Wow, I feel pitty for that lady. Seems like she just enjoys attention and not the work and dedication it takes to get there.
Also... Can someone explain to me what the Parade Bus is? Is that what sweeps you?
I am trying to stay positive. But damn... it's hard. Like I said, my friends and I are taking this pretty seriously. Is there a way to ask Disney to move up corrals? Will I know my corral ahead of time (ie: when I sign up?) so that I could submit a proof of time or something (even though I know I don't need one for a 10k)
I am not trying to make this about the one person I know. I feel bad for her too, no doubt. She thinks she has everyone fooled just because she has these medals and she has a 13.1 magnet on her car. But then people she works with will text me all the time and make fun of her stories and the fact she keeps putting on weight. They all ask me, "How can she be getting heavier if she is running as much as she claims." Sometimes telling the lies and maintaining them takes more work than the running, in this case.
But it isn't just about her. The ladies that Keels saw just sitting there, and then making fun of the lady who was actually trying, they are no different. They are clearly unhappy people who need the medal for some reason to make themselves feel better and the saddest part of it all is, if they did the work the answer to the unhappiness might be right there in front of them.
As far as you trying to stay positive, I understand it is hard. I was beating myself up the whole 7 months leading up to Tower of Terror (my first race). I was SCARED TO DEATH of being swept. Every time I didn't feel like running I was tell myself I had already signed up and I couldn't allow myself to get swept so I got off my butt and ran. Even at the race I was scared. I was in corral D. Clearly I had a huge head start over the balloon ladies but I was still scared. I ran like I was being chased by a hungry bear. I loved the race, but I didn't enjoy it if it makes any sense. It was my first race and I just wasn't stopping until I finished.
As long as you do the right things it will all work out. Eat right, put in the training. You will get where you want to be. Only you know if you are doing your best, we can't help you with that. All we can do it tell you that things will work out fine if you do that.
Oh, the "parade bus" is the fancy name they give to the sweeper bus.
I would say your friend is not training at all really and is one of the "hey look at me and the cool things I am doing." I have only not finished one race, and that was due to the bombing at the Boston Marathon. Even though I was given an official finish time and mailed a medal I still struggle with claiming it as a race I completed. Saying that, I don't see how people can say they have done something that is not true.
The running community is a special place. A lot of my running friends can run circles around me, yet they are the most supportive people I have ever come across. We are friends on the Garmin site so we can see each others runs, and more times than not, when I see them for a training run or a race they will comment about how my paces is getting faster or something about doing a good job on mileage. Those little comments are a big moral boost for me. With the knowledge of those folks, I can always find a solution to a problem or an idea on how to become better.
Anyone making fun of someone running has no class. I think it comes from a desire to make themselves feel superior over that individual. That's not what this running community is about. Sure there is someone who wins, and also takes first in age group. There is also always a person who comes in last. Yet, each person is usually running there own race, and maybe they didn't "win", a lot of folks set a new PR or a first time at "x" distance, or finishing "x" distance for the 25th time. Each runner has their own goal for a race, and sense of achievement. For those reason, I'll support each and every person that toes the line.
I recall when I first started running I was nervous about going to the area of town where everyone ran. I felt like I was to slow and fat to be out there. I finally made it out there, and even during training runs people are out there supporting one another. I do my best to support others as well.
I think the only way to move up corrals is to provide a proof of time race. Keep working hard on your training, you are taking the correct approach.
You made my point exactly. By telling people you are a runner and not doing the work you miss out on all that comes with it. I have medals, I could hang them up and show off. I don't. I come home and let my kids see it then I bring it up and neatly fold it up and put it in my drawer. I look at them on occasion but the medals are just a symbol of accomplishment. Each medal stands for not only the accomplishment of that race, but all the miles of training that went into it as well. My WDW marathon medal reminds me of when I tore my tendon in my ankle because that is when it happened. I have been running for 6 months since then on a torn tendon. I'm not looking for praise, but for me personally that is huge because 3 years ago I would have given up on myself because I had a headache. I looked for excuses to quit things. Now I am not giving up. I have a plan in place to try and stay in shape once the surgery happens because I refuse to quit anymore.
We all have our stories. A lot of us worked through injuries or self esteem issues. Not wanting to run in certain areas because we were to fat. Not wanting to wear certain outfits because of how we looked. That's why the majority of the running community is so awesome, because we all understand.
@doctorintheTARDIS may be doubting herself now, but after she puts in the work and finishes her race, she will come back and know what we were talking about as well. Then she will pay it forward to future runners.
Anyone that takes this sport seriously and shows up at the starting line and gives the race their best effort is a winner. You may not always finish because of an injury or a bombing, but you won for trying.
