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My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins...

LittleRingMan

Aug 20, 08 9:12

Post #1 of 19 (795 views)

My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins...	Can't Post

One of my favorite times to go for a run or walk my aging dog used to be in the early morning on the Prairie Path in Illinois. It's beautiful and on any given day you might encounter deer, coyote, any number of bird species and of course, the runner who can't hold his endorphins. You know, the one that has to scream out his daily schedule or what race he's training for to the person running (or more frequently jogging) 6" to his left. Long before you see them, you've learned everything you want to know about them. Not satisfied with the serious runner's hand wave or head nod, they scream some sort of greeting as they pass, or just give the high hat and continue their conversation at a level that could drown out a 747 on takeoff. So, while running, I'm forced to pick up the pace to pass them and get out of earshot more quickly. While walking, I'm at the mercy of their speed until they've gone.

Like the drunk who can't hold his liquor and gets louder and louder as the night goes on, these people can't hold their endorphins and make the rest of the world suffer for it. It's gotten so bad that residential areas of the path have posted quiet zones where you can be ticketed for making too much noise.

You all know who you are out there. Please, please, please. Just STFU and run.

leslieW

Aug 20, 08 9:14

Post #2 of 19 (783 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [LittleRingMan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I almost fell off my chair laughing!! I encounter 'these people' all the time when I frequent a local path by our river.
____________________________
Life is Short...Run Long

bonesbrigade

Aug 20, 08 9:22

Post #3 of 19 (749 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [LittleRingMan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

That's funny, but I can honestly say I've never encountered this species you so eloquently describe.

The one's I seem to run into when commuting by bike to work are "commuter racers". Oh, so many funny stories about these guys...

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scarbelly

Aug 20, 08 9:25

Post #4 of 19 (727 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [LittleRingMan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Great post. I don't like people in general, so "those people" especially bother me. I prefer the sound of gravel under my feet.

Bayman

Aug 20, 08 9:38

Post #5 of 19 (679 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [scarbelly] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Great post. I don't like people in general, so "those people" especially bother me. I prefer the sound of gravel under my feet.

I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti. ...

scarbelly

Aug 20, 08 9:47

Post #6 of 19 (662 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [Bayman] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Are you implying that I am asocial?

Sluglas

Aug 20, 08 9:51

Post #7 of 19 (648 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [bonesbrigade] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I unwittingly find myself being a "commuter racer" if I don't actively think about it and restrain myself. Something instinctual makes me want to catch and pass anybody I see on a bike that I think I can pass. Silly, I know.

Tom Demerly

Aug 20, 08 9:59

Post #8 of 19 (619 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [LittleRingMan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Poor dog. You're right though.

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/
(NOTE: This poster owns a retail business selling triathlon related products).

bonesbrigade

Aug 20, 08 10:12

Post #9 of 19 (586 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [Sluglas] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I'll give you some sympathy points for being aware of your actions, but please, try not to race when commuting; it's just embarrassing for everyone involved.

Earlier in the summer I had a really good commuter experience, not a "commuter racer", but even worse, an "unannounced commuter wheel-sucker". This wasn't just any wheel sucker either. Here's how this one played out:

First of all, I ride a cheap fixed gear commuter bike. In the mornings on my way to work, I have a 5km bike path along the river to start my journey. It's a very nice part of the ride where you can just enjoy the outdoors, and remind yourself how much better it is compared to driving. My routine on this part of the ride is to drink my coffee (in a travel mug) while pedaling with no hands. Really, it is safe, and I do hold the bars whenever someone is approaching.

So on this particular day as I was enjoying my coffee, I hear someone breathing behind, so I turn around, and sure enough someone is drafting me. What the hell? I didn't even think I was going fast enough that a draft would help. For obvious safety reasons, I put my coffee in the bottle cage, and ask the guy (politely) if he wouldn't mind not drafting me. The guy can't hear me though because he has his earphones on!!. Are you kidding me? Not only are you drafting a guy drinking his coffee, not announcing yourself, and you have your earphones on? He eventually took them off, and I explained myself, then I just slowed down and let him go ahead. Insane.

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cartsman

Aug 20, 08 10:18

Post #10 of 19 (567 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [bonesbrigade] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

The one's I seem to run into when commuting by bike to work are "commuter racers". Oh, so many funny stories about these guys...

