I wouldn't worry about it. Assuming you run for you and not validation from another, other's opinions shouldn't carry so much weight. I don't think it has anything to do with being accepted or not, it's just people making assumptions which may or may not be that resonable. Ever see a short person and assume he's not a great basketball player? This is no different. Heavy runners are not that common for two reasons. Firstly, many people start a program but can't stick with it so you don't see them after a few races. Those that do stick with it generally shrink to a slimmer, faster state of being (that'll be you soon). Most of the bigger people I see at races are, in fact, walkers. Also, if those that are asking a bigger as well, there's a good chance they're insecure and just looking for someone in the same boat as them for comfort (just a guess on my part).

When I do see heavier runners, I always wonder if they're gonna be in the portion that drops out or the portion that moves on to faster and slimmer.

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You run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking, racing around to come up behind you again.

quote:

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Originally posted by antagonist77:

This thread is the reason I have been opposed to this forum, I figured it wouldn't take long for the fat asses (like myself) to start crying about skinny runners.

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I think what you have read can be construed as crying, but I don't think that is what it is. What you have here is a group of people who are working hard to achieve their goals. Sure, the words may not always come out the "right way". But I think this forum is fantastic. Personally, I could care less about what other runners think of me, my running, what I am wearing, or whatever have you.

I run for me, not for the pseudo validation of others.  Period.

To play the devil's Advocate..
Barbie says "it's not right to crack on me, just because I'm a skinny"

You're looking at the skinny runner's differently right? Do they not have to train for endurance and speed just like you? Or is it the natural assumption, that just because I'm thinner I should be in shape, maybe I've just had a baby, maybe I've just lost 100 lbs., maybe I'm naturally skinny but have never been athletic.
If you are going to make assumptions that Barbie will be faster than you; it's only natural for Barbie to think she can beat you too!
When you cross the finish line first it's a victory for you, so does that make it a defeat for her, that she got 'beat' by someone heavier? What does that say? She must really be a loser if I beat her? You take away from her accomplishment, to make yourself feel better? (Generalizing, not saying YOU feel that way)
The other big girl is happy to see someone of her size. So she asks if you're walking. Who does the walking Barbie look to for encouragement? They are out there running too, trying to get in better shape. Just like you. Who accepts you if you look in shape but struggle through a 5k?

Now, I'm done playing devil's advocate.
Your size has very little to do with your athletic ability. I get out raced by my 95 pound friend and my 240 lb. husband. It just takes some people awhile to realize that! Still doesn't mean I have to like it. Sure, I'll pick you out to beat..but then Green Eggs & Ham flies by as I'm sucking wind, so it goes around, comes around. I'm happy to get beat by any girl. it's the 10 year old boy that 1/2's my time that bothers me.

This is a good thread; a lot of angst coming out.  But the truth is you have to find your motivation internally.  If you measure yourself against someone else it says only that you beat or loss to that person on that day.  It says nothing about discipline, training or natural abililty. And, unless you are world class, there is always going to be someone in front of you.  An important point to remember is you run with the body you have.  Generally in the professional/world class ranks those athlete's have some genetic predisposition to excel at a certain sport.  Think about it, how often do you see a great athlete in one sport change to a different sport and do well.  Lance Armstrong was less than world class at the NY marathon.  Could you imagine one of the Kenyans taking up Football at the professional level?

What I'm getting at is most of us C/A's are not predisposed to be speedsters.  We should take heart in the fact that we have the courage, in a very image based society, to get out and race when we know we won't have a decent chance at an award much less winning.  Its about something else entirely; its about finding something inside you.  You can't really be sure what others are thinking unless you talk to them.  What I find is most have an individual story and compulsion for running and most emphathize with the trials and tribulations of other runners.  I enjoy our local running group because I know the stories behind the runners and its heartening to cheer for people when you know what hurdles they are surmounting.

Having said that, go out and run for yourself and don't let anyone take that from you.

I've got to reply to this.  I'm a fairly large girl.  I'm fairly new to running (again but that's a different story).  I haven't even run a race yet and had never thought about the comments and thoughts from other runners when I get to my first one.  So far, from people on the street, all I've gotten was encouraging comments.  I don't know if other runners would look at me differently or not, but..what I did want to say was that it was another larger runner that really motivated me.  I was in class, and I heard another larger woman in my class, about my age (almost 30) and build talking to one of the very young, very thin girls.  The thinner person was asking the larger one dozens of questions about running and races.  The larger one seemed very animated and they both seemed friendly.  I thought, "heck, if she can do it, why couldn't I".  I hate to say I let myself talk myself out of running because of my weight.  I know now how silly that was, but I'm glad a woman like her came along to help knock it out of me.  Other than that, some skinny runners apparantly show respect, not because of our weight, just because we are good runners.

The thread title in itself just screams paranoia. I'm going to blow your mind here people. What if those people who you think are "looking at you differently" aren't looking at you at all? That's the most likely answer to the question, since most people don't pay attention to others except when it is convenient and self-serving. The fact is, as a person who, for most of my life has been fairly thin, I will tell you that I do look at (truly) heavy people differently - with a ton of admiration (pardon the pun). I'm a guy, and if I weighed 275 lbs like the poster above, I question if I would have ever found the courage and motivation to begin running in the first place. Just to make a point, heavy people are not automatically unathletic. When I was in high school, the best athlete in my class by far was a chubby looking kid everybody called "Slim". He still holds school records in basketball and soccer 15 yrs later (i believe). Watch the NFL draft this weekend, several of the top 10 picks will be over 300lbs. Do you think NFL teams are throwing multi-million dollar per year contracts at non-athletes?

Being overweight is difficult enough (I did go through a stage in life where I was pretty overweight), why make it even harder on yourself by worrying what other ppl think? Rejoice in the fact that you ARE a runner! Running is an awesome activity! What other hobby comes with a term like "runner's high" (other than doing drugs)? Don't let the percieved bullshit others may or may not be thinking negatively impact the pleasure you get from running.

I cannot imagine why people feel the need to judge ANYONE out there doing something good for themselves...but they do. I am experiencing pretty much the same thing because I am older. Basically I have no support. People keep telling me that people who run like me.... who may appear to be in great shape, drop dead of heart attacks from running and I should really 'watch' because of my age. They ignore the fact that I am in the best shape I have ever been in and that I run almost everyday and it's something that I take seriously and has become part of my lifestyle.  It has taken alot of dedication and hard work to do this. It's amazing as most of these coments come from those who continue to make excuses to not get out of their chairs to move! Where are they on a cold Saturday morning. Im at the park bundled up running against the cold blast of wind. I just registered for an 8K...and I have had some pretty negative responses. Mostly from my own family members!

nice huh?

For the runners saying "I think about giving up" - don't! I'm a skinny little thing lurking on your board for advice for my partner, who is well overweight and on week 5 of c25k (he's so awesome!)... one of my friends who inspired me to start running is a big girl - and she's now passed the milestone of her first marathon. She's talked about getting a LOT of **** over what she eats and how much - and in  her words, if you're burning it, you can eat it

Secondly, I also get a bunch of people yelling "you can do it", and "go for it" and "c'mon, not far to go" etc etc... I do think that this is something that some runners do, they're psyching themselves up as well as handing out encouragement and energy for everyone else. So I'd say keep going keep going keep going - and you're right: the last laugh is the one you have at the finish line as these other people stagger across after you