Two part entry here which lead hand in hand. First, Sunday I headed up to Riverbank with AB to get a good hardy track workout of 400m repeats before the Fifth Avenue Mile this Saturday. After the third 400, the skies decided to open up and absolutely DUMP sheets of rain on us as we ran. It was pretty fun actually as I thought to myself, what a fantastic way to spend my Sunday evening! LOL. I ended up maintaining a 1:29-1:34 pace the entire time (even with the rain and hefty crosswinds...oh and random children running in the middle of my workout of course!). We shall see what happens Saturday but I have a few numbers in mind...and with the weather predictions...it should make for excellent racing, throat burning conditions. Weeeeeee!
As for part two, it has to do with the article posted to Slate earlier this week. After reading this, I just was left well...speechless! I just find it so hard to believe that there are still people that bitter and feel that running is only meant for a select few. Actually, I think that is one of the huge benefits of this sport. It is one of the only ones where you can start on the same playing field as the best in the world. Where else can an athlete say that? With the way our country has weight problems, I hardly think telling people they can't do marathons because they don't make the grade is the solution. Perhaps he should consider taking up ultramarathons or something to fill that void. I hear the Badwater race is for the hardcore...ha! In addition, turns out his marathon PR, would not be enough to make the Boston 'A' list back in the days he speaks of....hmm..
This made me think about my situation as a relative newbie to the sport. I started running seriously 2 1/2 years ago because of the marathon.. There I said it. I watched my mom and dad complete countless marathons and thought...hmm I haven't given myself a serious challenge yet. So 2003, I started working out on a regular basis before finally joining NYRR and the racing scene in early 2004. My first 5k race came in over 9 minutes a mile and I couldn't have been prouder...heck, I just wanted to finish under 30 minutes! In March I found a similar female looking to get into the NYC Marathon as well. As luck would have it, we both won the lottery and trained for the marathon together that summer. After running the marathon, she ended up getting pregnant so I was at a loss and definitely did not want to ruin the base I started. From there, that's where TRD came in...and the friendships...and the speed...and well my life in NY. Well, good thing I took this path because honestly...without it...I have my doubts I would still be in NY...
Each one of us has a right to run the marathon and to run in general. Mr. Sherman's generalizations are so out of touch that it just is so hard to comprehend. I actually asked my dad about it this weekend since his best days of running were in the time period given in that article. My dad pretty much said it couldn't be more farfetched. I have the utmost respect for the elite but everyone that gets to the startline had to do something to be there...whether you run sub 5 minute pace or 10+ minute pace (or in my case somewhere in between!).
busy
However-this may sound a little harsh, what I don't like seeing in this sport is people who really don't "respect the distance." Who want to just run a marathon because it's the trendy thing to do and really don't put the effort into training for it. Why do I think that? It's situations like this why you see groups of people cutting a course to beat a cutoff time (as was shown at last year's Marine Corps Marathon.) Or even worse...could lead to injury and burnout very early on...it'd be a shame for someone to really not get the full benefit of how much fun running and smart training can be.
(And of course I have my own issues with the fact that the marathon has gotten so overhyped these days, that shorter distances are pretty much not even acknowledged...but I think I said enough on that issue at one point in time :) )
Yes, the marathon can be overhyped but I think your point about the shorter races is a great example of how the running community appreciates things beyond running 26.2 miles. Just look at this Saturday....I'm going for glory in a race that takes less time than a walk to the subway! :-)
(and i actually do hope that my saturday hangover won't be so bad that I can actually watch...but something tells me I will be sleeping til noon!)
oh and keep this in mind...I had a terrible hangover the day before Club Champs '05 and ended up with a PR:-p so...
reminds me of my favorite expression
Opinions are like bottoms. Everyone has one.
The griping is just white noise. Everyone should just ignore it and do their own thing. ;-)
Re: reminds me of my favorite expression
Re: reminds me of my favorite expression
Re: reminds me of my favorite expression
At the end of the day, whether someone approves of the appeal of marathons to the masses makes absolutely no difference to the growth of the sport or people's eagerness to jump on board. The best way to put a bug up that guy's bum is to just keep on keeping on.
ss
http://sistersmile.blogspot.com
Here Here
Congrats on the soggy speed work and good luck tomorrow (Saturday) at the 5th Ave Mile.
-Josh
http://www.joshmorphew.blogspot.com/
Re: Here Here
-Josh
http://www.joshmorphew.blogspot.com/
Re: Here Here
Go to this link:
https://www.livejournal.com/create.bml?from=lispsugrl
This will create a LJ username for you and you will be able to post comments as a logged in user:) That's how I did it for blogger. I have had an LJ for almost 5 years so I didn't feel it was necessary to switch.
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