i agree, people "distance up" usually when they can't compete with the deeper fields of more traditional races. I wouldn't even know what a good time for a 100k run would be, but i know how hard it is to run sub 3 in a marathon.

Going long doesn't have to be slow. This feat by Mike Morton just blows my mind. 172 miles in 24 hrs is INSANEhttp://www.irunfar.com/...ships-interview.html[/quote[/url]]

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X2....Great job by Mike..

I don't know where everyone meets all the IM snobs, ultra snobs, triathlon snobs ect. I have met many people in the years doing this sport and I find most are very nice, the ones that are not are just sort of insecure types. Never really met a "snob" the faster they are the nicer they seem to be.

I don't know where everyone meets all the IM snobs, ultra snobs, triathlon snobs ect. I have met many people in the years doing this sport and I find most are very nice, the ones that are not are just sort of insecure types. Never really met a "snob" the faster they are the nicer they seem to be.

Also, are you the Steen Rose who finished the Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3 Triathlon 2012 in 5:28 with a 40 minute swim, 2:35 bike and a run of 2:07?

That's probably a lot more clear and concise than I put it the first time...I can definitely see where that's not what came across, and that's just poor writing and editing on my part.

degree in Communication, and can connect with athletes at all levels

I don't know where everyone meets all the IM snobs, ultra snobs, triathlon snobs ect. I have met many people in the years doing this sport and I find most are very nice, the ones that are not are just sort of insecure types. Never really met a "snob" the faster they are the nicer they seem to be.

Sure, that makes more sense. And now I am genuinely curious to hear some examples of how people express this lack of respect. Since you're in coaching, I assume this has some real world basis, so lay it on us. My guess is that whether it's short or long course, the vast majority of people, even the ones willing to throw their hat into the multisport ring, have no shot to ever podium. We're always going to be only racing ourselves. We can't appreciate the difference between 1st and 3rd place in a 5k, it's all beyond us, even MOPers. So while we certainly can push ourselves with the pursuit of lower PRs, there is a different kind of satisfaction from going the distance. It's why endurance sports are called endurance. I am starting to see more and more why I need to set goals of both kinds. I have personally decided to not even think about a full marathon until I can get my 10k and 1/2mary times down to a reasonable range. That's going to take a lot more work than it took me to go from zero to finishing the first ones.

Maybe I'm a bad example. Always been fat and unathletic, so I have mad respect for fast people at ANY distance. Maybe the population that is grating on you is closer to the actual MOP than the BOP. I don't know. I may be a poor representative of the BOP as it is. Seriously though, some "for instance" comments you've actually heard would be helpful.

Also, are you the Steen Rose who finished the Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3 Triathlon 2012 in 5:28 with a 40 minute swim, 2:35 bike and a run of 2:07?

Shouldnt play the man Ed. Even if it were him, he could be one hell of a coach. He may not have worded himself well in the beginning, but he did try and clarify his point. Posting any results, with the insinuation that they are mediocre times, just contributes to the snobby argument.

And now I am genuinely curious to hear some examples of how people express this lack of respect.

i feel like this actually happens to me pretty often. a bunch of people were signing up for a road race festival last summer, and i did the 1-mile. "oh, how come you're only doing the mile?" was a pretty common question. i wanted to break 5 minutes, which to me would be 5 full minutes of pain and suffering, and way, way harder than just finishing a 10mile. hell, most STers could finish a 10mile with their arms tied behind their backs. but increasingly running is being taken over by a mentality that progress means distancing up, not getting faster.

-mike