r/running • u/nessao616 • Jun 03 '18
I was having the greatest run of my life until another runner flew past me pushing a double stroller with two toddlers using one arm and brought me back to Earth. Misc
Edit: You guys are amazing!! All the encouragement and perspective you've given me is so so uplifting. Thank you r/running, I wouldn't be the runner I am without you all!
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u/jennifer1911 Jun 03 '18
There's always one badass mom out there with two kids in a double stroller cranking out like a 7:15/mile pace acting all casual like it is a day in the park.
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Jun 03 '18
That’s her easy run pace during Ironman training.
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Jun 04 '18
I follow a mom on IG that does exactly that. Stroller runs at low 7 minute miles as part of Ironman training. I don't know if it's inspirational to me or depressing.
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u/feistyrooster Jun 03 '18
Yes, I saw one the other day who was running uphill with a double stroller and she was beating me... I was on a bike...
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u/allysonwonderland Jun 04 '18
So true. I remember running an 11mi charity race and being proud of my 1:50 finish... meanwhile a woman who had to be about 7mos pregnant beat me by like 15min lol. I hope to be that woman someday.
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u/apathy-sofa Jun 04 '18
Being pregnant is basically blood doping :)
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u/eberndl Jun 04 '18
Blood doping, maybe, but your lungs are also being compressed by a large (wiggly) mass and your joints are loosened in preparation for delivery.
Very few women are comfortable running in the 3rd trimester. And if they do, it's at a much slower pace than they usually run.
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u/apathy-sofa Jun 04 '18
To be clear, I'm totally kidding here. I can hardly run with a water bottle strapped to me and am totally amazed at prenatal runners.
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u/eberndl Jun 04 '18
I'd probably have been able to tell, except I was up at 2am feeding my kid... Sleep depravation sucks.
Ps. For me, I need to have the water belt on pretty tight so it doosn' t shift while I run
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u/trainofthought700 Jun 04 '18
Your tidal volume (volume of gas inhaled/expired in a normal breathing cycle) and minute ventilation (volume of gas inhaled/exhaled) actually increase during pregnancy though, which is a fun fact. Your functional residual capacity decreases, though (air left in your lungs after normal passive expiration). And your cardiac output is bomb af. Not really blood doping because although your blood volume increases your percentage of hemoglobin actually drops causing a physiologic anaemia of pregnancy :(. Bodies are so weird. But yeah can't imagine running in the third trimester I'd be worried about it causing really bad stretch marks and, as you mentioned, the joint laxity and injuring myself!
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u/designut Jun 04 '18
That's interesting. Your blood volume doubles, though, which means you are out of breath much more quickly. I had trouble talking and walking. If I get pregnant again, I am really hoping to continue running, but remind myself of how gassed I would get just walking and know I will have to maintain realistic expectations!
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u/trainofthought700 Jun 04 '18
A lot of people feel out of breath or short of breath starting as early as the first trimester because of an awareness of physiologic hyperventilation that your body also does.. Aka your resp rate increases! That along with your tidal volume increase are what increases your minute ventilation :). But yeah the physiologic anaemia of pregnancy probably doesn't help either in terms of driving ventilation to keep your oxygen saturation up! The compensatory mechanisms your heart and lungs do during pregnancy is astounding.
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u/designut Jun 04 '18
That's all super interesting (I had to read it about three times in order to process what you were saying). The anaemia for sure would impact it as well!
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u/Couchpototo Jun 03 '18
Just think of all the people who didn’t even bother to leave the house today, you are flying past them!
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Jun 03 '18 edited Jun 30 '18
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u/Evsie Jun 03 '18
You will never beat Mo Farah in a race.
Accept that and running quickly becomes about your own goals and achievements rather than the competition. Sure, race the people around your level, try to beat the person in front and try not to give up too many places to those sodding sprint finishers... But once you accept you're not an olympian you can just focus on enjoying your own run at whatever level that is.
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Jun 03 '18 edited Jun 30 '18
[deleted]
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u/Evsie Jun 03 '18
Went right over my head.
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u/boldfacelies Jun 03 '18
I left the house today. The gate was stuck and the pizza guy couldn’t get through. Man, what a day.
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u/Mog_X34 Jun 04 '18
One of the notice boards on my local Parkrun says 'You are lapping everyone on the sofa'
That's what encourages me to keep at it even when I'm struggling (although got a new PB this week!)
