I stumbled across this article titled “How Oprah ruined the marathon.” I’m sure it outrages a lot of people since so many idolize her, but I found it interesting and funny. Recently I was thinking about Oprah’s finishing time (4:29:??) and was amazed. Not that that’s a great time, but it’s faster than a lot of people whose bodies are probably better equipped to handle racing 26.2, at least biomechanically speaking.
Anyways, the article goes into how Oprah created a second running boom and suddenly the marathon is on everyone’s life goal list. I’ve always found it peculiar encountering people who say that they hate running but they want to finish a marathon. Um, shouldn’t you pick a different goal?
Running, like writing, attracts a lot of people who think they can but settle for less than their best. Or worse, people who think they’re good but aren’t. And sure that sounds harsh, but it’s a shame that we’ve allowed the standards to drop. I don’t want the Boston Marathon qualifying times to be stricter for women (as proposed in a recent Runner’s World issue) because that’s my goal time for my first marathon (though it may be over a year away, maybe more), but maybe marathons should have stricter finishing time restrictions. If you can’t finish under X hours, then train until you can. Is it even safe for some of these people to be out there for six hours? I’m not against the average person attempting something challenging like the marathon, because even finishing is a big feat, but rather, I’m against the mediocrity that goes along with it.
NOTE: One of the outraged readers of the article linked to this earlier article. Seems like the one I posted at the top ripped off a lot of ideas and info from this one. I like his closing:
“We feel good about creating the appearance of accomplishment (emphasis mine), yet aren’t willing to sacrifice for true gains. It’s clear now that anyone can finish a marathon. Maybe it’s time we raise our standards to see who can run one.”
I’m also a member of the want to run a marathon but hate running camp. The appeal comes from being able to say I did it – not any intrinsic value.
Oprah had ruined a lot of things.
Comment by steph — 4 June 2009 @ 8:59 pm
But why put yourself through 26.2 miles of running if you hate it? I can see the appeal of being able to say you’ve done it, but it seems like such a long, painful process. Although, I’d guess that some people who say they hate running prior to training might actually start to enjoy it.
Comment by kristynwinters — 5 June 2009 @ 7:41 am
Why? Precisely because it’s hard and maybe even elitist. I like doing things I thought were out of reach. I never thought I’d survive climbing 14ers or backpacking or professional fishing tournaments (don’t laugh about the last one. it was actually the most difficult of the 3. For me, it’s all about the end reward (the finish line, the summit, the fish). I could care less about the journey.
Comment by steph — 5 June 2009 @ 3:56 pm
I think it’s great if Oprah can motivate someone to run a marathon. My “problem” comes more from the watering down of the sports. After I ran Denver Marathon a few years ago, I had this conversation.
Co-Worker “I heard anyone can run a marathon”
Me “Yeah, probably, as long as you are reasonable healthy”
COW “A friend told me you just need to run three times a week, that’s it”
Me “Yeah, if you’re goal is to finish, that may be all you need”
COW “Is that what you do?”
Me “No, I ran 70 miles per week leading up to the event, I raced the marathon, I did not run it, it’s a race after all!”
Comment by Run Colorado — 24 June 2009 @ 4:29 pm
I agree with you. There should be a different name for the marathons that people run just to finish and the ones that people train to race. It’s a great accomplishment either way, and it’s great for people to be active and healthy, but running three times a week is not the same as running 70 miles a week.
Comment by kristynwinters — 26 June 2009 @ 8:33 am
Agree, my wife ran Vegas in 2007 and I watched the race. When I saw some of the “runners” run by me talking on their cell phones and stopping to take group photos, I was really turned off and thought that those people were missing the fact that it is a race and sort of had a lack of respect for the marathon.
It would be like me playing in a recreational basketball league and I show up in my work clothes and occasionally take a phone call while someone else is shooting a free throw or during a time out.
Comment by Run Colorado — 2 July 2009 @ 2:28 pm
Wow, talking on a cell phone during a marathon? That’s just ridiculous. I like the basketball comparison.
Comment by kristynwinters — 2 July 2009 @ 8:42 pm