Last weekend the Caveman, kids and I headed to 6 Flags Great America for a blazing hot day of theme park fun.
We were there for a corporate event. We spent the day riding. Alot. I think we sweated even more. Thing 1 is a total daredevil so Caveman and I traded off riding the big coasters with her. Thing 2 is not yet tall enough for them but she held her own.
We all met in a picnic area for the corporate part of the day, which included a late lunch. We found a shady picnic table and I had just pulled the skin off a chicken breast (fried chicken and hot dogs were on the menu) when I was approached by a man of, shall we say, high corporate rank. After introductions, the first words out of his mouth were:
“I hear you’re quite the runner.”
A little taken aback that he knew I ran, I nodded and said “I try.”
Then he said “Well I have a bone to pick with that marathon you’re running. Traffic is tied up in Washington DC everytime I visit because I have to wait for some sweaty people to run. Can’t they get up on the sidewalk after a couple of hours?”
Before I could respond, (not that I had a clue what to say) he continued:
“You know you’re breaking down your body don’t you?” Running a 4 hour marathon is way harder on the body than running a 2-1/2 hour one.
Forgive me, but I couldn’t help noticing Sherlock’s vast, protruding gut.
My mouth said “For me, the rewards far outweigh the risks.” My eyes said “Wow your assholishness astounds me.”
Then his attention went to my plate:
“I suppose this is your training diet?” After a couple of tsks he finally went away.
I think we’ve all had experiences like these. Before this one, mine have been limited to single comments or snide remarks here and there.
I find it more than a little ironic that my lifestyle choices were questioned at a theme park where the obesity epidemic is overwhelmingly apparent. I watched two people be removed from two different rides because the safety bar couldn’t fit over them properly. Some of the rides also have a sample seat at the entrance with a warning that larger people cannot be accommodated. But damn those runners.
So were the comments offensive? Yes. Was I offended? No. I know the rudeness is a reflection of his own, personal issues.
Have you had your lifestyle choices questioned? Attacked?
I think that you just have to remember that usually when someone comes at you like that, it’s because you’re making them feel insecure. Ever notice that people who are happy with their lives/who they are never pick on others?
I’d just smile and say something simple like “I know it might seem crazy to others, but I feel great!”
I get some comments here and there. People that I work with think that I eat so healthy and that I am killing my body. They question why I run and I just tell them that I do it to maintain my health and that I enjoy it.
Why am I so surprised every time I hear a story like yours, where someone who obviously has no ‘good manners’ filter, accosts a person who is eating healthy or taking part in a physical event or the like?
It amazes and apalls me every time.
So glad to learn you didn’t take his brutish behavior personally.
I have had it happen in a much ‘softer’ manner, by family members who let me know that I don’t ‘fit in! And yikes, when I see the size of them and the state of their own health, why would I want to?
Mike and I are going to Six Flags this weekend and I was just thinking about those seats that they have to test to see if you fit.
It’s so obnoxious when people say things like that. I always think about saying something ridiculous back, but usually manage to refrain. Once, though, someone told me how they would kill for my metabolism and I said, “you can, just start running 50 miles a week.” That shut them up.
Have I been picked on? Yes (although no where near to the degree of that jerk. Wtf?). But you know what? For every one weird “your knees will SUFFER!” comment I get, I get 20 “you are so inspiring to me!” comments, which far outweigh the negative for me.
Yes, and it always has been more about their own issues and insecurities than about me. It’s hard to be as awesome as you, I can see how he’s intimidated!
When someone asks why I run as much as I do, I ask what their favorite thing to do is. Then they tell me and I ask, “Well wouldn’t it be fun if you could do that all day long sometimes?”
The man you encountered may as well have been Toronto’s current mayor – who tried to campaign on the idea that marathons and races should be re-routed to take place entirely within parks (it’s obvious he hasn’t run more than a block in the last 20 years). The local running community laughed their pants off. I’m sympathetic to those with places to be on weekends who get slowed down by closed roads, but they can have those back by cancelling marathons and 10k’s when they start cancelling parades (which are really just a bunch of people sitting around watching slow moving cars) too.
I’ve had 2 separate incidents at work on the elevator, with 2 different individuals: seeing me with my gym bag or cycling gear in hand. They comment in a congratulatory way that I am exercsing… so far, so good. Then they come out with:”But you still have a stomach!” gesturing at the old gut. The only explanation I can come up with for this incredibly rude behaviour is that our office is multi-cultural and in their home countries, commenting on someone’s (apparent) weight is not as big a taboo. Still, I think both individuals (from completely different ends of the world) have lived in Canada long enough to know better.
I also once met someone who had completed over 100 marathons. When he heard that I had completed one in over 4 hours, he said “Why would you even bother? That’s like walking.” So these ambushes can come from either end of the healthy lifestyle spectrum.
What a jerk! I have no idea what I would have said, but your response was perfect. I do agree with some of the other commenters that he is insecure about himself so feels the need to complain about others. But to be overweight and say that running is bad for you. Really?! Yes, I will take my chances buddy:)
…people and their opinions…
so what were you supposed to eat at this work-provided-lunch that he was judging you on? ’cause you can just smuggle some salad in to a theme park, ride a few roller coasters and it still be in non-demolished condition.
grr!!!
whatever. we are more awesome and live happier lives than sherlock.
