I see people frequently tossing this term around in running blogs. I know many races have an "elite" corral and have specified by qualifying times who may enter the corral. Is there actually a standardized qualifying time that ALL the races use? Or is it up to each race director?
Frankly, I feel the word is overused and the use of it confusing...as pertains to the secular running world and definitely in the blog world.
To my mind, a woman running a marathon in under 3 hours or a 5K in less that 18 minutes doesn't garner "elite" status...but I'm jaded. The elite echelon is reserved for a higher level. A runner who runs a time fast enough to qualify for the Olympic Trials is certainly elite. An athlete who earns a spot on his or her country's national team is, too, without question. But there seems to be a lot of grey area beyond that. Or maybe I was unable to find the definitive website.
Back when I was competitive in my other sport, it was really clear.
You became "elite" by winning a "step-up" race. Not all races were. And coming in a close second or third didn't matter. You had to WIN. There were different levels of events...junior (<18), intermediate, senior, elite, open... You could toil for years alongside already elites, challenging them and even beating them in practice or non-step-up races, but until you WON a qualifying race, you weren't technically "elite." You could even compete in an Olympic or world championships trials event without being "elite." We did not treat that word lightly. It was very defined.
Adding the term "professionalism" puts a whole 'nother twist into the mix. By professionalism I mean getting paid. Money changes the game entirely. But that's a post for a different day.
Has anyone here ever been "elite" in some arena?
–O! ME! ME! ME! about a billion fucking years ago.
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| I'm on the right...with the skinny arms, red fingernails and a watch. |
Do you want to be "elite"?
–BTDT. Soooooo over it. It doesn't make you a better person. In fact, some of the biggest assholes I know are elite in something. Or is it a lot of the elites (or former elites) I know are the biggest assholes? Maybe both.
Are you a professional? In what?
–I'm a professional bullshit slinger. Got my $25 check from BlogHer to prove it ;-)
How do you define "elite"? Are there specific criteria? What are they?
–You have to actually defeat people in whatever it is you're doing...and not just regular people but people who are really fucking good at whatever it is you're doing. Far more selective than top 10%. Criteria changes depending on the arena.
Are you glad that Hostess is back in business? What is your favorite Hostess product?
–Hoe-MYGOD-yes! My jaw dropped and hit the dirty linoleum floor at the AMPM MiniMarket the other day when I saw the PIES! Fave = Suzy-Q's. Peel the devil's food cake off and suck the cream out. Wasn't that kind of the point of all Hostess products? To suck the cream out? They should have an ad campaign that utilizes this concept...
Does this post add to any conversation? Not sure I care. I really just felt like blabbing about something and showing off one of my national team pictures. Thank you and good night.
Elite... on the SA trail seen I am elite, although I'm not really that good, it's just that there aren't really that many really good guys and I always seem to end up at the front of the field. OK I'm now 40+ and there I would say I make the cut...
ReplyDeleteback in '97 I ran Amsterdam Marathon and having run a fastish marathon the year before I found myself on the startline with a bunch of sub 2h10 boys... Boy was I out of place after 6 weeks of holiday.
I alway start local races at the front, and I walk around as if I own the place, so I look like I belong! That said there is a fat deaf lady who walks/runs a 10km in about a hour who alway stands on the start line right in the middle at the front... She says it's the only way so can 'hear', see the start!!!
If you wore a sparkly skirt everyone would KNOW you belong at the front of the line. Be daring. Live large.
DeleteGreat post MILF, and I have to say, THANK YOU for the package the other day. I laughed my ass off when I opened it. lol :)
ReplyDeleteElite is way overused these days. I believe it's for the best of the best, the people winning Olympic trials and such.
I can't remember why you would laugh but I'm glad you did. Laughing is the BEST. It's the ONLY.
DeleteYou will always be elite in my eyes, Milfy. In my sport, (figure skating) many would just go to a country they had some distant roots in and compete on their world and Olympic teams, while not being able to touch a spot on the US team. So yes, elite comes in many flavors.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. In my sport there was a fair amount of that. Keeping me honest, my country of dual citizenship tends to be stronger than the US in my sport so gunning for a spot on the US team made more sense! My old employer was an Olympic javelin thrower...for Ireland.
DeleteElite is like the term diva--handed out way to easily/frequently these days!
ReplyDeleteThe world is so full of posers. And poser wannabes.
DeleteOne of your best posts. In fact one of the best I've read in a while. Could it be, dare I say, "elite"?
ReplyDeleteHow would we know? Assigning a perceived objective title to a subjective rating is....subjective.
That being said, I used to be relatively smart and often sought out as an "expert". I often give the example that back in the day when I was a doer and not a mgmt wonk, I would rate myself a 7-8 on a scale from 1 to 10 in a certain area. I further explained that if you are an 8, you know if someone is a 9 or 10 rather quickly (or conversely if someone is not). It is hard to determine if they are a 9 or a 10 from your perspective but you know that they are more than an "8." Now, if you are a "4" you probably couldn't tell if they were a 5,6,7,8,9, or 10. The moral to this rant is that once the term becomes subjective, all hope is lost for accurate ratings.
But is that all bad? - that's a rant for another day.
Good...bad... it's ALL subjective.
DeleteMy socks say "Elite" across the toes and I take that to mean that I'm special.
ReplyDelete#SUPERSPECIAL
DeleteI think the elite corrals are a nice, fair option for the faster runners who qualify to get in there, it's just being seeded -- that makes sense. It doesn't necessarily mean that person is a world-class runner. Then you don't have to worry about knocking down a little kid or or elbowing some old man in dolphin shorts to get ahead. ;-) To win $ in a USATF sanctioned event, time is based on gun time, not chip time. So, if $ goes 10 deep or they have Master's $ on the line, you better bet your kale chips that I'm sending in my credentials to get in that corral :-) And, it's paid off :-) Now, I'm not going to line in front of some guy who looks like Meb and trip him up, but I'll hang in the mid back of that coral and get right on my pace. BTW, I'm an elite runner to my family, damn it. I make them chauffer me to the race, pass off my water bottles filled with special potions, and then rub my feet and hear me bitch about it after. I think they just want to make sure they get dinner later
ReplyDeleteOMG...DOLFIN SHORTS!!!!!! are they red and white stripes? are his balls hanging out the side? I KNOW THAT GUY!!!! They know you're bringing home the beef ;-)
DeleteThis post was way deep. I came here expecting a selfie and leave happy.
ReplyDelete#ThanksObama
If I could post a selfie here in the replies I would. Everyone should get a happy ending.
DeleteI don't know what elite means, but I want to answer bolded questions at the end of a post. I know you do it because you genuinely care about what I have to say, not to get me to click over from my reader and give you page views. Right.
DeleteNot elite, never have been. Totally okay with that. If elite meant getting free shoes, sports bras, running clothes, or race entries, I'd be down. We all know that's not the case given how many bloggers get free stuff.
If you're really elite, you get paid just for showing up.