Running Snob

On Sunday I ran the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago 1/2 Marathon. With about 3 years of races under my belt, I generally "know what's up" when it comes to these things. What I realized on Sunday, however, is that I'm quite a snob. It came to me while sitting in the VIP hospitality tent enjoying the private gear check & port-a-potties, a free Miller64, and an egg panini. Yep, snob.

Here are 3 running phenomena that baffle me:

- Something I CANNOT understand are those overloaded running utility belts, stuffed with Gu and four different bottles of energy drinks. I mean, I can understand if you're training for a full marathon, running 18 miles on a trail in the woods with no access to provisions. In that situation, a tool belt makes sense. But, really? During an organized 1/2 marathon where there are water and Gatorade stations at practically every mile marker. At this particular one there were even Gu and wet sponge stations! Is it still really necessary to carry a tool belt with even MORE supplies?? Snob.

- I cannot stand the way people hoard things just because they're free. It's bad enough at the expo where there are obviously free samples and giveaways. I always feel like an awkward school kid when I take one sample and the person behind the booth reminds me that I can ONLY TAKE 2. Yet, still here's the woman next to me grabbing samples of all 5 flavors completely ignoring the volunteer, and I'm embarrassed to even be standing next to her. Snob? The worst displays of this are after the race at the different replenishment stations. On Sunday I saw a guy take a handful of at least 8 mini-Cliff bars and a woman actually put a bunch of bananas down the front of her shirt!! The more I think about it, I don't think this one makes me a snob.

- One way to single yourself out and scream "This is my first race" is to wear the shirt from that day's race. I'm not sure why or where it came from, but wearing the shirt that you got in yesterday's goody bag is a rookie mistake! When I see runners doing such, for some reason I'm annoyed. Why? Who cares if they want to wear the shirt? Who cares if this is their first race? So what they don't understand "the rules"? I'm still bothered. Snob.