Why do people have to be negative about other people's achievements

[Pippa49]

Feeling accomplished after doing 18 miles on the treadmill but feeling a bit annoyed as was asked if it was continuous. It was even with a short bathroom break. My pace was mostly 15min miles but varied it. If I was doing the race I might have to go to the loo do the remaining miles not count? If course not so why should it be any different in training?

[Langley-Loper Half Marathon]

Ignore those comments, probably from people who couldn't run that distance and are jealous of your achievements.

Better to take a biobreak than make a mess on the treadmill!

I've never run that far in one go, with or without toilet stops, and I am impressed.

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

I'm glad you decided to do the 18-miler, and well done! I wonder if the person who questioned you was surprised that someone ran that far on a treadmill - it's pretty damn impressive!!

Even elite marathoners take loo breaks during races:

nbcdfw.com/news/sports/Bost...

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

They said that all my runs over half marathon distance have been on the treadmill which is not true as I did do one of 14miles outside but I find running more than 10miles or less around my local area excuse my French boring as 😉. I understand what she is saying but feel deflated now after being chuffed with my achievement. She is faster than me so doing today's distance outside would have took me longer than the 4hrs 35mins on the treadmill in 5,consecutive sessions with a quick toilet break.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Pippa49]

The Brighton Marathon has it's quiet points, but most of it is far from boring, so you can show everyone what you can do there!!!

I've sent you a private message.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Thanks. I have replied to the private message.

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Wow 18 miles on a treadmill is a huge accomplishment in my books. I did 14k last year and there is no way I could repeat that this year (I can’t get into my treadmill runs for some reason this year). Of course you may need to stop for a toilet break or, heaven forbid, step on the rail to get a good drink or catch your breathe. It all still counts. You still ran it. Be proud of that accomplishment! It is a huge one that many people couldn’t do!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

I'm very impressed- that's a huge distance! Surely most people would be impressed too? Sounds like this person was having a bad day, but such a shame that they managed to spoil yours too. You should feel rightfully proud of yourself and try to forget what has been said.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon]

Thanks Linda. I will try. She was pointing out that what if the weather on race day was the same as today and I had to do 6-8miles. I am aware of this however weather was not the main reason for doing it on the treadmill but the fact that it would have took longer outside than it did on the treadmill today because I am not fast and I would be constantly checking how much more I had to do.

Feel quite upset about this as I was really chuffed with myself and feel that has been taken away devalued because it wasn't outside.

[Madge50 Marathon]

Hang on a minute, whether you take a loo break or need refreshments/fuel (most humans do....) you are still moving, I have to walk to take a drink, so if you’ve had to leave the treadmill for a loo break, in effect you’ve done more.....

The only people I have ever seen run 18 miles or more continuously are elite runners who have perfected their feeding/drinking technique and trained their inards to not need toilet breaks, for at least a marathon distance......

The total distance covered is the total distance covered, it’s still banking miles on your legs whether it’s inside or outside.

And isn’t this about you? Your race, your way.....who cares what this person thinks, you’re doing this for you, not them.

Chin up lovely, the key thing is that you get to that start line, and you know what works for you.

Mx

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

Aw thanks Madge50. Yes it is about me. I am guilty of always worrying about what people think. I am getting better but it's hard sometimes especially when it concerns something I have done that I am proud of. This is going to be out of my comfort zone but I will do this. This is my 50th year (I was 50 a week ago) and the Brighton Marathon is one of my goals. I may not be able to finish but I have to try otherwise I will regret it if I don't. I am also of the opinion that it's miles done whether inside or outside and it won't matter whether I have done the mileage outside or inside as anything can happen on the day. I will take it mile by mile on the day from 13.1miles onwards. X

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Pippa49]

You carry on feeling proud, you have every reason to! Go for it xx

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

I’m in awe of you running 18 miles on a treadmill! That’s an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of yourself. It’s unfortunate that she rained on your parade. Sometimes it’s hard not to care about what others think but you know inside that it was a run well done. People take breaks all the time in order to eat, drink, go to the bathroom, adjust their phones etc. and that shouldn’t take away from there runs.

[Hidden]

I've read through the various issues that this person had brought up and can't help but feel that this had more to do with her perception of her own journey than anything to do with you personally. Clearly she feels that she must run continuously for it to somehow count. It doesn't. I could rant about the Jeff Galloway method and how many elite runners swear by it, getting faster times then their continuous counterparts. Or agree with you about comfort breaks on the day. I can even bitch about the fact that the weather may not be with you on the day, but that doesn't mean you need to train on bad days when you have choices.

I can't imagine running 18 miles atm, breaks or not, so I'm super-impressed with your achievement.

