Those people are exclusively:
1. Mothers
2. Teachers.
I am not entirely sure why but something in both those professions seem to awaken to beast of unsolicited advice which pounces on them when they least expect it, and things can get quite nasty. I can only assume because everyone has a mother and everyone has had a teacher at some point in life, they feel they are qualified to give advice and opinion, whether called upon or not.
Everyone has an opinion on how a child should be raised and everyone has an opinion on how to manage a teachers workload. Sometimes reading through advice is interesting and informative but sometimes it plunges you into icy depths of further uncertainty and uselessness. Which is not helpful or fair.
Being neither a mother nor teacher, I have only ever witnessed these scenes from afar, but have every sympathy as I grow older for those who do and put up with this behaviour.
My sympathy has grown over the last few months because running seems to be third in the list of "People most likely to received unsolicited advice.
Marathons are not something humans are really built to do, nor it is something that comes naturally to someone who has spent the best part of the last 27 years doing anything but running. This means I have asked several people for advice. These people include my sister, who is a running fanatic who can run 5k in under 20 minutes (vom); the personal trainers at my gym, who are literally paid to know this crap; and the people in the Facebook group RUN MND, who are a partly a bunch of nutters who love running but mostly people who are passionate and encouraging about raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Marathons are not something humans are really built to do, nor it is something that comes naturally to someone who has spent the best part of the last 27 years doing anything but running. This means I have asked several people for advice. These people include my sister, who is a running fanatic who can run 5k in under 20 minutes (vom); the personal trainers at my gym, who are literally paid to know this crap; and the people in the Facebook group RUN MND, who are a partly a bunch of nutters who love running but mostly people who are passionate and encouraging about raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
I have however received advice from: basically everyone I've ever mentioned the marathon to who might have done some running once
Now let me clarify, I also talk about the marathon a lot. A lot a lot a lot. The reason is because everytime I do there's a chance I will get some sponsorship money and a compliment
*PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS MY ONLY MOTIVATION FOR INCESSANTLY MENTIONING THE MARATHON, MY TRAINING AND MY JUSTGIVING PAGE*
I literally want your money and your awe. I'll ask if I need more.
However everyone wants to give you their two cents on the event. Which is fine and helpful and wonderful in some ways, but what comes with giving advice is an arrogant ownership of advice which to the receiver of the advice sounds like IF YOU DON'T DO WHAT I SAY YOU WILL BREAK YOUR LEGS AND FAIL.
Dramatic, but true.
In the last 6 months I have been told I'm running too much, not running enough, doing too much running in one go, not having enough rest days, having too many rest days. I shouldn't bother with swimming. Swimming is great. I should run outside more. I should do more programmes on the treadmill. I shouldn't do Body Balance for core strength. I should do Body Balance for core strength. I should do these programmes. I should go on the cross trainer . I should just drink water. I should have protein shakes. Protein shakes are only for muscle building. I'll fall out of love with running. I should work out on Mondays. I should run three times a week and do strength training 3 times a week even though I don't have time. My time table is fine as it is. I should do more shorter runs. I should build up my distance.
Several comments for the above:
- Cross trainers SUCK
- I will never exercise on a Monday
- Screw you I love swimming and body balance
- I hate running so there's nothing to fall out of love with
- How can I be doing both too much and not enough of anything?
This reminded me partly of a sketch from the ultimate episode of 30 Rock
And also of a recent conversation with my heavily pregnant friend whom I asked if she needed to wash all her baby's clothes before she arrived... apparently even though I was just asking a (simple) question, she is going to be burnt at the stake for witchcraft regardless of the option she chooses.
Literally just shut up. Especially if you haven't been asked. The definition of ADVICE is "guidance or recommendations offered with regard to a prudent action." That's right GUIDANCE and RECOMMENDATIONS, not INSTRUCTIONS. Every single person is different and works in different ways. I happen to hate running and have very specific things that motivate me, which are probably different to things that motivate you. For example I know that 26.2 miles is a really long distance and if I don't gradually build up my distance I will fear I will never get there, so I need to do this to reassure myself. I also exclusively need to run to musical soundtracks. Also in my first three month plan, I hit all my goals, so I'm doing something right.
My overall message to you all, mothers, teachers, runners; and those who want to stick their oar in...
- Give advice only when asked
- Remember it isn't obligatory that your advice is followed
- Don't be judgemental
- Donate money to my page
- Give me a damn compliment
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jefferstow-runs-the-marathon
