Anonymous wrote:I guess if you are a man who is attracted to women with no makeup and their hair tied back, you might look at races as an opportunity for picking up women. But from what I've seen, there is more a feeling of friendliness/camaraderie with the other participants.

That would be me...

I guess if you are a man who is attracted to women with no makeup and their hair tied back, you might look at races as an opportunity for picking up women. But from what I've seen, there is more a feeling of friendliness/camaraderie with the other participants.

meat market is such a 90s term

Anonymous wrote:people are checking each other out because they are competitive

i am an avid triathlete and do lots of running races as well

people definitely join tri clubs and running clubs to meet people at group runs, rides, etc.

but races, no

if you've paid the race fee and have done the training you are there to compete

No shit. I've done countless races including marathons and tris. This is a festive atmosphere, but a meat market? Uh, no.

OP is confusing friendly (or a random horny guy) with a "meat market".

people are checking each other out because they are competitive

i am an avid triathlete and do lots of running races as well

people definitely join tri clubs and running clubs to meet people at group runs, rides, etc.

but races, no

if you've paid the race fee and have done the training you are there to compete

I've been running races for years and haven't noticed any meat market type activity, but a lot of runners are friendly and will talk to you if they're running the race solo and not with other people. (when they tend to just hang with their friends.) I look around at races a lot because yes, there are attractive people, but also because I like looking at all the different race shirts.

I do recommend races with beer tents for single people - more opportunity for socializing. (except for Ragnar - everyone is so tired at the end of Ragnar that people typically just stick with their own teams at the beer tent.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been running several years but have only recently (last few months) started running races.

I went to one a couple months ago and a guy totally tried to pick me up. I was talking to him---pre race--it was my first race, I was nervous, he looked like a very experienced runner (was in the fist corral, I was in a further back one) so I asked him for advice....he ended up asking me for my phone number, calling me after the race, etc. Very much "player" type behavior.

A few weeks later I had another race. The expo seemed a bit "meat market" ish to me. Lots of people "checking each other out". I know I got checked out A LOT.

I am 38. I've had many children. At the expo I was wearing leggings and a baggy sweater, not anything "sexy" at all.

Is this typical?

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of what we here on DCUM call a "humble brag."

Put down the Cosmo and other girly magazines, Sexy is Fit and fit is sexy. Fit is the new skinny... Guys dig chicks that are athletic and confident, THAT is sexy. Give the OP a break, maybe meat market wasnt the right term, but someone know when they are getting checked out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been running several years but have only recently (last few months) started running races.

I went to one a couple months ago and a guy totally tried to pick me up. I was talking to him---pre race--it was my first race, I was nervous, he looked like a very experienced runner (was in the fist corral, I was in a further back one) so I asked him for advice....he ended up asking me for my phone number, calling me after the race, etc. Very much "player" type behavior.

A few weeks later I had another race. The expo seemed a bit "meat market" ish to me. Lots of people "checking each other out". I know I got checked out A LOT.

I am 38. I've had many children. At the expo I was wearing leggings and a baggy sweater, not anything "sexy" at all.

Is this typical?

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of what we here on DCUM call a "humble brag."

I totally agree; this thread is ridiculous.

OP here

No, it was a legitimate question, based on my experience.

Ok OP but the only legitimate experience you had was at the race where he asked you for you number. The rest is your perception. Maybe they were checking out your shoes or sizing you up as competition. So basically you are asking, based on your 1 experience at the race, if races are "meat markets." That's why this thread is ridiculous, but hey there's nothing wrong with self confidence!

READ! OP was in 2 races!

Why are you shouting? She was only hit on at one race, so has has one legitimate experience that has lead her to believe races are meat markets. Geesh, why so sensitive?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been running several years but have only recently (last few months) started running races.

I went to one a couple months ago and a guy totally tried to pick me up. I was talking to him---pre race--it was my first race, I was nervous, he looked like a very experienced runner (was in the fist corral, I was in a further back one) so I asked him for advice....he ended up asking me for my phone number, calling me after the race, etc. Very much "player" type behavior.