Chin up and perhaps remind your "friend" that comparison is the thief of joy (a good friend's favourite quote).

Keep running for you, never pause to care what other's think of your journey, for it is yours and yours alone xx

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Hi sorry for the late reply to your reply. I have been told by running associates that they just wanted me to know the difference between the two styles of running. Anybody would think I didn't run outside ever but I do. OK I have never ran as far as I did on the treadmill but I do run outside. I am not stupid. I know it's different outside. Feel like I wish I had not bothered. I have had more support and encouragement from people I don't even know except on this forum. I know the people who have commented on my Strava are concerned. Maybe I am being oversensitive but I have till next Friday to drop to the 10K on 14th April. Beginning to wonder if I ought to. It is obvious that people think that I am not ready (not people on here)

[Hidden in reply to Pippa49]

Again, it really isn't their place. You'll know if you're ready and running on a treadmill can be different no doubt, but you are still strengthening your legs aren't you. If you were cross training on a bike, are we to think that wouldn't increase your endurance, respiratory system and leg muscles.

I say you go for it, what's to lose! If you end up walking some of it, who's going to care except you.

I appreciate they're perhaps trying to help, but lowering your self-esteem isn't helping.

I've heard it said that a minor tweak of the incline on a treadmill can simulate outdoors running. I may be wrong but think it might be 1% - you can Google this of course. Now, a BIG now, don't feel that you have to try this, I'm not in any way suggesting that you need to go off and do this to somehow make treadmill running count, because believe me it does! But it's definitely something you can retort when the pros and cons of road versus tread are next up for debate!

I say you go and do your race, your way! We're not all the same and I see runners much more senior than I putting me to shame on distance, while I may be better at speed. My point is, we all have our own strengths and weaknesses so never do yourself down.

Much love x

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Sutsha. One of my friends is a qualified running coach who has done the London marathon a few times so she is not inexperienced however her experience won't necessarily be mine. I realise she and others are concerned and are giving me advice but all they are doing is a you say is affecting my self esteem, my confidence and my mojo. I don't know how to tell them this without sounding ungrateful for their concern and advice and risking friendship. I did not ask for advice all I did was post my achievement on Strava.

Thank you for your reply. I meant that I have had more support and encouragement from people I don't know on forums like this not as I said above except this forum

X

[Pippa49 Half Marathon]

Thank you so much for your reply. It has made me feel much happier. I don't think she is aware of how much her comment upset and hurt me but I won't dwell on it as in the end I don't have to take her advice or agree with what she said even if I understood what she was saying. This is my journey noone else's.

[Agelesslass Metric Marathon]

Take no notice Pippa49, you are amazing, putting one foot in front of the other for 18miles. Breaks a natural for humans unless you are a robot. Keep going and forget your so called friend’s remarks.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Agelesslass]

I will thank you Agelesslass. However she goes to the running group I attend on Thursday so I will have to be polite. She is entitled to her opinion and I don't think she will have realised how her comment hurt.

[Agelesslass Metric Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

Maybe not, but would gently tell her about it.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Agelesslass]

If she says anything I will be polite and say that whilst I understand what she is saying she is entitled to her opinion and that her comment had a negative effect on my feeling about my achievement. What about those who have to do their long runs on a treadmill do their runs not count? Of course they do and so does mine. I could do all my runs inside or outside but anything can happen on the day regardless of how I did my long runs.

[Sqkr Half Marathon]

There will always be people that feel insecure and boost their own achievements by belittling others. They're everywhere in life. But fingers to them! You did a great thing, and have more great things planned. You're clearly a strong and capable runner, don't let someone else's issues derail you 💪😊

[Deals1 Metric Marathon]

whhhaaatttt?! 18 MILES on a treadmill!! AMAZING

well done you!!

its a fantastic achievement so ignore any negative comments

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

How negative - take no notice! That's a great achievement and you should be rightly proud!!🙂👏

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra. Just reading about training for a marathon on the treadmill. Yes it is different to running outside but so is swimming in a lake different to swimming in a pool. Neither is better than the other. I will be running a half marathon in Weston Super Mare on 24th March so I will be outside doing a long run.

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

Keep doing what makes YOU happy - that's what's important! And good luck at Weston Super Mare, too!🙂

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks I will. I have read that a lot of people do their long runs on a treadmill and it obviously doesn't seem to do any harm. Thank you for your good luck message.

[UnfitNoMore Metric Marathon]

18 miles on a treadmill? OMG... I see that stop button at 100m and it calls me nonstop... if I haven’t pressed it by 200m I’m having a good day 😂

If you gotta go, you gotta go... only the elites need to let it go while running 😱. Of course the miles after count, I have friends with the medals to prove it.