i'm not a huge fan of slower people on the starting line - but some people *just don't know*, i was a newb and dumb at one point, everyone does it at some point if they don't have experience.
but i'm really against people who are dirty in a race, unless the olympics or something are on the line - there's no need to for it. and if it's good spirited hustling it needs to be followed up with some kind of congratulatory pat/hug/whatever after the race (in x-country myself and another fellow were rubbing elbows for a good kilometer - and had a good hug after the race).
and if people wanna chat - s'ok, i like to chat a bit on the line. otherwise i hope to be running too hard to be talking :) hopefully not getting passed by those who are talking :P
otherwise i can pretty much handle all of it. as long as people aren't safe or rude i have no issues.
ask me this again on the afternoon of sept 10th - my first race since 2001.
ps. RobP you got beat by an old lady? 8O i woulda given her a gentle elbow in the side to remind her who was 'running' the show.
seriously, those that are obviously not worth the money they spend on equipment. a recreational skater does not need a set of $800.00 skates when they have the :fubby: physique.
on a sidenote - i remember showing up to my first provincial race with new NB shoes, and my more experienced teammate saying "what the hell did you get those for - they must weigh 10 pounds!" (me not being familiar with the idea of spikes at the time...). so sometimes you are just a bit clueless.
my pet peeve is slower people who decide to act fast by starting at the front but in the end faster runners have to weave past them when the race starts. I'm amazed at how many runners do that especially in the
larger races (including 1/2 marathons).
Another thing that I dislike is people who, I don't know for what purpose decide to surge early in the race and try to cut others off. In the early miles of my 1/2 marathon in May, there was this older Asian dude who kept surging ahead of me and cutting me off in front. I tried to weave around him but he kept coming back. I was a bit ticked off and irritated at what he was doing (and he kept following me too, which was the worse part) Obviously, judging from his breathing rate (close to hyperventilating) he was running way too fast for his current fitness level and for that stage in the race (Geez it's a 1/2 marathon, not a 5k! ). After mile 3 or 4, I eventually overtook him for the last time and never saw him again, much to my relief.