While cleaning my office, I came across an article that I had printed that appeared last October in the New York Times. "Plodders Have a Place, but Is It in a Marathon?"
Author Juliet Macur points out that from 1980 - 2008, the number of marathon finishers in the United States increased from 143,000 to 425,000. During this time period, the median finishing time for women increased from 4:03:39 to 4:43:32. For men, the slowdown was more dramatic, from 3:32:17 to 4:16. This trend is being driven by the increase in participation, largely by slower runners...and some veteran runners are not happy!
They claim that mass participation and the resulting slower finishing times have devalued the accomplishment of completing a marathon.
"It's a joke to run a marathon by walking every other mile or by finishing in six, seven, eight hours," said Adrienne Wald, 54, the women's cross-country coach at the College of New Rochelle, who ran her first marathon in 1984. "It used to be that running a marathon was worth something - there used to be a pride saying that you ran a marathon, but not anymore. Now it's, 'How low is the bar?'"
Rereading the article rekindled the indignation that I'm sure many of you are feeling when I first read the article. "As long a slower runner does not trip you, what's your problem? Is your ego so fragile that sharing the marathon with more people diminishes your own sense of accomplishment?"
Egos aside, don't those runners who resent the "loss of purity of their sport" due to the influx of infidels realize that the current boom in races, sponsorship, swag and prize money is being funded by the race entry fees collected from the very same infidels?
Upon reflection, I realized that history really does repeat itself. Ms Wald's viewpoint is reminiscent of how many hard core marathoners felt during the first running boom that started in the mid 70's and lasted until the mid 80's. They resented their sport no longer being their exclusive domain. Being invaded by the formerly sedentary meant losing its niche as an "extreme" sport...long before the term became popular.
I firmly believe that there is room for everyone who wants to train and run a marathon, half-marathon, 10K or any other running race. Running is one of the few (if not the only) athletic endeavours where for every winner there isn't a loser. Every runner gets to define success in their own terms. It does not matter if your objective is to compete, complete or anywhere in between. You define your own personal podium to which you aspire to ascend.
As for Ms Wald and her ilk, they will find that the triathlon too has been sullied by the masses. Their elitist egos may find refuge in 100 mile ultra-endurance races, far away from the plodders.
Author Resource:-
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