“You’re not a real runner if___________”

• You don’t do marathons.
• You ‘only’ run half-marathons.
• You don’t run the whole thing.
• You don’t finish in under 4 hours.
• Blah blah blah

Ever hear these? I read this blog entry from an elite athlete — marathon PR of 2:28. They were both thought-evoking and probably not what you imagine.

“As a so-called elite runner of nearly 20 years, it doesn’t bother me at all that there are a lot of slow runners doing marathons these days. In fact, I think it is great. When we first started, a marathon was maybe 40 or 50 people and that was a big one. Now it is not uncommon to see 15,000 people at an event. Do you think for one second that most of these people are elite? You would have a good ole time finding 100 that are considered elite or maybe even 50.  So what is the problem here?

There is none at least as far as I’m concerned. If you are a elite or faster runner, the only time you see slow runners is at the pre-race chat, an hour before the event and maybe at the end if we stick around long enough provided they have cold beer. Ironically, they (slower folks) are usually the happiest people in the house.  The 3 and 4 hour marathoners. . . sorry to tell you this, you not elite runners. They will finish before slower people but in the end, they will get the same medal, the same tee shirt, the same certificate, the same blisters and the same everything. The fact that they finish a couple of hours sooner, well that’s nice but it really means nothing in the big picture. There is no payday for them or sponsorships or anything out of the ordinary.

You have to run for your own reasons. If the clock is one of those reasons, I guarantee a couple of things — somebody is always faster. Someone will always beat you. You will get super disappointed more often than not and mind you this, you’ll catch the injury bug sooner rather than later. That is the way of running. You have to have a bigger reason to run. Bigger than the clock. Bigger than beating your friend or some Joe or Jill you never even met. Something much bigger.”

It was eye opening to read. It reaffirmed most of what I believed and expanded on others. I never understood the conversations of some who seemed almost “offended” by having slower runners participate in events that they were a part of. To me, this is the ugly side of competition. It brings out the small, the petty and the low energy and engulfs people -  if they so allow it.

So to all the store owners, web masters, event organizers, shoe companies (Pearl Izumi ringing a bell?), gel companies, nutrition people, clothing manufacturers and yes, fellow runners who are “offended” by slow runners and prone to mocking, superiority and other low antics —– to you I say 2 words —

You’re Welcome.

It is the slower runners who have grown this sport. After all, there are simply not that many Scott Jureks or Pam Reeds around. The slower runners have brought in the monies and thus, improved the purses. Slower runners are the ones who raise funds, not to mention awareness of the event and the event’s purpose. Slower runners are the ones driving this ever growing train into new, unchartered lands.

At moments like this, I am always reminded of this proverb. . .

After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box.