‘Let’s Go Run 26.2 Miles’: Women Are Asking Their Boyfriends If They Wish They Were ‘Athletic.’ Their Responses Are Hilarious

There’s a fine line between trolling and just being mean. Women are going viral for participating in a trend that could easily go either way.

In this trend, a woman asks a man in her life, often her significant other, if he wishes he were athletic. The men in the most viral posts include Marines, current and former professional athletes, and even hall of famers.

Some of their responses are instant internet gold.

The trend began a few months ago. It swiftly caught on, capturing some of the most celebrated athletes of our time in its wake. Their responses to being asked whether they wish they were more athletic range from thoughtful to indignant.

How Does The ‘Wish You Were Athletic’ Trend Work?

The trend is a simple one to execute. Simply turn on your camera and point it at your target. It’s preferred, though not necessary, that they don’t realize you’re recording.

Then you ask if they wish they were more athletic or, in some cases, athletic at all. And you wait.

In many of these videos, the athlete looks stunned. Some seem offended. Many get a bit tongue-tied as they try to delicately justify their athleticism.

After being asked that question by his wife, a Marine says, “Think about what you just said.”

“let’s go run 26.2 miles, and see what happens,” he later adds in a video that has over 1 million views.

The trend has become so popular that multiple National Football League teams have gotten in on the fun. Watching Seattle Seahawk quarterback Jalen Milroe react to being asked if he wishes he was more athletic, during practice of all things, is what the internet is for.

‘Literally Made A Bird Explode’

In one viral post, Willow Johnson (@willowj4) asks her father, retired Major League Baseball pitcher Randy Johnson, “Do you ever wish you were athletic?”

“Do I ever wish I was athletic,” Johnson repeats thoughtfully. “Well, I was athletic enough to do what I needed to do in my life.”

She persists. And he continues responding with humility. Eventually, however, he says, “Well, I’m pretty athletic. I’m a Hall of Fame baseball player.” Her post has 5.6 million views as of this writing.

“That man literally made a bird explode,” one person commented, referring to a classic moment in sports history in which Johnson, aka the Big Unit, accidentally drilled a bird with a fastball.

Former NFL fullback and heavyweight boxer Alonzo Highsmith similarly needlessly defended his athleticism. “I went third,” he says of the NFL draft. “There’s only two spots higher.”

Retired New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada also got caught up in the trend. His response left some stunned. “I’m not that athletic at all,” the 17-year MLB veteran replies. He says, “of course,” he wishes he was more athletic, specifying that he wishes he could’ve dunked a basketball.

His humility is equally amusing and endearing.

“Bro’s got four World Series rings and is questioning his athleticism based on dunking a ball in a different sport hahaha,” one person said in response.

Many of the athletes in these videos did not take the question with quite as much modesty.

One athlete replies, “Do you know nothing about me?”

An ex-National Hockey League player retorts to his girlfriend, “Google me.”

In a twist on the trend, one woman even asks Simone Biles if she wishes she was athletic. The expression on the face of the most decorated Olympic gymnast in history is not to be missed.