How Introverted Mathematician Beat 99% Of Other Marathon Runners By Avoiding People
Social anxiety can be annoying and frustrating, but believe it or not, it can sometimes come in handy as well.
A Tumblr user named Riley, who studies mathematics at the University of Texas, recently blogged about a friend who ran a local marathon and finished in record time. It seemed an unlikely story at first, given that the guy was an introverted, awkward mathematician, but his avoidance of “making small-talk with randos” – or rather, making an effort to avoid socializing with other runners – turned out to be his source of strength in the end.
We don’t know who this brave soul is, but he’s made a pretty good case against anyone who claims that introverts can’t be productive. Read the entire hilarious story below, and let us know if your lack of social skills has worked towards your advantage before!
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Would be nice but let's be honest here: someone who never ran more than to catch the bus would never be able to do this, whether introverted or not. He was 19th because he practised, he made an effort and because he has stamina.
I have to be honest, that I do not really get this. Why is it important that this was a mathematician? For satisfying stereotypes? And why the introvert strategy? The nice thing about running is that it is great regardless of if you are outgoing or not...and there are dozens of strategies to get yourself motivated, be it the feeling of nature, the possibility to do something just on your own, quite the opposite to share the activitiy with others, or the feeling to be part of an event such as the big competitions. In fact, the soothing and balancing effect of endurance sports can help with situations of psychological extremes. Thus: I do not really get the purpose of this anecdote, which is not even told by the one who experienced it.
Maybe because he used something he FEELS is a negative and turned it into a positive?
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"Introvert" does not mean shy or socially awkward. It means that we don't like to be surrounded by people and chatter. We're perfectly capable of social interaction, we just find it exhausting. That's a different thing altogether. This man took up running for his own benefit, and entered a marathon at at least partly to see if he could do it. Avoiding people he didn't want to talk to was a normal response for him. The fact that he finished so well was a benefit.
Some people are ridiculous.. the comment they hate when other runners "feel the need to say hi".. I'm getting really tired of a generation that claims to be lonely and misunderstood but doesn't like when people speak to them.
Yeah I can deal with saying hi, for crying out loud, and I was an introvert way before it was cool. Small talk, not so much....but I doubt anyone's trying to make actual small talk during a marathon.
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I just stay at the very end to avoid small talk. Unfortunately, the officer following at the end keeps trying to make small talk. Something about "The race is over" or something, I dunno, I got my headphones on.
Extremely stupid, ignorant article! Introverted does not mean shy, socially awkward, lack of social skills, nervous around people, or that you have social anxiety! Those are stand alone things! Introverted definitely does not mean you do not like socializing or cannot make small take very well - it just means you prefer to do less of it! What nonsense that introverts are less productive!
My introverted-ness is my power... I need to be more introverted. Introvertman, away! *dunu-nununu-nuuu!*
Would be nice but let's be honest here: someone who never ran more than to catch the bus would never be able to do this, whether introverted or not. He was 19th because he practised, he made an effort and because he has stamina.
I have to be honest, that I do not really get this. Why is it important that this was a mathematician? For satisfying stereotypes? And why the introvert strategy? The nice thing about running is that it is great regardless of if you are outgoing or not...and there are dozens of strategies to get yourself motivated, be it the feeling of nature, the possibility to do something just on your own, quite the opposite to share the activitiy with others, or the feeling to be part of an event such as the big competitions. In fact, the soothing and balancing effect of endurance sports can help with situations of psychological extremes. Thus: I do not really get the purpose of this anecdote, which is not even told by the one who experienced it.
Maybe because he used something he FEELS is a negative and turned it into a positive?
Load More Replies... "Introvert" does not mean shy or socially awkward. It means that we don't like to be surrounded by people and chatter. We're perfectly capable of social interaction, we just find it exhausting. That's a different thing altogether. This man took up running for his own benefit, and entered a marathon at at least partly to see if he could do it. Avoiding people he didn't want to talk to was a normal response for him. The fact that he finished so well was a benefit.
Some people are ridiculous.. the comment they hate when other runners "feel the need to say hi".. I'm getting really tired of a generation that claims to be lonely and misunderstood but doesn't like when people speak to them.
Yeah I can deal with saying hi, for crying out loud, and I was an introvert way before it was cool. Small talk, not so much....but I doubt anyone's trying to make actual small talk during a marathon.
Load More Replies... I just stay at the very end to avoid small talk. Unfortunately, the officer following at the end keeps trying to make small talk. Something about "The race is over" or something, I dunno, I got my headphones on.
Extremely stupid, ignorant article! Introverted does not mean shy, socially awkward, lack of social skills, nervous around people, or that you have social anxiety! Those are stand alone things! Introverted definitely does not mean you do not like socializing or cannot make small take very well - it just means you prefer to do less of it! What nonsense that introverts are less productive!
My introverted-ness is my power... I need to be more introverted. Introvertman, away! *dunu-nununu-nuuu!*
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