Commuting - "Runners Are Wimps"

To upgrade my Life Insurance, I had to get a basic physical. They send a nurse by the house to check blood pressure, pulse, draw blood etc etc.
The nurse had to take my pulse twice because she couldn't believe that my resting heart rate was 52.

She asked,"Are you a runner ?"

I replied, "Naw, runners are wimps" :roflmao:

Consider that line stolen. :)

Oh, and be careful donating blood. The head nurse at the Red Cross nearly scared the cr@p out of me once. I'm lying there with the needle in my arm when she comes running over yelling, "No, no! He can't give blood!"

Turned out my resting heart rate that day was 48 and the nurse who took my pulse had forgotten to check the box that said, "Athlete". The ARC won't let you donate with a RHR under 50 unless you tell them you exercise.

When I went to the doc-in-a-box joint for my company sponsored physical, the doctor walked in (holding my charts) and started lecturing me about how I'm at high risk for developing diabetes and heart disease because of my weight. (I'm 6'6" and 260 pounds.) She hadn't even really looked at me, and when she did turn around and talk with me and not at me, she realized that everything she said about heart disease and diabetes and how I should lose about 50 pounds was wrong.

6' 6" and 260????

What's your body fat percentage?

I'm curious becuase I'm 6' 3" and recently went from 250+ to 218. I haven't been this weight since I was a teenager or thereabout but I haven't really lost a significant amount of muscle and yes, I do lift weights.

I had my best stats in years on my 50th birthday checkup. Can't say my normal resting pulse is below 50 yet (only at times) but I have another 20 lbs to loose.

BTW - a coworker that is 7'1" weighed 265 lbs. He wanted to drop 20 lbs.

6' 6" and 260????

What's your body fat percentage?

I'm curious becuase I'm 6' 3" and recently went from 250+ to 218. I haven't been this weight since I was a teenager or thereabout but I haven't really lost a significant amount of muscle and yes, I do lift weights.

ummm
he's the Juggernaut

ummm
he's the Juggernaut

B*tch. ;)

To upgrade my Life Insurance, I had to get a basic physical. They send a nurse by the house to check blood pressure, pulse, draw blood etc etc.
The nurse had to take my pulse twice because she couldn't believe that my resting heart rate was 52.

She asked,"Are you a runner ?"

I replied, "Naw, runners are wimps" :roflmao:
Hehehe :)

I would have to add though, that I do NOT think runners are wimps. I do not think cyclists are wimps either, of course. I was a runner in high school and cross-country and track could be absolutely grueling, though not in quite the same way as cycling. In any case, my resting heart rate is now under 60 and I am sure I was in way better shape in high school... now I don't get nearly enough exercise besides 10 mile/day of bike commuting.

I replied, "Naw, runners are wimps" :roflmao:

I think Lance Armstrong said the same thing when he finished the NYC marathon......:D :D

Good witty comeback to the nurse....

"Naw, runners are wimps"

-1
Running is harder. Let the flame war begin.

Besides...and bicycle commuters are....?

Let's see... We've picked on Roadies, Runners, Cagers.

I think Cyclocrossers and freeriders are a bunch of nancies.

*runs and hides*

I managed to drop mine to 43 in the dr's office by breathing real slow, just for the hell of it. Being in NYC, he didn't seem too impressed. :(

I managed to drop mine to 43 in the dr's office by breathing real slow, just for the hell of it. Being in NYC, he didn't seem too impressed. :(

you should have cranked it up to 400w
that would have impressed him

yah, I can temporarily drop my HR way below my usual RHR for about 20 seconds at a time as well by taking a few really good cleansing breaths then slowly exhaling. I idle at about 54 first thing in the AM. And I'm out of shape. I just have a good ticker as a legacy of my wussy sprinting (ahem, and cycling, roller-blading and basketball) days in high school.

-1
Running is harder. Let the flame war begin.

Besides...and bicycle commuters are....?
I agree. I do both distance running (training for my second marathon now) and cycle pretty regularly

I give blood regularly, and the HR/BP record on the back of my card for the last 2 years are a record of how much I've been riding. Both have been dropping steadily. I finally got my resting HR under 60 at the last round. I give again today so we'll see how I've been getting along.
I do have to make sure to hydrate like heck before riding down to the drive. If I have to drink while there, my temp is too low for about 10 minutes, adding to the delay.
It took a few times to get them to stop mother-henning me about having to ride 5 miles home after donating, but they've finally gotten used to me.

