Marathons Are Not Just for the Swift
A recent article in the New York Times last has created a huge debate in the running community about whether slower runners and walkers should participate in marathons. Should the 26.2-mile race be reserved for those who can run the entire distance at a fast clip? The article states that some "purists" believe that, "Slow runners have disrespected the distance...and have ruined the marathon's mystique." The "stragglers" force race directors to keep the course open longer, which can make the race more expensive to organize.
In the interest of full disclosure, I ran my last marathon in 3:20, so I can't claim to know how it feels to be a back-of-the-packer. But I definitely don't agree with the elitist views of those faster runners who want to keep the marathon all to themselves. I get excited when I hear about the growing number of people taking on the marathon challenge. And with the huge obesity problem that we have in the U.S., I can't really imagine why anyone would want to criticize or discourage people who are actually getting off the couch and moving. Who cares how fast they're going?
I was at the New York City marathon on Sunday and watched in awe as the elite men and women passed by, running at incredible paces and still looking so relaxed and graceful. But I was equally as inspired and impressed many hours later when the back-of-the-packers made their way into Central Park for the last two miles. The huge crowds had left, the sun was setting, and the water stops were being broken down. Yet these troopers -- many of them proudly displaying their ages (some in their 70s!) or the words "Cancer Survivor" on their shirts -- still fiercely and proudly plodded along.
Mary Wittenberg, CEO of the New York Road Runners and the race director for the New York City marathon, wrote a thoughtful response to the New York Times article. I think this quote sums up her points best:
"A marathoner is a marathoner regardless of time. Virtually everyone who tries the marathon has put in training over months, and it is that exercise and that commitment, physical and mental, that gives meaning to the medal, not just the day's effort, be it fast or slow."
More:
I’ve only run a Half marathon and haven’t thought of doing a full one seriously – largely because I think it’s a big challenge not to be undertaken lightly.
The question of pace is somewhat relative. I’d opine that 6+ is too slow. But, so is 4 when comparing to the fastest athletes.
I’ll only say to people who think that slow runners are spoiling the marathon that the marathon event as it exists today – the carnival atmosphere, the teeming spectators, the multitudes of sponsors and goodies – are there because of the tens of thousands of largely medium-to-slow paced runners. Turn it into an event with a couple of thousand instead and most of that will go away.
Having said, that, I’ll still say that there does need to be a cut-off. Times over 6 hours are probably too long. This is not to say that people will not have put in a lot of time and effort into it. Rather, perhaps shorter distances are more suitable as a goal. They do require training too, so they’re still worthy goals. And after all, everybody who plays Tennis doesn’t have to go for the Open and everybody who learns the piano doesn’t have to shoot for writing a symphony.
Although, it doesn’t bother or hurt me if somebody chooses to keep running even after the course closes! Conversely, if there is demand, nobody is stopping people from holding a sub-3:30-only marathon event!
Ahh, I say, run, and let run! People get too worked up about “the others!”
great points, Al! thanks for sharing your comments!
Thank you for sticking up for the slower runners Christine. I recently ran a half marathon and as I was walking back to my car I was watching the slower runners making their way to the finish line tears started coming to my eyes watching them give it their all. I see some of these guys and girls that think there better than others because there fast. I wish I can run my 5:30 to 6 min pace like I did when I was 18 but I can’t. Just to give it to them.
Have to correct my grammar. They’re fast. Not there fast. Had to do it.
I am a plodder in marathons. I’ve run and completed 9 marathons. I don’t think I will ever run a sub 4-hour marathon. I’m glad that right now there is a place for those of us who just don’t have the ability to run a fast marathon. Most marathons I been to run on the honor system of staying in your location at the start and the bigger ones like Boston and Chicago have assigned corrals which are heavily enforced. In the case of the honor system I don’t see anywhere near as many violations as I see in shorter races (5k and 4 milers, this seems to stop around 5 miles)where I do find I feel more like a running back in the NFL trying to doge people who are going slow for the first mile than a runner.
The real question is: Is running a sport for the masses or for the elite. Judging from what I see at Boston the spectators seem to enjoy us plodders at least as much as the elite runners and we sure enjoy them.
Joe – who got long-winded.
I’m a walking marathoner and marathon coach. I’ve been to the Race Directors College of the Portland Marathon several times. The race directors break into two camps. Some want to keep their events as running events to groom elite athletes. Others want a friendly event with big numbers of participants. Both are valid events.
I counsel walkers and run/walkers not to enter any event with a time limit they can’t finish. If they train for a marathon but are still too slow to make the cutoff, they need to drop down to a shorter event they can finish in time or drop out.
But having been at the back of the pack of big events — we slow folks are the ones who make them big, festive events. Some of us are content to be walkers and run/walkers. We are still marathoners. Heck, we get to enjoy the course for twice as long as y’all!
Big, financially successful races know the value of all of the “plodders.” Not only do we pay the same entry fee, we also buy lots of race goodies, and spend money in the host city, which helps draw in grants and sponsorships. We are the ones who created the boom in marathons and half marathons.
If you want a race with a 6-hour time limit, then by all means get with a local running club or form your own LLC and get into the business of hosting one, as I’ve done with walking events for the past 20 years. Or volunteer for the organizing committee of one you support. The more marathons catering to different segments, the better!
It’s tough out there to get sponsorships and grants. You have to have the participation numbers to support it.
I volunteered to be the timer at the finish line of the Portland Marathon this year for the walkers and run/walkers who came in at over 7 hours. They rolled up the chip timing mat at 8 hours and I literally was the timer! It was very rewarding. I got to record the time for my friend Ruth, finishing at 8 hours, having lost 100 pounds and raised thousands of dollars for the Leukemia Society.
That, for me, is more inspiring than the elite athletes who actually get paid to attend (or get free rooms, free entries, and prize money).
If it takes training for a marathon to get somebody to finally get into regular exercise and cardio, then this should be shouted from the rafters and celebrated. And this isn’t any government program — this is the average person setting a challenging goal for themselves and supporting entrepreneurial events.
Isn’t there no walker race called the Boston Marathon? Seek that out if you need to only be around fast people. That article is silly.
Hello,
I’ve also read this article which had been translated in a french newspaper. There is also the same debate in France where finisher’s average time gets slower and slower.
What I think is that you always are slow comparing to someone faster (evident). For instance I run marathin in 2H57′, so I’m fast for a 4H runner, but I’m slow comparing to a 2H30′ runner who is slow comparing to elite runners.
It does not bother me if there is a 7, 8 hours or more delay. Completing a marathon in 7 hours if you are other 80 or disabled can be an authentic sport achievement. Also if it can help some overweight people to get healthier, it’s positive.
For the point of running / walking, some consider that you must run the whole marathon to be a real marathoner. So I’m not a marathoner because I often walk to drink at water stations!
A marathoner is someone who completes the 42.195 km in a single effort (I’ve heard about “runners” in the Hawai marathon stopping for lunch in the middle, this is not the spirit of marathon!).
Jean-Philippe