In the last 7 days I’ve run 63 miles. No, that’s not a ton, but it is most I’ve had in 16 weeks. 16 WEEKS!!! During the heart of marathon training, my mileage dropped like a rock. Yes, I know there was skiing in there…but really, it’s no surprise that I ran 3:12 at Boston.
I talked with Scott a little bit about my post from yesterday. He reiterated that I’m basically a running geek – and no, he’s not the first to say so. By comparison, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by how little others follow the professionals.
I do wonder though, is it lack of marketing the sport correctly that leads to the low enthusiasm or is it low enthusiasm that leads to poor marketing? Probably a combination. I know I used to watch any and every track meet that was shown on TV. Now I’ll be channel surfing and pass right by the TV coverage because it’s too boring and I probably already know the results. Maybe I’ve even seen the race on the internet by that time.
One thing I am struggling with myself, is sorting through all the online information out there. It’s great that there are so many sites covering our sport, but I only have so much time. I have to figure out how to sort through them and pull out the “good stuff”.
I found this fun poll on the Accidental Runner’s blog, who found it on runnersworld.com.
What would you trade, to be able to run a sub-3-hour marathon?
MY SENSE OF SMELL FOR ONE YEAR
2%24 HOURS OF MY LIFESPAN.
8%TELEVISION PRIVILEGES FOR ONE MONTH.
50%ANY HUMAN CONTACT FOR ONE WEEK.
9%ALL OF THE ABOVE.
21%NONE OF THE ABOVE -- I ALREADY CAN RUN SUB-3!
9%
Quote of the day;
"I love racing against somebody else and proving myself stronger than him, making him suffer." – Derek Clayton
6 comments:
It's an interesting question, why we non-professional runners don't follow the professional runners more. I can't speak for everyone but personally, I only follow the pros that wear garmins in their races, the rest of them are dorks
I have always followed the professionals, even when I wasn't running much anymore. Now that I am consistently running again my interest has perked up even more. I think my early interest is creditited to my high school coach who always had a Track and Field News or Runner’s World lying around. I used to race a teammate to coaches office when we heard that the new issue was out. I remember memorizing the results and stats for the most of the modern day Olympics...sometimes down to the 100th of a second...Stat Nerd.
Professionals don't care about us, why should we care about them. By the time us "middle of the pack" runners are finished, they are on the chauffered bus back to hotel. When's the last time you saw an elite runner stay after the race and cheer on the other runners (never). On an out and back course, when do you even get an acknowledgement that you exist, even though you cheer their performance on. Our entry fees are paying their prize money, but I don't think they give a moment's thought to it.
Once and a while you will find a humble elite runner; Bob Kempainen once came and spoke to a running group I belonged to, and even joked around with us after it was over. Hard to see a Elite Kenyon or Winning Ethiopian doing that.
Bill, maybe we're just different breds.
anonymous, do you think other professional athletes care about you? And why are you cheering for them during an out and back course. Shouldn't you be focused on yourself and running fast? I doubt even Bob Kempainen would acknowledge you in that situation.
And I have seen Carrie Tollefson - twice - stick around and cheer for people who were finishing 10K in over an hour.
I have to back Chad up here. First off, tell me any other sport where we actually get to participate in the sport as the professionals. As a group, distance runners tend to be some of the most gracious pro atheletes.
It is disingenuous to say our entry fee is paying for their prize money. Our entry fee is paying for the police to close the roads for three to six hours. Our entrance fee is paying for paramedics to be on hand if we need them. Our entry fee pays for our souveneir shirts. Our entry fee pays for thank you gifts for the volunteers who help out.
Medtronic and Target pay for their prize money. My $50 keeps me safe.
Expecting a pro runner to stick around to finish an hour after he's finished is like asking Tim Duncan to come and watch me and Chad play one-on-one basketball and cheer us on during halftime of one his games. Or asking Adrian Peterson to watch RunNFun take on Lundgren Ford in flag football, hours after finishing playing the Packers on Monday night. It's ludicrous to expect that.
Yet people follow pro football and basketball waaaaaay more than distance running.
Also, I would pretty annoyed by a guy who is paid to run as fast as he can to be so unfocused as to wave to the crowd midrace.
BTW, Ryan Hall sure showed a lot of appreciation to folks like you and me during his last mile or so of the trials.
Garmin is awesome. I surprised you waited this long. 63 miles is a solid week... hope I can get up there in June.
FYI - Due to my losing out on the St. George lottery, I now will be joining you in Twin Cities. Looking forward of it.
Post a Comment