Well, excuuuuuuse me!

With the NYC Marathon coming up these weekend, The New York Times began running stories several days ago. This one takes a shot at that group of “athletes” that insists on messing the race up for everyone else: the slow runners.

Typical within the story were comments like this:

“It’s a joke to run a marathon by walking every other mile or by finishing in six, seven, eight hours,” said Adrienne Wald, 54, the women’s cross-country coach at the College of New Rochelle, who ran her first marathon in 1984. “It used to be that running a marathon was worth something — there used to be a pride saying that you ran a marathon, but not anymore. Now it’s, ‘How low is the bar?’ ”

Sure, slow runners can cause problems, but it’s more a practical headache for the race organizers than one of aesthetics. How long must the streets be closed off? How long should there be police and health workers on the scene? Things of that nature.

I don’t think these complaints come from the elite runners; they’re back at their hotels while these guys aren’t even in sight of the halfway point. And it’s not like the joggers are getting in their way; they begin the race at the back of the pack. No, these knocks seem to come from the average marathoner.

Purists believe that running a marathon should be just that — running the entire course at a relatively fast clip. They point out that a six-hour marathoner is simply participating in the event, not racing in it. Slow runners have disrespected the distance, they say, and have ruined the marathon’s mystique.

They might have a point. If someone enters the race with no intention of running, but just to walk the course for the sake of saying the complete a marathon, they are technically correct, but not  within the spirit of the event. Maybe that’s the difference between “doing a marathon” and “running a marathon.”

See here for more comments from Times‘ readers on the article.

(Full disclosure: I “ran” the NYC race in 1985, finishing in about 5:25. I realized right away I did not train seriously enough, figuring I could get away with a couple of 20-mile runs and that the adrenaline and excitement would carry me the extra six-plus miles. I did not account for stepping in a camouflaged pothole at the four mile mark which ruined my footwear and caused a fair deal of discomfort. Bet yes, I was pleased with the accomplishment, regardless of my time. My intentions were pure. The mind was willing, but the foot was weak.)

In related NYC Marathon News:

For the 27th consecutive year, the NYC Marathon will feature an organized international “morning minyan.”

The service will take place at 8 a.m. in the Marathon staging area at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island.

Check in at information booths and site maps for the precise location. Minyan participants are request to being their own prayer books, tefillin and tatllesim.

For more information, contact Peter Berkowsky daytime at 212-340-0504; evenings, 973-992-5775, or at fud42@comcast.net.

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Kaplan’s Korner on Jews and Sports © 2009 New Jersey Jewish News

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