here!

bwaaaaahahahahahaaaaa!!!!  Stop!  

This is exactly right.....we are triathletes.....we are the greatest!!

I can't imagine why anyone would care what we do.....besides us and our families....oh, wait, that's all that show up at the races......go figure.

It's kind of hard to argue with bolded part.   I enjoy it like you do.....but still.

Yes, because their form of activity isn't as good as your choice.  Really?  My mother-in-law, 65+ yo, does Zumba 5x per week, has lost 30+ lbs, is now off her blood pressure meds.  And is actually helping write an article for the Mayo Clinic because of the her participation in Zumba.  First time she has found something in the form of exercise that she enjoys.  Sorry, but any activity that is active and you enjoy is good activity.  There is no (Crossfit is better than...)

It's also interesting how different people respond to what we do.  I've noticed that people who don't exercise have a very negative view of what we do, but people who are active in different ways may not be interested in doing what we do, but they are not critical of it.  Perhaps that's part of what brought this thread about.

We all have the examples of people who tell us that we're going to drop dead, get arthritis, get attacked by alligators and sharks simultaneously, and whatnot.  I have a coworker who is in great shape, he does a lot of crossfit, weight lifting, and a moderate amount of running.  Very healthy person.  His wife signed up for a HM and he's going to do it with her.  There's a full M the same weekend.  I asked him why he doesn't just go for the full.  "Because I don't want to."  I have to say that I really accept his answer.  Just because I do it, doesn't mean that he has to, but he does SOMETHING and it changes your perspective when you discuss this subject.

We are athletes and we compete.  Personally I'm sympathetic to those that are hurt and can't exercise but those who joke about being out of shape are hard to comprehend. 

If you don't like it then don't post here is the simple answer to your annoyance and I find your post hypocritical.  You say we are rude and "acting all high and mighty" when you are the one telling us to "reflect about why we choose to be offended or outraged".  You reading me freckles? 

Can we all agree that this expression is overused?

You think?  Really?