A few weeks later I had another race. The expo seemed a bit "meat market" ish to me. Lots of people "checking each other out". I know I got checked out A LOT.

I am 38. I've had many children. At the expo I was wearing leggings and a baggy sweater, not anything "sexy" at all.

Is this typical?

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of what we here on DCUM call a "humble brag."

I totally agree; this thread is ridiculous.

OP here

No, it was a legitimate question, based on my experience.

Ok OP but the only legitimate experience you had was at the race where he asked you for you number. The rest is your perception. Maybe they were checking out your shoes or sizing you up as competition. So basically you are asking, based on your 1 experience at the race, if races are "meat markets." That's why this thread is ridiculous, but hey there's nothing wrong with self confidence!

READ! OP was in 2 races!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been running several years but have only recently (last few months) started running races.

I went to one a couple months ago and a guy totally tried to pick me up. I was talking to him---pre race--it was my first race, I was nervous, he looked like a very experienced runner (was in the fist corral, I was in a further back one) so I asked him for advice....he ended up asking me for my phone number, calling me after the race, etc. Very much "player" type behavior.

A few weeks later I had another race. The expo seemed a bit "meat market" ish to me. Lots of people "checking each other out". I know I got checked out A LOT.

I am 38. I've had many children. At the expo I was wearing leggings and a baggy sweater, not anything "sexy" at all.

Is this typical?

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of what we here on DCUM call a "humble brag."

I totally agree; this thread is ridiculous.

OP here

No, it was a legitimate question, based on my experience.

Ok OP but the only legitimate experience you had was at the race where he asked you for you number. The rest is your perception. Maybe they were checking out your shoes or sizing you up as competition. So basically you are asking, based on your 1 experience at the race, if races are "meat markets." That's why this thread is ridiculous, but hey there's nothing wrong with self confidence!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been running several years but have only recently (last few months) started running races.

I went to one a couple months ago and a guy totally tried to pick me up. I was talking to him---pre race--it was my first race, I was nervous, he looked like a very experienced runner (was in the fist corral, I was in a further back one) so I asked him for advice....he ended up asking me for my phone number, calling me after the race, etc. Very much "player" type behavior.

A few weeks later I had another race. The expo seemed a bit "meat market" ish to me. Lots of people "checking each other out". I know I got checked out A LOT.

I am 38. I've had many children. At the expo I was wearing leggings and a baggy sweater, not anything "sexy" at all.

Is this typical?

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of what we here on DCUM call a "humble brag."

I totally agree; this thread is ridiculous.

OP here

No, it was a legitimate question, based on my experience.

Need to start jogging and signing up for races! Seriously, being a non-jogger but an avid gym goer it never really occurred to me that races would be "meat markets" I just thought this kind of venue wouldn't really lend itself to a pickup place.

At the gym from my accounts, lot of people including myself are there get the workout in and go (especially ones with families) Young single people who work out at gold's gym type may be completely different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been running several years but have only recently (last few months) started running races.

I went to one a couple months ago and a guy totally tried to pick me up. I was talking to him---pre race--it was my first race, I was nervous, he looked like a very experienced runner (was in the fist corral, I was in a further back one) so I asked him for advice....he ended up asking me for my phone number, calling me after the race, etc. Very much "player" type behavior.

A few weeks later I had another race. The expo seemed a bit "meat market" ish to me. Lots of people "checking each other out". I know I got checked out A LOT.

I am 38. I've had many children. At the expo I was wearing leggings and a baggy sweater, not anything "sexy" at all.

Is this typical?

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of what we here on DCUM call a "humble brag."

I totally agree; this thread is ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:

AdventureNow wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I woulndnt say picks up, but probably has a conversation with a few.... OP, are you attached...

OP here... I am married, but it's not a great marriage.

22:16 here, let me know if you would like to go for a training run one day. What races do you have comming up

Where are you--DC, NoVa, MD?

NOVA..You..

AdventureNow wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I woulndnt say picks up, but probably has a conversation with a few.... OP, are you attached...

OP here... I am married, but it's not a great marriage.

22:16 here, let me know if you would like to go for a training run one day. What races do you have comming up

Where are you--DC, NoVa, MD?