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Runner's Forum: You Americans are crazy

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    InnestrainsabitlikeRocky
    I've been reading one of Bob Glover's books, and very good it is too. It's confusing as well though. Why do you Americans talk about times for 5k and 10k runs, then give your pace in minutes/mile??
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberB-Grrrrl
    • CommentTimeJun 5th 2008
     
    B-Grrrrl

    I do that as does everyone else I know who runs. I'm English.

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberKDogg
    • CommentTimeJun 5th 2008
     
    KDogg

    thats just the way the old guard laid things out for us I guess

    if it makes you feel any better I think of 5k and 10k races in terms of kilometers, because I figure it gives me more precise pacing

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    Harbourboy
    Nobody that I know uses miles for anything.  Much simpler to just use kilometres for everything, I say.
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberlugri
    • CommentTimeJun 5th 2008
     
    lugri

    This is extremely funny for me.

    I'm from the good ol' Europe, but started running here in US. Pretty much like languages (English and Italian) I use both systems depending on situations. For running I simply can't pace myself in minutes per kilometer-- I have no feeling for it.

    So it happens that when I'm talking with my Italian runner friends, we have to translate back and forth between British and metric systems.

    -Luca 

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberdrkonijn
    • CommentTimeJun 5th 2008
     
    drkonijn
    Imagine my confusion when I tried to convert my weight and came up with $376.94. Inflation is making me obese.
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberLexB
    • CommentTimeJun 5th 2008 edited
     
    LexB

    I think I use every system going at different times.

    As a Brit raised at the time they tried to convert everything to metric, now living in Canada! I use feet and inches for height, meters for size, kms on water and when running, miles for driving and speed, weigh myself in stones and now in pounds, weigh other heavy stuff in kgs, cook in ounces and now in cups. I drink pints of beer (now I drink sleeves but I don't know what they are), fluid oz of water, and work in litres for everything else.

    Chaos I tells ya!

    But yeah, I totally agree, I get myself tied in mental knots trying to work out my pace & speed from a run! 

  8.  
    Harbourboy
    You guys ARE crazy!
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberjunkie_99
    • CommentTimeJun 6th 2008
     
    junkie_99

    We talk about times for 5k and 10k runs, because all the races are measured in Km. When I do my training runs, I do my times in miles because that is the measurement I'm familiar with, and makes sense to me.

    Now, why do the races in USA do their distances in Km? I have no idea, unless it's to conform to some international agreement. 

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberlugri
    • CommentTimeJun 6th 2008
     
    lugri

    Hi Junkie_99,

    my experience as a runner in NYC is that very few races are in km, and most are in miles. That is, I've raced one 5k (which was actually truly a 3M) and I'll race a 10k in July, but all the rest are 4M, or 5M. Obviously I'm not considering Half-Marathons and Marathons, whose distances don't make sense both in km and in miles.

    -Luca

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    spudsmac12
    "My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead, and that's the way I like it" Thats all I have to say about that.
  12.  
    rpetreccajr
    We just want to keep the rest of the world confused. It appears that the master plan is workingLaughing
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberimatarb
    • CommentTimeJun 7th 2008
     
    imatarb
    Excellent question...not sure why we measure races in km's, but we pace per mile. I guess I just went along with the way it's always been!
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    Harbourboy
    Only for you guys.  I do races and paces in kilometres.  My meagre mathematical skills would be sorely challenged if I tried to work under two different measurement systems.  You guys must be mathematical geniuses.
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberTrotters
    • CommentTimeJun 11th 2008
     
    Trotters

    Stick with what you prefer over distances- I think Americans enjoy using Kilometeres because they like high numbers; 10km looks longer than 6.2 miles - 6 points for a 'touchdown' ( when a bloke in a padded suit and crash hat does anything BUT touch the ball down) as opposed to a single 'goal' or a meagre 5 points for a 'try' , three points for a 'drop-goal',  three points for a 'penalty' and just two for a 'conversion' - scored by blokes with cauliflower ears and no body armour.

     

    Can't understand why yanks don't play Cricket...........

     

    Miles better.

     

    Why bother with splits? - do your distance, 3,5,12,26 miles and compare times for the entire run! 

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberHarbourboy
    • CommentTimeJun 12th 2008
     
    Harbourboy
    That doesn't explain why the rest of us use kilometres for everything.
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberTrotters
    • CommentTimeJun 12th 2008
     
    Trotters

    .....Not according to the other comments on this thread, apparently!

    I think most people in the States and the UK equate distances in Miles because it's something you can get hold of - let's face it, if someone tells you a certain town is 76km away, it dosen't mean anything, if they say 50 Miles, you have an idea.

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