Trail running is toxic

I take it being an elite athlete means OP is competitive and has found his alphas to butt head with.

Never found this myself but I’ve never done a competitive trail run. Hard to not sound like an old perv but the sprinklings of primo tail on trail runs are enough for me to not be at all bothered by the elites out front.
 
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PaulKempTheSecond said:
I take it being an elite athlete means OP is competitive and has found his alphas to butt head with.

Never found this myself but I’ve never done a competitive trail run. Hard to not sound like an old perv but the sprinklings of primo tail on trail runs are enough for me to not be at all bothered by the elites out front.
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You might be on to something, a sense of inferiority..

I never look at the other people's kit (shoes, bag, clothing etc.), or their performance, cliques etc.

I sometimes even run trail ultra's all on my own, me and my Mr Price Maxed shoes for R749 - I couldn't be bothered by anything except my race and of coarse the beautiful nature that is the primary reason why I am out there.

If it feels toxic, you might be making it a problem for yourself..
 
I realized a while ago that the activity itself is never the issue. I realized that the toxic BMW driver is the same toxic cyclist, golfer, padel, runner etc. Any activity that requires you have a lot of spare time to participate and get good and has a steep cost of entry attracts a lot of the "BMW driver" types who are chasing status and are toxic wherever they go and whatever they do.
 
The_MAC said:
You might be on to something, a sense of inferiority..

I never look at the other people's kit (shoes, bag, clothing etc.), or their performance, cliques etc.

I sometimes even run trail ultra's all on my own, me and my Mr Price Maxed shoes for R749 - I couldn't be bothered by anything except my race and of coarse the beautiful nature that is the primary reason why I am out there.

If it feels toxic, you might be making it a problem for yourself..
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This, honestly always found trail running to be super refreshing in how it's more about getting across the line in your own pace rather than focusing on time targets as with road running. Maybe OP is on the cutting edge of competitiveness but have never once picked up even a hint of toxic behaviour when doing trails in KZN.
 
Cray said:
This, honestly always found trail running to be super refreshing in how it's more about getting across the line in your own pace rather than focusing on time targets as with road running. Maybe OP is on the cutting edge of competitiveness but have never once picked up even a hint of toxic behaviour when doing trails in KZN.
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Same here down in the Cape. Have been trail running since 2017 and the community has only ever been friendly and supportive. Some of the best runs I have had have been the long races where you are out on your own in the mountains and then come across another runner or two. You make a little group and press on, each acting as each other's support. It's epic.

Toxicity, elitism, cliqueiness; call it what you will, will be around if you go look for it, because if you have a hammer, you go around looking for nails.
 
I don't if Gym qualifies but the content creators and the nudists are some of the most vile and pompous crowds I have ever met.
 
Stinkbeaver said:
I don't if Gym qualifies but the content creators and the nudists are some of the most vile and pompous crowds I have ever met.
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Ah, yes. Those people

iu
 
Wonder if the OP is actually going to tell us what he finds so toxic about the trail running community... :unsure:
 
rustypup said:
See many chess fans screaming blue murder at the contenders?

How many times have you seen a chess spectator claim "WE WON!!"?

Chess makes no false claims that it "uplifts communities".

Sportsball is essentially a marketing platform aimed at a largely irrational and delusional client base.

There is nothing to be learned from sportsball. It adds nothing of value to the species. It is shallow entertainment. Nothing more.
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You really are ill-informed. Pick the sport, and you will easily be able to see that 99% of the participation in that sport is at an amateur level. Amateur sport is great at building friendships, developing character and grit, learning life skills, etc. That is essentially the point thereof.

And the strategies used in chess are just as relevant in cycling, or rugby, or war.

That said, I battle to see chess as a sport - it's a game, but it isn't a sport.

There is as much to be learned from becoming a brilliant athlete as there is to learn from becoming a brilliant chess player
EADC said:
I think he might have to look in a mirror to find that out.

Seems to be a very toxic character in general
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You seem wound a little tight. This thread is just a little bit of fun; no need to take it so seriously. I have my own issues with "run crews" culture and so on, but that doesn't stop me from taking part. But clearly I already stepped on some toes here.

Also, I love how I am labelled as toxic by so many on this forum because I have certains standards, and try and uphold them in everything I do.
 
This thread is just a little bit of fun; no need to take it so seriously
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Lol, brand an entire sport and it's participants as toxic and then wonder why some might take umbrage...
 
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