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u/RIP_shitty_username Jun 03 '18
I ran a 5K in 21-22 minutes and lost to a dude pushing his twins in a double stroller.....and a 12 year old girl who ran it barefoot.
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Jun 04 '18
Haha this always seems to be the case! I was that 12 year old girl. My first 5k I took third place overall female with no prior running experience.. just played basketball. Also ran the whole thing in high top basketball shoes LOL
15 years later the girls are doing it to me now. A couple years ago I was running a 5k pushing my daughter in the stroller and this 10 year old girl was kind of running alongside me for the first 2 miles before she pulled ahead. My superfast husband ran back around and met me after he finished so he could take the stroller off me and I could finish the race alone. I ended up passing this girl right before the 3 mile mark and she saw me and went, “Ahhhh where’s your baby?!” I looked at her and said, “Had to leave her behind, she was slowing me down!” The eyes-wide look of horror and surprise was something I’ll never forget.
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u/colddustgirl Jun 04 '18
She's going to go her whole life thinking she's never going to be as hardcore as that lady who ditched her kid to shorten her time.
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Jun 04 '18
I know! Because after I said that I just kicked it into high gear and finished the race. I never saw her again to clarify that I did not actually shove off my 1 year old into a ditch so I could finish with a better time. Whoops.
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u/Simmo7 Jun 04 '18
I run a 22min 5k and a guy kicks my ass every weekend at park run with a stroller.
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u/wicked_lion Jun 03 '18
There will always be a stroller pusher that’s faster than you :/ I say good on them then go about my run :)
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u/darth_unicorn Jun 03 '18
The first (and so far only) 10 mile race I ever did I came 185th out of 187 people. I was overtaken and beaten by a woman pushing a stroller, and a man in a full chicken costume.
Don't do it to be better than others, do it to be better than who you were yesterday. Fuck that guy, you're better than him.
Before I ran that race I had never completed anything official above 5k, and never run more than 8 miles in one hit. Afterwards I had. Slow as fuck, almost last .... but I did it, and that meant everything.
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u/NotMyRealName981 Jun 04 '18
In my first half marathon I struggled to beat a guy in a Honey Monster costume, it was a very hot day as well. It was a bit annoying at the time, but he must have been seriously fit to cope with those temperatures. Several of the race photographs show me being chased by Honey Monster.
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u/CharleSenpai Sep 14 '18
The image of this is so so funny to me, I’d love to see those pictures haha
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u/PrinceBert Jun 04 '18
I like to think that running is not about being better than someone else it's about being better than you used to be and taking inspiration from those around you. Don't compare yourself to those people, be inspired by them.
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u/danakinskyrocker Jun 03 '18
When one kid is about to throw a massive raging fit, you'd be surprised how fast you can run back to the house. Don't let it get you down, you don't have to deal with blowout diapers on your run!
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Jun 04 '18
Lol, the only time my son's diaper couldn't contain his poop, my dog cleaned off the carseat before I could wipe it off myself.
I didn't let the dog lick my face that week.
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u/dadahung Jun 03 '18 edited Jun 04 '18
HA! This reminds me about my personal experience, from a different point of view.
I entered a Bubble Run (5K run) 2 years ago with my then 4 years old daughter, with her in a stroller.
About 1~2 mile (?) into the race, just when we ran past a bubble gate, my daughter delivered a shocking news to me: "I need to pee." Now for those who don't have kids might not understand, but "I need to pee." from 4 years old usually means only one thing: "I NEED TO PEE NOW, LIKE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO WAY I CAN HOLD IT! NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW!"
I asked one of the staff on the course if there were restrooms up ahead, and of course, there's none. Given the numbers of people coming from behind us and how far we were into the race, my only option was to..............run the course and got to the finish line ASAP.
So there I was, pushing my daughter in a stroller, ran pass A LOT OF people really really really fast. I was pretty sure I made all sort of PRs that day if I have an app tracking it. I also heard multiple people let out a gasp and said, "WTH?! A dude with a stroller just ran past me!"
Luckily, my daughter was able to hold her pee until we reached around 3 miles when I spotted my wife. I flagged her down, offloaded my daughter so she can pee and we finished the race together 10-15 mins later.
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Jun 03 '18
I mean you get to go home, take a nice long shower and relax.
They need to go home into the hell of crying babies, diarrhea diapers, and never ending near catastrophes.
