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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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Adogcalledkitty 7 years ago
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.
Hans 7 years ago
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.
Heather Keedy Bateman 7 years ago
Maybe because he used something he FEELS is a negative and turned it into a positive?
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Aunt Messy 7 years ago
"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.
Adogcalledkitty 7 years ago
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.
Hans 7 years ago
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.
Heather Keedy Bateman 7 years ago
Maybe because he used something he FEELS is a negative and turned it into a positive?
Load More Replies... Aunt Messy 7 years ago
"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.
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