This little article appeared today on the Runner’s World site posing the question, “Bucket List Marathon, Yeah or Nay?”
I knew, just from the title, that the author was likely one of those people — you know the type: up on the high horse, pedestal, and soapbox all-in-one. And toward the end, he didn’t (or, I guess, more accurately, did) disappoint by saying:
OK. So this guy — who I’m sure is a very nice man, by the way, with the best intentions in the world — is basically lumping marathon running in with bungee jumping, seeing the Grand Canyon, getting a tattoo, reading Moby-Dick, and (you can’t make this stuff up) owning a Miata. Just another “thing to do” before he dies. One more square in the hopscotch game of life. Tra la la.
Does anyone find this just a little bit irritating? Almost, well… insulting?
Huh? Really? So let me get this straight. You’re personally insulted that people who start behind you and finish behind you have the audacity to enter the same race as you? Isn’t that a little like Tiger Woods being offended by the fact that my dad picks up a club and shoots in the mid-80s most weekends during the summer? Actually, scratch that. Because what I found in some quick Googling of this guy is that he hasn’t exactly been winning Boston or New York of late. So I guess it would be more like the local pro at the local golf course being offended that someone would attempt a round if they didn’t have a shot at the club championship. But again, huh? Really?
And I must admit, I expected the worst from the commenters. (Perhaps I’ve been spending a little too much time reading the Slowtwitch forums). But with the exception of a very few, they represented all that is right with the sport of running. Most said — and I couldn’t agree more — that if you’ve put your time in and trained, then no matter what the time over the finish line reads, you have reason to be proud and call yourself a marathoner.
Because no matter how fast you cover it, 26.2 is the same distance for everyone. And no matter what way you cut it, it’s a damn hard distance every single time.
May 15, 2009 at 9:52 pm
When I read that I took it as: the writer of the article was insulted because the bucket list man was so… ho-hum… about the marathon. Like, “Ho-hum, whatever, I’m going to run a marathon… no big deal…check it off my list.” Whereas he, and others, think it’s quite a big deal… ? Or, no. All I read was your blurb, so I missed the context in the rest of the article.
May 15, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I’ll have to check out the original article. But did want to mention I too spend way too much time at ST, and almost always find myself naturally adopting the opposite of whatever all the cool kids in the hive are united in thinking. I’m not sure what this says about me, or them.
May 16, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Those are the type of people that I just ignore – I can’t waste my energy on them. But I 100% agree with you, it is the same distance and I could give a “rats-a..” what the other competetors think of my slow pace. In fact I never give it a 2nd thought that I’m not as “good” as the rest of the field – don’t care, just out doing it for myself.
Have fun at the Cellcom Marathon – I can’t believe that you are running another one so close to Boston – but I guess that is what makes us tick.
May 18, 2009 at 12:34 am
i guess my opinion is that – it doesn’t matter why you run or how fast you run – just that you DO run. so if putting a marathon on a bucket list is what gets you to tie up those shoes and get you out the door, have at it. i think that is about as great a goal as there is, no matter what the reason is for setting it.
June 8, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Hello Erin,
It’s great to connect on Twitter and see what you are up to–Wow!
As we were reading about your foot challenges, we were thinking about a friend of ours, Dale, who was having horrible problems with Plantar Fascitis. He started drinking Tahitian Noni Juice and it took about 8 weeks and his pain went away. He is an avid racquetball player and he’s back to playing racquetball, regularly. If you want some info. about it, please let us know. There are many world athletes who use it with great benefits–we have that info., as well. Be well, Rudi & Marta