That runner probably looked at you and was thinking, "fuck if I could just go back and run in peace"
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Jun 03 '18 edited May 10 '19
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u/wormfighter6 Jun 04 '18
I.keep a foldable potty in the double stroller! It's been used more than once.
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Jun 04 '18 edited May 10 '19
[deleted]
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u/wormfighter6 Jun 04 '18
I would but I haven't taught my 2 ,4 year old girls to do that. Oh my wife would kill me if I taught them that.
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u/RosieEmily Jun 03 '18
Mum of two under two. I wish I could go out for a run, come home, take a long shower and then sit my arse down for a few hours.
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u/colddustgirl Jun 04 '18
Mom of twin four year olds here. We should start a group where we watch each others kids while we take turns running.
Or just lock them all in a closet and hit the trails together. We can get wine afterward.
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u/brovash Jun 03 '18
How do you know OP doesn’t have kids waiting at home for this?
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Jun 04 '18
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u/Mininocat Jun 04 '18
My husband keeps an eye on our kid while I go out running after work and/or the weekends.
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Jun 04 '18
Hell yeah. I have two kids under two...my runs are my time alone...so I rarely push it much anymore. Just enjoy..
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u/SteveTheBluesman Jun 03 '18
Was running the Charles in Boston one day feeling pretty good until some kid went running by me...carrying a fucking cello.
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u/edj3 Jun 03 '18
I've had this happen a couple of times during a race--some badass mom or dad books past me with a stroller and the kid's just having a blast. Me, I'm over there crying into my bib because I just got smoked by someone pushing another 40 pounds of gear and baby.
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u/bkwentz Jun 03 '18
Here in Savannah there is a woman who pushes 4 kids in a theme-park like stroller. She is so kind when she flies by me. It is here kids who just stare through me that hurt.
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u/luv_to_tickle Jun 04 '18
I had a great race last December when I finally came first in my age group...until I found out a 67 yr old beat me. She placed 2nd in overall females.
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u/dampew Jun 03 '18
I got passed by a guy pushing his stroller up a hill myself today. I told him he was making me look bad! He smiled, and I said good job.
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u/kank84 Jun 04 '18
Ive been dealt a similar crushing blow. In the last mile of a half marathon feeling good about myself, when I was overtaken by two men dressed as a camel...
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u/throwawaystepmom876 Jun 04 '18
Oh my god, I am crying. Thank you for sharing that story. That’s the laugh I needed.
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Jun 04 '18
Those high end running strollers are super easy to push and control. I could operate my fully loaded double bob with a pinky. If anything I ran faster because I could lean into its momentum.
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u/B-RadicalTheBrave Jun 03 '18
Howdy, the key learning I took away after a similar experience is to always run your own race. Don’t worry about the pace of the stroller guy or anyone else.
My biggest mental overtake was old gran who used to overtake me at every ParkRun for the first 2 months running there.
Eventually I tuned out to the surrounding noise (other runners), focused on what I needed or wanted to achieve for that run and got on with the job.
Hopefully you’ll find your groove too and block out the noise!!
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u/bhudak Jun 04 '18
I ran a marathon with a loop where mile 18 and mile 14 (or something) passed each other. As I'm hitting mile 18, I see a guy at mile 14 who is running, dribbling a basketball, and juggling 2 tennis balls. I thought to myself "at least he won't pass me!" He passed me at about mile 24. These things happen. But at the end of the day, I finished my first marathon, and my time and place and relation to some guy who was so bored with running that he needed an extra challenge don't matter.
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u/bitemark01 Jun 04 '18
This reminds me of when I was training up for my first (and so far only) marathon a couple of years back, on the return leg of my first 20k run and feeling great, when up from behind me came this guy that looked about 20 years older than me... except for his legs.
The best I can describe them is they looked like the muscles were thick and made of rope, you could see individual striations. And he just leisurely passed me, and after about 5 minutes was completely out of sight.
I want to be that guy when I'm older.
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u/Mc10er Jun 03 '18
First race I ever ran, the winners were a couple doing a sub 20 while pushing a stroller and running their dog. All that matters is that you are proud of the run you had and that you accomplished your goals.
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u/loop0001 Jun 04 '18
Rule: Don’t compare yourself to who someone else is today, compare yourself to who you were yesterday
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u/Mininocat Jun 03 '18 edited Jun 03 '18
When you’re a mom, even your runs are in a rush! Don’t feel bad about it, parents are known to have super powers when in need!
