Recreational --->> Serious Runner - General running

Xerxes

28/10/2002 at 13:59

When does one stop being a recreational runner and become a serious competitive runner? What are the symptoms?

keswick1uk

28/10/2002 at 14:43

Running in winter weather? ;-)

Tractor

28/10/2002 at 14:45

In my case, it'll be when I look to start from somewhere other than the back!

MartinH

28/10/2002 at 15:20

When you stop fitting running into your life and start fitting your life into your running.

Mr A

28/10/2002 at 15:25

The day that there's life in my running, I'll be a happy man....

Freaky

28/10/2002 at 15:44

When you achieve a place, I should imagine, it's easy to be a serious runner but much harder to be in with a competitive chance.

Muttley

28/10/2002 at 15:55

The finishers from you forwards are serious runners, everyone behind is a recreational jogger.

Wurzel

28/10/2002 at 15:59

I think that you become a serious competitive runner when you have a goal to go faster, over a given distance, than some other person or group of people and pursue a training schedule to reach that goal.

Xerxes

28/10/2002 at 16:43

:-) Like it Muttley!

popsider

28/10/2002 at 17:41

I've started doing things I really don't enjoy - like track sessions of multiple 1600/800/400/200 metres. I don't know if that classes me as serious but it doesn't feel recreational! I blame runners world for giving me the idea.

Bionic Ironwolf pirate

pirate

28/10/2002 at 18:17

As a vet with more than 40 years of running and racing - you're a serious runner when you are serious about your running! It doesn't matter a d..n what time anyone else is running - the point is, are you happy with your time, are you happy with your running, do you have a personal goal? We're all 'real' runners whether we run 4 minute miles or 10 minute miles - what counts is your attitude!

Xerxes

28/10/2002 at 19:28

Looks like I am a serious runner then - will have to update my profile!!

Psi

28/10/2002 at 21:17

I consider myself a serious runner (and have put so on my profile) because running for me has a serious (work-related) as well as recreational purpose.

'Serious' kind of goes along with 'competitive' in the profiles; I suppose I'm competitive too as I'm always striving to be the best I can be and hopefully win a few races here and there.

I don't think that profile category just covers race-addicted speed demons though. You could be slower and enter less races; it's your attitude that counts.

popsider

28/10/2002 at 22:00

Yeah the profiles don't really give you enough options do they. From memory when it asks why you run the options are something like fitness for another sport, stress, to be competitive etc. Well for me all of the above to some extent.

But by far and away the biggest reason is that I enjoy running, probably something to do with the release of endorphins. I don't run to achieve something else, I run because I enjoy running in itself and if it did nothing else for me I would still run.

I guess that goes for most of us?

Daisy Duke

29/10/2002 at 00:18

I run because I can.... and even though I am at the rear end of the competitive scale.. I have my goals.. and I try hard...
recreation is something they made you do at school ....

Godzilla

29/10/2002 at 00:40

Can you be a serious runner and still run in drag?

Fluffa

29/10/2002 at 06:37

i put myself down as recreational, though i do fit my life aound my running, and seem to find myself competing if only against myself....serious competitive seems to require fast times ....don't know how i made that connection, but i just couldn't bring myself to tick that box...
my photo is at 25 miles in a marathon, and i was totally caning it just to get the right number on the clock...hmmm...maybe i should have ticked it, but i think there should be a category further up the scale....mind blowing superperson....??? just so more of us might call ourselves serious...

Womble

29/10/2002 at 13:10

Perhaps when you get annoyed with Sue Barker talking about the fun runners coming in at 2.30 in the London Marathon? I think I became a 'serious' runner this year when I found myself referring to 'training' as opposed to 'running'. I'm still never going to win anything though except those races against myself (and the odd ex-boyfriend).

Freaky

29/10/2002 at 13:14

Fluffa has shown the way, serious runners wear v. small shorts.

Tadders

29/10/2002 at 22:22

Fluffa looks serious to me. Do tights count too?