Great work on the races & the weight loss!  I've found that out of shape people often comment on the discomfort aspect of workouts because they just havent pushed through to that point where they can do amazing things with their body. It is a long, difficult, and sometimes painful process. Add to that there is an incredibly confusing amount of information from people trying to hype their particular way of training and I can understand. Honestly I don't have any particular distaste for unfit people who arent fatasses, although I do cheerleader all my friends as much a possible to go for that run, bike ride, whatever. Around the holidays I always say that working out isn't meant to be a punishment for overindulging, it's meant to be a celebration of what your body can accomplish.