How Oprah ruined the marathon!

zenmonk

Found this in mapmyrun
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2007/11/03/marathon/

opinions?

--amadeus--

I'm not sure about that article tbh.

I see where he is coming from - there are lots more people doing marathons and average times are getting higher. There is a different demographic running (or run / walking) marathons now to 20 years ago. And I do think there is a diference in attitude between a marathon racer and someone who just s wants to finish. there is a mindset to pushing yourself as hard as you can to finish as quickly as possible (be that 2:30, 3:30, 4:30 or 5:30) and just going out to potter round and enjoy the atmosphere.

But I personally wouldn't discourage teh potterers. A lot of them progress to racing and thier entry fees enable the mass event support; both in terms of crowds and financially.

And I disagree 100% about mass participation being the reason for slower elite times. One of teh biggest marathons in Europe is Berlin and it has seen 2 consecutive world records. Americans may be running more slowly (as are Europenas in general) but mass fields aren't the reason. In fact mass fields attract big name sponsors (something else that writer takes a side swipe at). Big name sponsors bring big money which enable big prizes which should help rather than hinder the elites. Lkewise teh mass participation and higher profile of teh sport enable top runners to negotiate better endorsment deals. And all the high tech equipment that he is so sneerly about helps the elite runner run faster. Would teh likes of Asics and Addidas invest millions in running shoe technology if there wasn't a mass market to sell to?

Nostalgia is all well and good and I agree that doing a marathon and not trying your best isn't really being fair on yourself or the distance. But it's a whole lot better than jut sitting on the sofa!

zenmonk

I agree with you Amadeus but the article does touch on some relevant points. I think the writer deep down is lamenting the dearth of homegrown US talent , blaming society for this is harsh, there are plenty of recreational cyclists in the US but they still produced Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis (2 athletes that are dirty in my book but they are competing with similar athletes).
Phelps in the pool and the US track teams have been successful also so not sure where his argument lies.
I do agree that people sometimes don't push themselves hard enough at times. I do understand that completing a marathon or race is anachievement but why not add a bit of speed work and aim for a better time the next race?
I know a good deal of runners who are happy to run 4.30 marathons and stay there. After training for a year and a half I was aiming at a 3.30 marathon and I guarantee you that i am no Bill Rodgers.

Peckham

Some relevant points, but it's a big assumption to make that the popularisation of marathons has only produced a whole pile of 4hr+ marathoners. There are plenty of people on this site who, if it was 10 years ago, would never have considered doing a marathon, but due to it's current popularity and accessibility have now done multiple marathons and are aiming for relatively fast times.

zenmonk

true

Running Bing

I have very mixed feelings on this.

On the one hand I am indeed the stereotypical plodder who takes up running to run a marathon.....yes it took me 4 hrs 15 mins but I have to say it has changed my life and I plan to keep at it and someday get a BQ time. I dont see how that can be a negative thing tbh.


On the other hand I do think about it from time to time and it took absolutely everything I had to run it in that time. I worked my arse off, stuck consistently with my training and ran the whole thing. Now lets say I pottered around, took it easy and came in at a time of 5 hrs 30. Is that a real achievement? To me it wouldnt be...not because of the time but becasue I didnt push myself or do my best.

The point I am making is I would not have a great deal of respect for the person who runs the marathon just to tick it off or put it in the CV and potters about or halts to a gentle trot as soon as it gets tough. The person who gives it everything they have to finish in a time of 4, 5, 6 or 7 hours or who pushes themselves to hobble over the line injured in those times yes, I would have massive respect....but if you do it you race it imo and try and finish in the best time.

hunnymonster

I have a friend who puts
"enters marathons" on his CV. Technically it's true, he enters the nottingham marathon every year, he has never gotten around to actually running it but he does enter :-)

USA time needed to qualify for olympics 1968 2:33:09
USA time needed to qualify for olympics 2008 2:11:40

yes the average time is slowing but this is to be encouraged, better those people plodding around New York in November than eating endless oreo's in front of college football. The fast guys will continue to be fast no matter what is happening behind them.

MCOS

Who are we to judge anyone's motives for running, plodding or walking a marathon?

I absolutely disagree with this author!!

Speak to 10 people who sit on the couch, moan about the weather and break avery promise they ever make to themselves and see how you feel after wards.

Speak to 10 people who have just completed a marathon, whether it be to win it or stroll and enjoy it. Listen to their reasons for doing it and I dare you to deny you were not inspired in some way!


Some of those plodders plodding their way through a marathon are some of the most incredible people on earth. Mass participation has detracted nothing from elite performances and --amadeus-- articulates this point quite nicely.


"America's competitive spirit has been wrecked by feel-good amateurs like Oprah whose only goal is to stagger across the finish line"


Was that her goal?! Did the author ask her or did he assume and judge? What did she achieve as a result of her decision to set this goal? What sense of personal fulfillment did she feel as a result? Did her publicised efforts inspire the competitive instinct of even one other American?


Oh, and why do TOP athletes promote more participation in THEIR chosen sport if they believe it may take away the competitiveness? Its because they are honouring their values in life and they cannot help but to believe that if something could give them so much joy, it has a chance to do so for others.

Whats the worst that could happen, another superstar may emerge or something as simple as someone choosing not to die today.

One more thing, how many kids are so inspred by their feel-good amateur parents that they become a force to be reckoned with in the life their own values lead them, Business Role models, Sporting Role Models, Special Needs Role Models etc...


America's competitive spirit is not damaged by mass participation, it feulled by it.

cfitz

MCOS wrote: »

Who are we to judge anyone's motives for running, plodding or walking a marathon?

I absolutely disagree with this author!!

Speak to 10 people who sit on the couch, moan about the weather and break avery promise they ever make to themselves and see how you feel after wards.

Who are we to judge anyone who chooses to sit on the couch moaning about the weather?

MCOS

The article wasn't about the random channel hoppers wrecking the competitive spirit of the serial US drama addict's fight for remote :P