What an obnoxious human being! I am constantly feeling judged by my coworkers for packing a salad for lunch and skipping the free lunch my work brings in on Fridays (never light by any means) or not having cake when we have it in the office for someone’s birthday. I also get looks from coworkers when I turn down happy hour invites because I want to go to the gym after work instead. I try to do what I want to do and I go to happy hours plenty – when I don’t want to hit the gym. I do eat dessert – but prefer not to do so at work, in the middle of the day, when it’ll only deplete my energy. I think some people like this guy act this way because they see someone reminding them of something they feel like they “should” be doing, like eating the lighter lunch option, but they don’t want to do it and want to make you feel badly since they feel badly as a result of your healthier actions. Just a theory!
Wow – because you seem really unhealthy and slow! When I think of unhealthy, I think of someone who is a Boston Qualifier, runs, bikes, stretches frequently, and eats healthy food.
Please note the sarcasm. He’s uneducated. And I don’t like people who push their opinions on others.
It is always the out of shape and sedentary that love to espouse on the “dangers” of running. Kills me. I have a neighbor who falls into that camp. One of these days she will catch me in the wrong mood…
All I can say is “douche”. I hate to say it but he’s got some sort of a complex and is seriously jealous. It’s so obvious like a kid in elementary school. He’s just one of those that hates on others because they can’t figure out how to make changes in their own lives. Either that or he’s just a douche which is still possible.
Um, WOW! Who was this guy, and how did he even know you were a runner? So sorry you had to deal with that. Even when you don’t take it personally, it can damper your day a bit. I wish people could keep opinions like that to themselves. It’s not like you’re going around telling all the overweight people that they’d be better off avoiding fast food and getting a little exercise!
I hear a LOT from my husband’s family. “What are you running from?” is a frequent refrain. And 80% of that family is seriously overweight (I’m no model, for sure, but I’m working on my weight and trying to be healthy). I’m treated like I’m abnormal. I have a couple brothers who are pretty scornful of it, too. I’ve gotten to the point that, as much as I love talking about running, riding, racing, etc, I’m more careful who I bring it up around. On facebook, though, if they choose to friend me that’s what they’re going to hear about…and I’ve lost a couple FB “friends” bc of excessive fitness posting. Whatever.
I think you’re right on that this is his personal issue. His other personal issue is that he seems to think you care about his opinion–if he’s high-ranking, he’s probably surrounded by toadies who do. Good for you for sticking up for yourself while remaining nice–it would have been hard for me to sound civil. The best revenge is….run more. For the rest of your life.
kind of reminds me of when my very overweight doctor said running was bad. I didn’t want to judge him, but I didn’t really believe him either.
However the fact that this randomo nob head approached you is really bizarre. I always think that I would have some witty response, but usually those things shock you too much to say them in that moment.
I’ll never get these people. I cannot imagine saying something like that to someone… even if what they were doing was bad for them. It seems like some people are being fed weird backward propoganda about running.
Wow, those are some bad comments that he said to you. Your response to him was great about the benefits outweighing the risks. Not much he could say to that. About his traffic comments, why is he even driving in DC anyways? Take the Metro – way more efficient.
And I forget where I read it, but I read somewhere that the amount of time that traffic is stopped for a race results in less car crashes than if traffic was not shut down. Basically, it was better for the area to have traffic shut down. Shows that America needs to get out of their cars and onto public transit.
I’d say very rarely do I get negative comments about my running. Usually it’s people that question why I’m running because I’ve been having injuries recently. So their questions are valid.
wow. that was lovely. I usually get the you are killing your knee’s and since I’m injury prone, “When will it be enough to tell you to stop?” umm thanks for the encouragement.
Oh and you won last week’s fundraiser give away!
Ahh, this type of comment always gets to me. I’ve heard it myself in many different ways (“what are you running from?”; “why don’t you just sign yourself up for a hip replacement now?”)People are idiots! I tend to think people who don’t run feel the need to pick on those of us who do because they really feel so inadequate themselves. I know why I run (trying to prolong the inevitable-type 2 diabetes-that is knocking on my door)and I usually tell a person that when they comment. At least I know I’m doing something to try and help myself, even when others like that guy aren’t.
Ugh. I hate when people criticize the things we love. I’ve gotten so many comments like that about my running, and it ALWAYS comes from people who have NO business to judge.
You did well to say what you said. Crazy thinking!
How rude! Nice to know you have an exercise science expert at your company though 🙂
Wow. I’ve gotten a lot of “Why would you ever want to run a marathon?” However, never anything blatantly rude like that before.
I am guessing it just comes from his own sense of fitness inadequacy.
I’m absolutely gob-smacked that someone you don’t even know can take you to task over something he clearly knows nothing about. Heaven forbid that you should choose a lifestyle that’s healthy and you stay out of the over-clogged health system. You’ll have the last laugh when you out-live him.
Wow. What a jerk. I give you major credit for not throwing back the judgmental asshole-comments in his face. Why is it ok to criticize you for being healthy and not ok to criticize him for his choices. Ugh.
Aside from my mom warning me I’ll need a hip replacement by 30, no personally no. However, when we were in Disney this January for the Half Marathon, my friend over heard a woman chewing out a Disney cast member about the race. Apparently, having to wait for a break in marathoners for her to cross the street was completely ruining her vacation and how dare they expect that from her!?!
What lazy people call crazy, we call commitment
You handled this SO tactfully, even though he obviously was trying to stir you up for a big debate. Often it seems that these people make “marathoner attacks” to cover a personal issue they have not addressed. I am proud of you for politely just stating the truth.
Wow, I would have been completely offended. Lots of people say things to my husband and I too, it just amazes me. We get it about wanting to do an Ironman too.
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