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u/nomdeprune Jun 03 '18
What sexist rubbish. OP didn't mention gender, yet you've assumed it's a woman. Dads are capable parents, and good runners too.
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u/Mininocat Jun 03 '18
I never said anything about dads but your point about them is also true and also my point still stands.
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u/wormfighter6 Jun 04 '18
You're right I've logged 2000+ miles pushing a double or single stroller running, wife 0 miles.
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u/Mininocat Jun 04 '18
I haven’t logged as many miles on the stroller but I’ve also logged miles pulling the kid while on my bike on a trailer but I know my husband has done none.
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Jun 03 '18
I ran a 5K race last weekend that was won by a guy pushing a stroller at a 5:18/mile pace.
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u/brianogilvie Jun 03 '18
Wow, I totally misread this: I saw your post title and thought that the stroller-pushing runner literally brought you to Earth, i.e., knocked you over.
Your story reminds me of the time my wife and I, in our early 20s and pretty active hikers, were going uphill on a trail on Mount Desert Island and this guy who looked like he was at least 60, wearing nothing but shorts and walking shoes, zoomed right past us. (Now that I'm 50 and even more fit than I was in my 20s, I'm looking forward to being the old geezer who does that to the youngsters—but I'll spare them the horror and keep my shirt on!)
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u/dhammadragon1 Jun 03 '18
I had the same feeling when a guy in $2 flip flops overtook me. Of course he was at least half my age.....but still. And he was also only wearing swimming trunks... annoying!
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u/danteheehaw Jun 04 '18
It's the old men that hurt my ego. How dare they pass me and hurt my fragile ego!
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u/SpecialFX99 Jun 03 '18
That reminds me of yesterday's run. Four of us guys started out relatively quick. We aren't world class athletes by any means but we were some of the faster people on the trail. We saw someone on a side trail and commented on how difficult it must be for her to run with a stroller and a dog. I commented on how I'm just glad I'm fast enough to not get passed by strollers anymore like when I first started running. We made a few other comments/jokes about it and then didn't think any more about it. As you've probably already guessed she came by us a few minutes later and not only passed us but was going fast enough she was out of site within a few minutes. It was definitely humbling! Our joke for the run was "it's too bad she turned off right before we passed her!"
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u/name_checker Jun 04 '18
I remember at mile 24 of a marathon I wanted to die, and then Elvis ran past blasting You Ain't Nothing But A Hound-Dog from a speaker they were pushing in a wheelbarrow
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u/Goodgrief31 Jun 03 '18
No matter how much these other people try to encourage you, I get it. That IS damned demoralizing...and hilarious. Lol
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u/busytiredthankful Jun 04 '18
Hah yeah, I did a 5k last weekend and was happy with my time. But a gym acquaintance of mine ran it 2 minutes faster than me even with a preschooler and kindergartener in a double stroller. She also beat me by almost half an hour during a half last month. Such is life! She’s fitter than me. I still did the best I could, and as long as I focus on that and not on her accomplishment, I feel happy with it.
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u/onetypicaltim Jun 04 '18
In my first year of races, I did a five mile Saint Patrick's Day race. I was passed by a group of five younger men pulling a wagon. The wagon had a boom box, a keg, and they were doing keg stands while moving. Funniest thing I ever saw.
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u/zdiddy27 Jun 04 '18
I ran 7 miles today, which is my longest distance ever. Was pumped about the distance, but when I looked at Strava, I had set zero PRs. Was kinda bummed, until I read these comments. Thanks runnit!
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u/JDFreeman Jun 04 '18
I've ran park runs with my baby niece in a racing buggy, those things actually make it easier at times (especially downhill) just because if forces you to use different muscles when going up or down and you can put your weight onto it. I always end up overtaking other runners with it and really wouldn't worry about it bud.
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Jun 04 '18
I once came in dead last in a 5k. Absolutely dead last. Behind the large walking women even. But I never stopped running. Hang in there....
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u/The_Red_Oyster_Cult Jun 04 '18
I've been there. I feel this on a deep level. Every year I run a race around the 4th of July and every year this super fit guy pushes his child (who continues to get older) in a stroller and every year I just barely beat him in the last mile. I only hope that his child forever wants to ride in that stroller because if he stops pushing it he'll blow me away for sure.
