Quote Originally Posted by OakLeaf View Post
Welp, I don't know if you can really classify all those things together.

Complaining about the pace of a group run? Especially when the pace was what was agreed on at the start? That's just rude.

Venting disappointment over a bad race for one's own ability, even if someone else might be stoked to log that bare clock time? Who else can we express our disappointment to, if not other athletes?

I don't feel like there's much difference between myself celebrating a great race for me and someone else wanting commiseration for a sucky race for them, even if we logged the exact same time, even if their sucky race was 20 minutes faster than my great race. Because the bottom line for any recreational athlete is, "I competed against MYSELF, and came up ..." either wanting, or triumphant.
Case in point, the race I just did. I was SO pumped about being 7 mins faster than last time and my BIL was mortified and humbled by his time. His sucky race was 25 mins faster than my great race. Hugs for him, high fives for me. He did not make me feel badly about it though.

The few times I have gone to road races with him, he is completely discombobulated as to why I do not " run faster". he said to me...you look like you should be able to run really fast. He is not being mean, he is truly confused. I think he now understands that trail running is a different beasty and will have a bit more respect for the dirt! I am happy just to be out there moving!!