A couple of weeks ago, I posted about “Five different types of Runners“. After posting and comments from readers, I realized there are far more different types of runners and people that were left out. I won’t guarantee this will become a series on LOLZ blog but I will post observations.
Last year I also posted: People at the Gym and As seen in My Gym Part 2
1. Strict schedule Samantha
This runner does not get away from their training schedule at all. If the training plan calls for 10.0076 miles, they follow run 10.0076 miles.
No less and no more
While they are consistently getting better, running with them can be a pain since it’s their way or the highway. You can find them double checking their schedule, pace and garmin splits at any given moment. It is not uncommon for them to bark “we need to run 1 second faster or 5 seconds slower per mile” on a training run.
2. Media Murderer Maurice
Within 2-3 minutes of finishing a run, Maurice has instagrammed, tweeted and posted whatever else about the run. If you get lucky they might live tweet the run too! Sometimes you question if they are only running to post about it but hashtag inspirational, hashtag get it done, hashtag run4life. I think all bloggers have a bit of Maurice in them, myself included.
3. Toe the Line Tony
Tony knows every race in a 100 mile radius. Not only does he know every single race, he runs every single race. He can be found picking up various age group awards, medals and writing reviews for each race (is he a blogger? Who knows…). When you are looking for a goal race (or any race) it’s always best to consult Tony first. He will be able to tell you if the price is worth it, the medal and after party are good and the race course statistics.
4. Overthinking Opera
Opera trains very well. Her training is consistent, she always hits the paces on the schedule and does everything to further her running career. However, when it comes to race time she flops almost every single race. It isn’t because she is poorly trained or because she has a nutrition meltdown, it’s because she over thinks the race. You’ve attempted to pump Opera up and give her confidence in racing…but it doesn’t happen.
5. Group Run Germas
These runners never run alone. In fact, you have never seen them outside of their group runs. Yet on certain times and days of the week about ten people will take up the entire sidewalk or worse, the road. Group runs are fun but taking up an entire road or side walk is not.
Question for you:
Who would you classify yourself as?
For me, I think I’m a mixture of Maurice and Tony. As a blogger, I do overshare my training and I do enjoy doing as many races as my schedule allows!
OMG that cat picture. I die.
I’m kind of a strict schedule type when I have a goal race, so I often wind up running alone because I don’t want to annoy people, or I might just run with the group for warm up and then do what I have to do. If I’m running with a group for a whole workout and we have a specific goal pace, I’ll definitely try to reign us in if somebody is taking it out too fast (not uncommon) because blowing up sucks.
I’m sure I annoy some people with this, but I always tell them to go ahead or drop back if they want.
I tell people that too. If someone is running too fast for me, I almost always let them go.
I tend to run alone a lot because no one else runs my pace. I’m not fast and I don’t intentionally run fast. I just run as fast as I can on most runs.
I’m beginning to be like Tony. I’m putting together a list of every 5K in Massachusetts and then I’ll do the rest of New England. There is no way I could run half of these races.
Cheers – Andy
I love the “don’t worry they will tell you about it!” that is hilarious…and so true!
Lol. I know way too many Samantha’s when it comes to pace 🙂 I need more Tony’s in my life. I’m definitely most like a Maurice at this stage – I was actually talking about this the other day and I think it’s because I’m treating Instagram as more of a training log now.
Samantha. I shell out good money for a plan, so I might as well follow it. Plus my coach can see everything I do via Garmin connect. This of course means that outside of easy runs or warm up miles, much of my running is done solo.
You have improved do drastically because of it Gene. Who are you being coached by and what are you training for these days?
Haha these are great. I’m so glad I’m not the Samantha one anymore. Nobody’s got time for that. I wish I knew about more races that were happening though!
I can only imagine Baltimore has some really awesome races too. Our running store normally compiles the local ones!
Oh yeah, def got some (ok, a lot) of maurice in me! I just get so excited about running that I wanna share it with everyone lol
I think the nature of social media has made everyone has some Maurice in them!
Oh wow. I’m like ALL of these people. We have a lady in our run group who is like “Toe the Line Tony” except she has a code to save on every race. She actually calls races and asks for codes but she shares them with the local running group, so that’s a good thing. It amazes me at how many races give her codes for asking, but I guess she tells them that she’s with Black Girls Run and Charleston Girls Run This Town, and they figure it’ll benefit their race to get more people out.
These are brilliant again 😀
I’m not sure if I really match up with any of these types, but I know of quite a few of them! Group Run Germas (fab name by the way) seem to populate my area in excessive numbers, and they drive me absolutely insane.
That cat picture wins the internet. That is all 😉
Yep, I could think of an example of each! I am definitely not Tony, as I hardly ever race these days! But I do share some of my training on social media (um, stating the obvious?). and I definitely deviate from the plan, ALL THE TIME!
I’m a mixture of Tony and Opera! I definitely overthink my races and it really hurts me, but I get my training right most of the time. Oh well! Not much of a Maurice, though. That’s a conscious effort for me and I usually forget to take pictures.
Oh Laaaaawd. I am guilty of all of the above, minus the group runner lol funny how we can get so caught up in all the specifics, details, and social media overload. Hey, one day I’m going to for a run and NOT post about it! Heh. Jk jk 😉
If you don’t post about it then it doesn’t exist.
LOL 😀
Overthinking Opera. That’s me for sure. I over examine my race and sometimes for the next two weeks!
What race are you doing Jason? Good luck!
Ha!! I love it! I am definitely a cross between Media Murderer and Toe the Line Liz. I love Insta-running almost as much as real running and I am all about scouting out the races with the best trophies. So superficial!
I’m sure you would call me strict schedule person- hell I probably inspired that one for you to write about.
I used to be a lot more flexible/lax about my training but I found that the consistency I need came with following a plan better. Also- having the coach who gives me my plan… I pay him to do that so I feel like…yeah I have to do what he says. I’ll move days if need be but usually try and follow it as best I can…there’s a reason for that. I’m much more lenient with my easy runs if it means occasionally I can run with others- but workouts and long runs I feel are important to do at your own pace.
I definitely have some Maurice, Tony in me as well.
I am definitely “Strict Schedule Samantha,” especially if I have a race coming up. By now, most folks know if they’re running with me, then they’re doing my workout’ I’m not going to speed up, take random breaks, etc. (And I can totally see how this mentality would be off-putting to others. And that’s why I do most of my run workouts solo! Ha!)
Haha these have been great!
I can be an Opera…but I’m trying DESPERATELY not to be this race season! This winter I’ve been a “scared Sally” because I do not run outside for fear of slipping on ice and getting hurt haha