I am sooo sensitive to this, myself. I try not to take things personally, and on the outside, that's how I behave...but inside I might be seething!

A big part of it comes from never truly LOOKING the part. Even when I was at my fitest, I was still bigger than most other athletes and people who didn't know me tended to treat me as a newbie. I always HATED joining a new gym (still do) and listening to all the drivel about needing 3 sessions with a personal trainer to set up a beginner program....for pete's sake - I've been lifting for the past decade (even if I don't look like it)...I don't need an introduction to the machines! And no, it's not just that they say this to everyone because my husband was right next to me and they had the balls to say to him "you look like you know your way around a gym, we can skip the sessions if you'd like". Seriously? I have more weight lifting knowledge than he does! (It happens with us all the time because he looks fit and I don't...even if I am)

Ok, sorry about the tangent. Clearly this hits a nerve with me.

What I came in here to say was that I tend to make comments to other runners or bikers that I pass that are more centered on shared misery or shared joy. Like - "wow, great view from up here, huh?" Or "ugh, is this hill over yet?". Even if I'm passing them (exceedingly rare on a run!), I'm probably struggling too! I just don't feel right saying "good job" when I've been in their shoes and that 'good job' made me feel the need to say back 'no really, I know I'm slow...it's not a good job...it's only a mediocre job at best!'.