Runners aren’t the only hobbyists proudly display their passions on their cars, whether it’s politics, pet ownership or that they’d rather be sailing. But few have earned the wrath and counter-sticker culture of the 13.1 and 26.2 stickers.
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Why are some non-runners so eager to proclaim that they don’t run?
I decided to find out.
I went to Amazon and read over 200 product reviews for various 0.0 bumper stickers and car magnets. Then I cold-called someone I’d spotted driving with one. (Her car also displayed her business phone number).
Here’s what I learned.
Bad news first: Some people genuinely dislike people who display their running distances on their car. A handful of reviewers labeled it obnoxious or bragging, and a couple used profanities to describe runners.
“I work out to stay in shape. I don’t laud it over everyone else with stupid stickers and constant chatter about my last ‘time’.”
“Should I get a sticker with my weight and GPA and plop it on my car??”
“Ha ha! Hilarious! When my husband asked what all those 26.2 and 13.1 stickers were on cars, he thought they were so obnoxious. So I got this for him. He loves it. I wish it also said something about eating cookies on it!”
-reviewers on Amazon.
Ouch.
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Some of the reviewers were even runners themselves, hoping to shame other runners for advertising their accomplishments.
But for every vengeful comment, there were more reviewers who simply enjoyed the sticker’s humor.
I took 76 reviews Amason’s most popular 0.0 car magnet and tallied the number of times certain words appeared.
The results quantified what I’d noticed reading through the reviews. Most people buying the car magnet just thought it was funny.
“Bought this for my daughter, I’m always trying to get her to run with me so she thought this was great! It gets a laugh from everyone!”
“My brother is a marathon runner and I am so proud of him. But I don’t run and that is okay with me.”
“Love this magnet! A conversation piece, and brings a smile to the observer’s face!”
Phone interview
I called the business number from the car with the 0.0 sticker on it and ended up talking to a friendly woman named Lori who lives in New Hampshire.
She said a friend who runs gave her the 0.0 sticker because she doesn’t run. Lori thought it was so funny she gave one to another non-running friend, too.
“I have no problem with whatever sport anyone wants to do. I think ‘Well hey, good for you’.”
What does bug her about runners? Not their car magnets. It’s when they’re competitive in a way that makes themselves unhappy or they frequently complain about their running.
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“Competition is part of my business. I get competition. But why do it if you’re not having fun?”
She’s got a point.
They’re not out to get us
I felt better after talking to Lori.
I started running to cope with post-partum depression, and I completed my journey to 13.1 as a tired mother of two young children with no family nearby.
Training for a half marathon redefined my opinion of my own abilities and resilience and brought me out of depression. It became an important part of my identity.
When I put that car magnet on my car, I wanted to celebrate who I’d become and show how accessible running is. It broke my (admittedly fragile) heart a little to wonder if displaying a 13.1 car magnet on my car was obnoxious.
I was glad to discover that most people buying 0.0 magnets aren’t upset, they’re just having a laugh.
Love your 13.1 or 26.2 sticker? Don’t worry about it! It’s part of who you are and there are more offensive bumper stickers on the road, trust me.
Happy running!
and BTW….
Too much?
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHAT