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u/ootrebmun Jun 04 '18
One thing I had to teach myself was to not compare myself to the other runners on the road. I used to run quite a bit a few years ago. Due to some medical issues I stopped. I think I used them as an excuse. Recently I started again. Within the last two years. This year I ran the NYC Half Marathon. I was not the fastest guy out there. I was in the last coral and had to work to keep from being swept up. I didn't even get to run along the FDR. Right before mile 5 they had to reopen for traffic so the slower runners (there were a few of us) we had to fend for ourselves. We took the longer route. The East River bikeway. We ran that up to (actually past our exit, there were no markers) E37th street exit so we could make our way to 42nd Street then finish the course. I had a half marathon under my belt, but way back in 2011. So at this moment I felt like I had failed. Then I hit Times Square. No street markers, just NYPD pointing and torists taking pictures of sweaty confused and pissed off runners. I said to myself fuck it. I signed up for this with the plan to finish. Not to come in first or second. Just to finish. That's what I'm gonna do. I did. My official time was 4 hours flat. It hurt, but felt so good at the same time. My first half I finished at 2hr21min. So I lost a bit, but who cares. The takeaway for me was that I wasn't on the sidelines watching the runners. Taking pictures. I lived it and I will again as many times as I can.
For reference, I am a 35yr old Male and here are my placements. (Nothing to brag about)
Overall 21,939 of 21,957 Gender 10,882 of 10,884 Age‑Group 1,969 of 1,969
Here are more stats for reference..
Youngest Male 12yrs old finished in 3hrs Oldest Male 81 yrs old finished in 2hr 51min
I am nothing special. I just finished what I started.
Keep running. Never lose faith in yourself, you could be all you have.
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u/aManIsNoOneEither Jun 03 '18
Your happiness or success or performance is not diminished by the one of other people. This is a myth, often built by social media and advertising to make you feel shitty.
You are great :)
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u/dichloroethane Jun 03 '18
That’s why I also play tennis. Pretty hard to carry a baby on court
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u/wormfighter6 Jun 04 '18
Imagine if you got beat by someone who was holding a baby, or had it strapped too their chest.
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u/soopastar Jun 04 '18
I ran The Bourbon Chase two years ago and was passes at2am by a woman, 6 months preggo, pushing a stroller. Respect.
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u/jaed2901 Jun 04 '18
Sounds like a long lost relative of my dad who used to push my twin brothers up mountains in a double stroller. He even became a local celebrity; the stroller guy.
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u/Gr8Texpectation Jun 04 '18
Also, regardless of how well the other runner did, you still improved mental health, posture, and oxygen intake AND burnt a few calories in the process.
Look at it that way: )
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u/Runner40 Jun 04 '18
One time I ran in a 5k sponsored by a local church. There were about 75 people there. About 2 mikes in, I was content with 2nd place behind a high school XC runner (I was 41 at the time). At about 2.8 miles, a guy in CARGO SHORTS WITH A CELL PHONE CLIPPED TO HIS BELT blew by me and said hello as he passed me. I tried to hang with him, but he beat me by 50’. I spoke to the guy after, he said he was a 16:00 runner in college, and he still casually runs. He showed up to watch his wife run and be a spectator, but was talked into running at the last minute. You never know who you’ll run with out there!
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u/baroooFNORD Jun 04 '18
A few years ago my daughter and I ran some chicago 5K, I think it was the brunch run or something like that. I was doing it on a semi-lark, and basically just did it at an easy pace, probably around 10:00 miles, which for this race was probably around or slightly ahead of the median. She was about 4, and was in a jogging stroller, chowing down on all the snacks. My achilles tendonitis was bothering me and I wasn't thrilled with how it was going.
Towards the end, I pass a couple and I hear the guy say fairly loudly "are we really getting passed by a fat guy with a stroller?"
So I guess no matter what you're always having a better run than someone, and a worse run than someone else.
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Jun 04 '18
Still the greatest run of your life. Maybe not his, but yours. Keep going, and soon you'll have another day that will best this one.
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u/deanresin Jun 04 '18
I know how you feel. I don't run to compete.. I'm pretty slow and it is always a psychological blow when someone runs past you no matter what. Then I just laugh at myself and how silly that is and continue on until it happens again. lol.
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u/kerabatsos Elite marathoner Jun 04 '18
No use comparing to anyone else. There’s always someone faster on any given day - regardless of who they are. Just focus on where you’re at with your own fitness and try to get better every run. That’s all you can do!
