devashish_paul wrote:
BCtriguy1 wrote:
Runner Rick wrote:
BCtriguy1 wrote:
To people who are taking what I'm saying largely out of context. I can live with that.
Going back to your original comment
BCtriguy1 wrote:
There's nothing BCtrigirl and I enjoy more then making snide comments about people who show up to race packet pickups wearing all their IM or Boston gear.
It did get misconstrued a bit. We seemed to have missed the "all" in regards to their gear. However, you definitely brought some of this upon yourself, by coming off as snarky and condescending by admitting to enjoying making fun of people.
That's fair enough. And I'm sure I brought it on myself too by seeming like it's something that really bothers me, or that I "enjoy making fun of these people". Usually what happens (and I'm giving the example of what frequently happens at race pick ups) is we walk by someone, or even better, a couple, in matching head to toe gear from some event, we look at each other, roll our eyes, and carry on with our day. I'm not offended by it. I don't even really care.
Are they, in fact, just a huge fan of the sport? Are they ego maniacs who take themselves and their hobby way too seriously? Some of the people I know personally, having been a part of our endurance community for around a decade, and I know the answer leans towards the latter explanation. Either way, it's really no skin off my back and I don't really care what people do with their clothing. I've done one IM, and I bought a hoodie and a mug. I lounge around in the hoodie once in a blue moon, but I love the mug. I don't think I've ever worn the finishers.
I think what is getting you into trouble here is comments like "snide remarks" , "roll our eyeballs" etc etc.
Everything else, I think if we were sitting around in a cafe we'd actually agree somewhat with. I'd end up laughing at myself and it would be all fun because I'd likely have some IM branded gear (I did 7 WTC races this year, so you just end up with a lot of their stuff). Right now I am on crutches, and cannot walk across a room on my own. I bought a 2014 IMC Whistler finisher jacket on sale at IMC 2015 because if was a nice jacket on clearout for $50 that said "2014" on it. Unfortunately what I did not realize is that it has this big huge "FINISHER" embroidery on the back. Really I don't need to tell the world I finished the stupid race, if I am wearing the jacket I am because I finished the race. In any case getting around on crutches and my left leg spasming from a nerve problem no one would visually look at me and think I could finish an IM and I don't want anyone talking about it and make snide remarks either on the side. So I don't wear it.
I go to the pool and I wear my Ironman branded swim caps inside out because I dont' want to be "that guy" at the pool. But you know what, right now, the only time I feel like an athlete at the moment is in the pool. So today, I reversed my tradition and put the cap on with "IRONMAN" on the outside. It made me feel like an athlete the moment I was in the pool. 4500m later I crawled out, grabbed the crutches and made it back to the shower, then to my car, back to day to day life....but for 4500m, on this day, putting on the cap one way versus the other way, just made me feel awesome.
In the end, it is a personal journey unique to everyone.
I think what is getting you in trouble is a few comments that tend to caste judgement. Minus the "snide" and "roll the eyeballs" and I think we know the difference between just wearing the gear and "way over the top" and probably a subtle in between. Its like when I go meet guys working at Intel or Microsoft, I don't really want to see them head to toe in corporate gear either, so I THINK we all get the drift of what you are trying to articulate.
i totally get it. i don't care a whit who wears what and i will happily wear race gear before a race or race gear from a race i've never done with no problem. i don't care what people wear and i go for the "pretty". i don't like the big FINISHER signs on stuff but, eh, whatever. coming home from IMCOZ there was a guy all decked out and wearing his finisher medal. i had an inside chuckle but whatever, not my life. life is too short and fragile (as you've already encountered) to get hung up on what people wear or deserve to put on their bodies. i'm not wasting time on that. when you are made acutely aware of just how fragile and short life is/can be, it is easier to have pride for those proudly strutting their stuff. i forget sometimes your IM Swiss. you've come such a long way, Dev. right now i'm fresh off an excision for biopsy and about a million stitches holding my shoulder together and not planning any races. yet. so i'll see your crutches and send some positive energy your way. this side of 50 and life looks so much more fragile but also so much to live for. :) take care!
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