I've seen 51 just parked on my couch watching television. I usually tell the nurse/doc that I'm a cyclist so they don't get concerned.

I've always thought running is harder than riding. I can run, say, a 5K, but I don't like it at all. I tried running regularly to see if I could condition myself. Didn't work. I'm a Clydesdale though. 6'2" @ 200#. Lots of leg muscle mass to push around. Most runners seem to have thin legs. Does that matter?

I used to run when I was skinny (5'6" 135)

The only thing that sucks when running now is my knees and ankles. My additional 70 pounds puts a hurtin' on those.

I think a lot of people are strong enough to run quite a ways but their joints can't take it.

Crud. I was thinking of running tomorrow. Our commuter rules apparently rule this out. Poor me! :p

6' 6" and 260????

What's your body fat percentage?

I'm curious becuase I'm 6' 3" and recently went from 250+ to 218. I haven't been this weight since I was a teenager or thereabout but I haven't really lost a significant amount of muscle and yes, I do lift weights.
Hovers around 17%-18%.
I did some powerlifting in the past, so I carry a crapton of extra muscle, especially in my quads from doing squats and deadlifts.



-- Don't you know who I am? I'm the Juggernaut, b**ch!

I think a lot of people are strong enough to run quite a ways but their joints can't take it.

also, i think poor running technique has a lot to do with it. i'm too clunky when i run and i know that is putting a ton of stress on my joints.

running kicks the crap out of sissy @ssed bike commuting.

and i say that as a cyclist who runs occasionally to try to get a leg up on the competition come race season.

HOLY CRAP IS IT HARD

I think a lot of people are strong enough to run quite a ways but their joints can't take it.

bingbingbing! We have a winnah!
Especially people my size... we don't run. I'd either blow out my knees and ankles, or get assesed by the city for street repairs. :D
I do a lot of hiking, though. Slow and steady walking, with good supportive and cushioned boots and a pair of hiking poles takes the pressure off my knees on long descents. Plus the hiking poles give some extra oomph on long ascents.

hiking is great. i would go for a hike every day if we had trails around here. i enjoy it much more than running, and about equal with cycling.

Just stay on the elliptical machine, bump the angle up to 10-12, resistance up to 16-17, 400 watts baby!

I'm 6'3" and like 140.
But I'm sure that my metabolism will slow down in a while, also I could still put on an inch or two.

I'm 6'3" and like 140.
But I'm sure that my metabolism will slow down in a while, also I could still put on an inch or two.
Holy cow. I don't think that I've tipped the lighter side of 150 since eighth grade.

Well... being built like a brick isn't a detriment to a cyclist after all! Glad I don't run. If I did people might make "Dwarfs are not built for running! Very dangerous for short distances but not meant for long jogs!" jokes at my expense.

running kicks the crap out of sissy @ssed bike commuting.



I do both--20 mile commute, minimum, on the bike or on foot with a backpack.

To be honest, I haven't run to work for quite awhile--usually only while ramping up mileage for marathon training.

Well... being built like a stack of cinderblocks isn't a detriment to a cyclist after all!

Fixed that for ya.

The only problem that I've found is in getting proper fit on bikes and keeping wheels true for more than 2 or 3 weeks.

Fixed that for ya.

The only problem that I've found is in getting proper fit on bikes and keeping wheels true for more than 2 or 3 weeks.

You know, I've actually seen a Brick Poo-House. There's one behind an old Italianate "mansion" in Galena IL.... and unfortunately my torso rather did resemble it.

My problem is that I'm short... and so are my legs. I'm STILL riding the same bike I got when I was 14. I just don't fit anything bigger.

As for keeping wheels true... I got my own truing stand so I don't have to wait for the mechs.

I'm 6'3" and like 140.
But I'm sure that my metabolism will slow down in a while, also I could still put on an inch or two.

Lucky. I'm 5"4" and it's extremely difficult for me to go lower than 150...