Man, I had a classic one of these on Monday morning! Heading to work on my trusty old Kona hardtail with mudguards and trail tires and on a slight incline I caught and passed a guy on an Isaac TT bike with Zipps and head-to-toe team lycra (big rucksack so commuting not training). Half a mile down the road I stopped for a red light and TT guy goes past, shoots me a murderous look, and then pulls in right in front of me, trying to do a track stand at the light. Unfortunately he only held this for about a second before he had to unclip to save himself from stacking and this was just as the light went green. There were cars on my shoulder so I waited patiently for him to sort himself out and get going again rather than cycle round.

When he was finally clipped in he set off like a bat out of hell - out of the saddle, legs pumping, checking over his shoulder to see if he'd blown me away yet - but this lasted about a minute before he blew and sure enough at the next hill I cruised back past him. This was clearly more than his dented ego could take and a few minutes later he shot past again, panting, with only inches to spare between me and the car that was passing simultaneously, then almost as soon as he was past he hit the brakes to turn off into what I assume was his workplace, giving me a triumphal stare as he nearly took me off the road. What could I do when faced with such cycling prowess but concede defeat and pray that his colleagues rewarded his glorious victory by draping him in his national flag and bearing him aloft into the office astride his mighty steed?!

Khai

Aug 20, 08 10:42

Post #11 of 19 (506 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [Bayman] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Great post. I don't like people in general, so "those people" especially bother me. I prefer the sound of gravel under my feet.

I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti. ...

FTW!

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last tri in 83

Aug 20, 08 10:48

Post #12 of 19 (481 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [LittleRingMan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

maybe the two can't hear each other since they are running so fast there are air sounds whooshing in their ears, kind of like on your bike. maybe they are out of breath and talking is hard. maybe they are just loud talkers.

_____________________________________________
Conservative in exile.

swift

Aug 20, 08 10:57

Post #13 of 19 (454 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [last tri in 83] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

or maybe they're just big DB's

-Jason

I believe cars are the new second hand smoke. -Dave Zabriske

Bayman

Aug 20, 08 11:05

Post #14 of 19 (423 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [scarbelly] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well........nah just kidding (he said while backing out of the room slowly)

What

Aug 20, 08 11:51

Post #15 of 19 (336 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [LittleRingMan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Agreed. Just as bad as the ones who TALK WAY TOO LOUD AND WAY TOO MUCH on the group rides...

...and just for flavor:

Mia: Don't you hate that?
Vincent: What?
Mia: Uncomfortable silences. Why do we feel it's necessary to yak about bullshit in order to be comfortable?
Vincent: I don't know. That's a good question.
Mia: That's when you know you've found somebody special. When you can just shut the fuck up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence.

---
Fragile time can't be laid to rest. Fragile time can lead you to the grave or fragile time can start eternity. -Norma Jean

mckenzie

Aug 20, 08 12:23

Post #16 of 19 (286 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [cartsman] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

What could I do when faced with such cycling prowess but concede defeat and pray that his colleagues rewarded his glorious victory by draping him in his national flag and bearing him aloft into the office astride his mighty steed?!

if i were that guy, i would hold out for the rainbow messenger bag awarded to commuter world champions

mckenzie

Sluglas

Aug 20, 08 12:27

Post #17 of 19 (255 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [cartsman] [In reply to]	Can't Post

That guy is not a "commuter racer," he's just a dick. I am much more subtle and keep my commuter racing to myself. Usually the people I pass don't even know they are racing me (it makes them easier to beat as well).

megahurtz

Aug 20, 08 12:55

Post #18 of 19 (196 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey - don't diss the commuter racer. I do just about all of my bike training on the commute; picking off bikers ahead of you is a nice motivator to keep up the pace.
You have to fill the pain bank, before you can draw interest -- Bob Roll

onabubble

Aug 20, 08 12:57

Post #19 of 19 (192 views)

Re: My rant...People who can't hold their endorphins... [LittleRingMan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I was in this group once and this really nice lady liked to talk to me, well as my Wife knows, I am not the great conversationalist while I am running. I prefer the sound of my own foot falls and my own labored breathing. So to deal with this I would actually have to slow down enough to let her get far enough in front of me so that I did not have to listen to her. I tried speeding up a few times, but she ran about the same pace as me and would keep talking as we went faster. Trust me, 13 miles of someone talking to me about stuff that I could care less about is way worse that running 22 miles all by my lonesome. The punch line is, she would complain about people who talked too much while running!!!!!!!!!!