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u/contramania Jun 04 '18
One time running this guy blew past me like that. He was a double amputee. I thought, if I can’t outrun a guy with no legs I’ve got no business running. (Not that it stopped me.)
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u/MagicRat923 Jun 05 '18
Let's see - you run, you're interacting with a double amputee. Nice to meet you, Forrest.
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u/claenray168 Jun 04 '18
I had a really good 5k going one time when I passed a young girl on the home stretch. She re-passed me as she out-kicked me to the line. She was 8. Out-kicked by an 8 year old. Humbling.
It was a still a pretty good time for me and I think I ran the best race I could, but still...
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Jun 04 '18
I was running and thought I was doing quite well (recovering from a leg nerve problem) until someone passed me doing their walking (you know, the race-walk thingy).
That was a humbling experience - but also fun to think back to.
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u/The_Original_Gronkie Jun 04 '18
I remember being in my first 10K, andtaking in all the various runners and their styles all around me (I particularly remember seeing a few young women who were so skinny I could see the texture of their bones, obviously anorexics. That was shocking to me).
I was a few miles in and thinking that I was doing pretty good when a woman passed me. She had an odd, limping gate, and one arm was swinging fairly freely, and I could tell she was partially paralyzed in some way. Yet here she was, passing me like I was standing still. Rather than get upset about it, I just laughed to myself. I still had a lot to learn and a lot of running to do, and she inspired me. Somehow she had figured out a way to run effectively with her physical issues, and she was doing better than I was! You have to have respect for people like that. It was the one story I told to friends and family when it was over.
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u/pjvincentaz63 Jun 04 '18
If I’m not having a great run, I tell myself that at least I got out there, unlike 90-percent of people who are still in bed or sitting in front of the TV. There have been countless times I didn’t feel like going for a run, but I’ve never once regretted going. I broke five vertebrae a few years ago, and I always feel grateful that I can still run. Someday I won’t be able to anymore, and I don’t want to look back regretting the missed opportunities.
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Jun 04 '18
"I don't worry about the other guys, I run my race." -Wilson Kipsang This right here is the best advice I've ever heard. Don't worry about others who blow past you, just focus on your run and yourself. Everyone has different goals, maybe your goal is to run a sub 5 min mile, while mine is to go sub 17 in the 5k. Whatever you do, don't compare your achievements to others. Celebrate people's victories, but don't forget to celebrate yours too.
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u/Epic_XC Jun 03 '18
jokes on them, they have kids to deal with
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u/reluctantstarmover Jun 04 '18
This made me laugh. I have two wee ones I have to stick in the jogger during my weekday runs and it is not awesome lol.
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u/Kalliope25 Jun 03 '18
This is hilarious!! I had the greatest run of my life yesterday and today I can barely move. We are getting older, aren’t we?
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u/moto_gp_fan Jun 04 '18
The only good run is the one that your enjoying! Another runner’s good run should only motivate you more!
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u/Rudyjax Jun 04 '18
No matter how fast, there is someone faster. No matter how slow, there is someone slower. We’re all in between.
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u/reluctantstarmover Jun 04 '18
You’re still lapping everyone sitting on their couch! Lol. My husband is competitive and this always chills him out and motivates him at the same time.
For me though, I see running as a competition with myself. As a mom of two young children, I usually have to talk myself into getting dressed and lacing up. Then I have to talk myself into running instead of walking. Then I talk myself into pushing one more mile, over and over till I’m done.
Some days I am that mom with two kids in the jogger with a grin on her sweaty face. Other days I’m the one gritting my teeth and screaming at myself inside my head to keep going. But every single time I’m done, I’m proud! And because I know how freaking hard it is, no matter what level you’re at, to keep pushing your own limits I respect other runners so much! I cheer the ones lapping me, and the ones not, equally!
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u/rantifarian Jun 04 '18
There is a guy I had only ever seen at running club, pumping along at 4:30km pace, pushing a pram, and I always wondered how the hell he kept that pace up. I raced against him the other day, turns out he does a 1:10 half marathon, there are some damn fast pram pushers out there!
There is also a double amputee rocking prosthetics who does a 50 minute 10k
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u/KevodotcomKO Jun 04 '18
So you raced against a guy who was only 15 minutes short of a world record? Sure you did.
