Ruminations on polemic marketing, why more people aren't watching a 20hr race, my love of running stores, my favorite running book of 2023, and a haiku.
You're the best Raz, seriously. I love the way you write. Thank you!
As for this post... My only two cents are that I really dislike the "pain cave" mentality that gets thrown around in our sport. I appreciate it that it's very hard and challenging, but I wish we'd let off the throttle a bit. Like yeah, you ran for a week and slept 28 seconds but there are people that do that and work like 7 part time jobs so maybe just celebrate the fact we are privileged enough to spend so much time and money on this amazing(ly stupid) sport :)
I'd get off my soapbox but it's way to fucking high up here, I live here now
Loved the thought provoking question you asked in this post.
I think that we feel that we have to be extreme these days because extreme gets attention.
I LOVE running. I HATE running. That allows others who feel the same to chime in and we get that dopamine hit.
I enjoy running. There are days when it is fun (Saturday) and days when it sounds awful (Sunday - and I chose not to run.)
If it were gone, then I'm thankful that I have lots of other interests that would occupy my time. I enjoy reading about business and the marketing approaches that companies take to sell their product/service. There is always a baseball game to watch or a bike to ride. I have really enjoyed swimming here in LA because the weather is perfect for outdoor swimming all year round.
Hate It? Love It? No, it is enjoyable or unenjoyable and probably not much more than that.
Agreed that the practices of a company matter more than their advertising slogans.
Personally, I enjoy running because of it's intensity that I have a harder time replicating with other exercises. There are times when running is unpleasant but I wouldn't say I ever hate it.
I'm totally with this, lol. I think I've actually developed more love for running because I'm constantly signing up for races and competing with myself to beat previous times, but I'm also not blind to the fact that one day I might wake up and those PR's will just stop happening. I'm not sure if that's a shallow way to love running or not.
Either way, there are days I hate having to go train (like today), but I do them, and I think that level of commitment is a version of love. Definitely agree with the idea that it's not a *true* love, though, if after I've reached my "peak," the possibility of falling out of love looms.
Oof I have not been following this controversy, but I have to say that this sort of machismo in messaging generally turns me off. Not every run is some sort of gut check, and pursing them that way is probably just a fast way to injury.
You're the best Raz, seriously. I love the way you write. Thank you!
As for this post... My only two cents are that I really dislike the "pain cave" mentality that gets thrown around in our sport. I appreciate it that it's very hard and challenging, but I wish we'd let off the throttle a bit. Like yeah, you ran for a week and slept 28 seconds but there are people that do that and work like 7 part time jobs so maybe just celebrate the fact we are privileged enough to spend so much time and money on this amazing(ly stupid) sport :)
I'd get off my soapbox but it's way to fucking high up here, I live here now
Plus the soapbox used to be clean.
Loved the thought provoking question you asked in this post.
I think that we feel that we have to be extreme these days because extreme gets attention.
I LOVE running. I HATE running. That allows others who feel the same to chime in and we get that dopamine hit.
I enjoy running. There are days when it is fun (Saturday) and days when it sounds awful (Sunday - and I chose not to run.)
If it were gone, then I'm thankful that I have lots of other interests that would occupy my time. I enjoy reading about business and the marketing approaches that companies take to sell their product/service. There is always a baseball game to watch or a bike to ride. I have really enjoyed swimming here in LA because the weather is perfect for outdoor swimming all year round.
Hate It? Love It? No, it is enjoyable or unenjoyable and probably not much more than that.
As a triathlete, you're already a couple of steps ahead in terms of diversifying your athletic portfolio.
It definitely helps in keeping burnout away. That being said, I did get burned out on triathlon and essentially stopped swimming for a long time.
Having that back as part of my training has been a blast and something I look forward to.
Agreed that the practices of a company matter more than their advertising slogans.
Personally, I enjoy running because of it's intensity that I have a harder time replicating with other exercises. There are times when running is unpleasant but I wouldn't say I ever hate it.
It's definitely difficult to replace that running intensity. Maybe impossible. I'm sure I'll have to find out at some point!
Great post Raz! I smiled at the Haiku. :) Thank you!
The haiku has been an enduring positive part of my life. Thank you :D
Great to hear it and you're rocking it!
I'm totally with this, lol. I think I've actually developed more love for running because I'm constantly signing up for races and competing with myself to beat previous times, but I'm also not blind to the fact that one day I might wake up and those PR's will just stop happening. I'm not sure if that's a shallow way to love running or not.
Either way, there are days I hate having to go train (like today), but I do them, and I think that level of commitment is a version of love. Definitely agree with the idea that it's not a *true* love, though, if after I've reached my "peak," the possibility of falling out of love looms.
Time will tell!
I already switched from soccer (my first, and most enduring love) to running to protect my joints. It'll happen again at some point!
Oof I have not been following this controversy, but I have to say that this sort of machismo in messaging generally turns me off. Not every run is some sort of gut check, and pursing them that way is probably just a fast way to injury.
I don't know if it's a controversy as much as everyone feels sorry for Nike thinking this way haha
That seems very appropriate