My response to NYT Article

Ok, I suppose I see the point of the "runners". If running is your profession, I can see how allowing a gaggle of neophytes into your playground could ruffle your feathers.



However, I find it difficult to sympathize for a variety of reasons.

1. First off, those elite runners (henceforth we'll call them "Lowells" for the sake of brevity)who compete in the marathon are given special priveleges above and beyond the normal entrant. They are sponsored, catered to, put in the front of the line, interviewed after the run, and carted off to a four star hotel before Johnny Waddlecheeks has even passed the halfway point.
2. It may be a professional sport, but the professional aspect comes from sponsors, not people paying good money for tickets to watch people complete this ridiculous task. For example, it's not like the NFL is having problems with packs of gangly Kenyan marathoners trying to suit up for gameday (actually, i'd pay money to see that!). Reason: it's not open to the public. There is a guantlet of challenges that tests a person's ability to play at a professional level in football. Anyone can get up one morning and decide to start training for a marathon. And since marathons ARE open to the public, anyone can enter one. Whether or not you're going to get paid to do it basically comes down to natural ability - which brings me to my third point...
3. I look at these guys who run marathons professionally and I say to myself, these guys are doing what they're born to do. Yes, it is a feat to be able to shoot for a world record for a marathon. But for some strange reason, I'm not that impressed. I think it's hard for the average "Lowell" to appreciate what a daunting task running a marathon is for the average person. Sometimes when I'm out there running, I actually starting thinking of the things that I would rather be doing (i.e. pulling my fingernails out with a pair of pliers, getting a root canal, etc). For this guy (pictured) running a marathon is literally a walk in the park. For me, it really is like climbing Mount Everest. He's probably 110 lbs soaking wet, lean, long and built for endurance. I was 110lbs in 5th grade. I am large framed, knocked kneed, heavy boned and have the metabolic rate of a hibernating grizzly bear. So I ask you? Who is accomplishing the greater feat in running the marathon?

So bottom line: The NYT can shove it.

That's my take.

Mike

As if running a marathon wasn't hard enough...

...it turns out that some people don't want you to attempt it! I was glad to see this article inspired over four hundred responses on NYT.com, almost all in defense of people who would attempt a marathon at any pace (my favorite rebuttal takes a shot at the smug track coach). Screaming knees, swollen shins, aching brains, raw undercarriages--and we're up against running snobs, too? I don't know if this makes me want to run faster, or take my sweet damn time. Thoughts?

Falling off the wagon

Well, I completely fell off the running wagon for the last few weeks, logging only 10.5 miles out of a total 19 miles. Needless to say, after missing so many workouts, I felt a bit...loose



I have no real excuse, other than the following excellent excuses:



1. The weather was crappy


2. I was travelling a lot for work


3. My couch called me with it's sweet siren song and I was unable to resist.



Dani, I too have felt the running high, only to be bitch smacked by a running low unlike any I've ever felt. A few Sunday's ago, I ran my first 5 miles and was jamming. Aches and pains minimal, stride smooth and delibrate, and mental state strong. The next time I went running, I was expecting the same thing only to have the polar opposite happen. Dejection does not adequately describe how I felt when I walked in the door.



However, I pushed through it, and even though I was out on the West Coast for business all week, I managed to get out and get my groove on again. Onwards.



Tom, I've been thinking about your request for book names. Whilst running today, I found myself asking once again, "why the hell am I doing this", to which I replied to myself, "because it's there", to which I began thinking about the first person to utter those words, Sir Edmund Hillary, when asked about why was he climbing Mt Everest. To which I began to think about Tom's thesis. When I got home, I looked up "sedentary", and then came to this realization: maybe so many people are doing marathons because to the "sedentary" 26.2 miles might as well be Mt Everest. Only this Everest, you don't need piles of cash, a plane ride to Nepal, burly mountain guides, oxygen tanks, and major cold weather gear. All you really need is a pair of sneakers and the will to step out of your front door and start training. So maybe try to incorporate Everest into the title. Some ideas: Asphalt Everest, Everyman's Everest, Our Everest. Just a thought.

Anyway, I'm all signed up for the Bridge run. I'm looking forward to it.

And eventually, perhaps we should discuss as a group, the elephant in the room.

Mike

Wohoo! The runners high..

Usually I would use this blog to rant and rave about stupid running!
But today I have to report a little personal success...my first ever "RUNNERS HIGH"...at least I think this was it..
After having a great morning at the horse barn (sorry I couldn't be there for the group run..) I decided to put on my winter running clothes, which by the way are not quite figured out yet, I forced myself to go for my run. I drove out to the Wissahickon drive, since running in the streets of Philadelphia gets really old.. I have to admit I was a bit scared to go by myself, but then I thought: if I get abducted or kidnapped at least I don't have to keep on running.

So I set out in the cold...
I ran for 6 miles with only 6min walking spread throughout..and I think I experienced my first runners high! I know 6miles is not a lot for most of you guys, but for me it is pretty unbelievable.

When I started some 2+ month ago with 60sec running, 90sec walking, I honestly thought it is complete BS what people say about: "The first 10min are always hard, but then you get into a rhythm and it will get easier"
Well...proven wrong.

I anticipate continuous stuggles and some hate mixed in and still can't wrap my head around running for 5 hrs, but it feels so good to at least once in a while have a good time doing the impossible

Get your race on

Some of us felt the thrill of crossing the finish line (and some of us felt the sting of being lapped by one of our freshman) at the Kristin's Krusade 5k at St. Joseph's University last weekend. As Mike so eloquently blogged, there is something about running a real race that makes this whole right-left-right endeavor feel slightly less absurd, like it's almost a real sport or something. Getting involved in more short races will not only fill out our wardrobe with hard-earned t-shirts and keep our bellies full of free bananas, but racing might suck some of the anguish out of all this torture by trotting.



First, I've signed up for RUN THE BRIDGE on November 1st--a 10k run over the Ben Franklin Bridge--and you should, too. I expect my fear of heights (and my fear of Camden) to keep me moving at a record clip. Then on November 15th, I hope you can join me for the SCHUYKILL RIVER LOOP RUN, an eight mile race beginning at Boathouse Row (also Philadelphia's oldest road race. And though it's now closed, come on out on the 22nd as I watch Fred speed off into the distance at the Philadelphia Half-Marathon. Seeing the shapes and sizes that endeavor to marathon might give us all a little hope.

My first blog ever

Hi all. I finally broke down and got the Forerunner. I find that it was easier running without it, as I am now constantly looking down at my mileage and saying 3 ****ing miles left??!! What's that saying-ignorance is bliss?

After reading Mike's ever so eloquent blog I figured I should start thinking of a reason to finish this race. There is always the cancer route. The idea that finishing the race would prove me victorious in my battle against breast cancer. But that's too sappy. And I always said to myself that I wouldn't let that stupid disease define me.

Then there is the "I want to challenge myself" approach. Been there, done that. I found strength I never knew I had last year. I was challenged physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I know I'm strong enough. The question is will my knees hold up?

Mike's thoughts on being a hero to Ben are great, but I am not feeling that for myself. I feel that my kids will love and respect me not because of what I do and who I am, but despite it.

So where does this leave me in terms of reasons to finish this stinkin race? I have come up with only one answer. Bragging rights.