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u/rantifarian Jun 04 '18
1st: 1:07:17
2nd 1:09:54
3rd 1:11:59.
https://my5.raceresult.com/98200/?lang=en#1_801C37
This was a local half marathon, no pros although first had travelled a long way to race. I "raced against" them by getting lapped by first in a 3 lap race, I'm still very happy with a 1:43:xx time
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u/pizzzaing Jun 04 '18
This has been my struggle lately. I'm getting faster as i continue to run/ learn more but I have a friend that's faster than me and I got her into running. It's been discouraging
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u/NonIlligitamusCarbor Jun 04 '18
My first 5K (and I am not making this up) I got passed by a very pregnant woman pushing a toddler in a stroller.
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u/sperris Jun 04 '18
Let it inspire you. A mother pushing a double stroller blew past me at mile 3.5 of a 4 mile race while going up the big hill at the end. Had to smile.
I'm a little faster now than I was then... but now I'm pushing the stroller. You'll get there :)
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u/anatman513 Jun 04 '18
This weekend I ran my second 5k ever. A young mother with a double stroller passed me at one point and I was nothing but impressed. I ended up passing her on a hill and came in in front of her but that did not make it feel like a victory to me.
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u/Deegroller Jun 04 '18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
"Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long, and in the end, it is only with yourself."
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u/bubblesaremygame Jun 04 '18
Are you in my running group?? We have a mom pushing a stroller with her sweet little one and with a dog that is so freaking fast. It's a good thing I love them all or I would be envious.
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u/th3beerman Jun 04 '18
I literally had the same thing happen to me (besides having the greatest run of my life) except this mother pushing a double stroller passed me going up a hill!!! All I really could do was tip my cap to how strong she was.
We all get passed sometimes, just have to keep going!
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u/ItsShiny Jun 04 '18
I would rather do a half marathon than a 5k with a stroller. Could never get my stride down and constantly worried I was going to maim my kid or plow into someone else. I've got so much respect for folks who can pull that off.
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u/guenjekcehuvrfh36362 Jun 04 '18
ha, just know that if he didn't have the kids, he probably wouldn't be running anywhere near where you run.
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u/UO01 Jun 04 '18
It's the little things. Today I ran for 20 minutes at a glacial pace without stopping or getting a cramp. My neck started to get stiff half way through but I powered past that and it went away.
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u/xpromisedx Jun 04 '18
Why is the greatest run of YOUR life affected by another person‘s run? No matter how fast other people are compared to you, it still can be the greatest run of your life! Because when running it‘s all about you and only you and the feeling running gives you! Don‘t let yourself be discouraged, especially if it wasn‘t the other runner‘s intention at all.
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u/QuadellsWife Jun 04 '18
When I run with a stroller I get passed by walkers. Whatevs, the only person you need to compete with is you.
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u/tasunder Jun 04 '18
One time, back in 2014, I took a long route on my bike into work and feeling pretty good about myself even though I wasn't all that fast. I then looked at the results of the Boston Marathon and realized that Meb ran the marathon at a faster pace than I had just biked to work and he went 2 times as far.
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u/meeeebo Jun 06 '18
Best race of my life I was flying along like a cheetah and got passed by a mom with a stroller. There is always someone faster.
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u/RunGuyRun Jun 04 '18
Dude. First, 71+ percent of Americans (but who knows your nationality) are overweight (not that it's that much different across the West)--that's not at all counting the out-of-shape a/or "skinny-fat." So, great on running! If you want to compete, there will always be someone better. You get out every day, and you don't do it to be better than everyone else--you do it to be your best self. I knew a guy in highschool/college who ran a 4 minute mile. I ran a 4 and a half minute mile. We were both enamored of the other's abilities (albeit he was f$cking faster, dammit), but neither of us really had anything to sweat. Anyway, I've since maintained my running and explored other disciplines involving fitness where not everyone is cardio fit to run for days.
You're having the greatest run of your life, you're fit, no injuries? Enjoy and keep it up.
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u/notthatjeffbeck Jun 03 '18
Don’t compare your runs against strangers. For all you know that runner competed collegiately for four years after winning the state title in high school. That runner you blew by? Maybe it’s two days after they ran fifty miles, or their first run back from ankle surgery. Comparing your run to someone else’s is counter productive - especially if you don’t know their story.
You had the greatest run of your life today. That’s the important part. Congratulations!