This morning I headed out the door and came back 19 miles and 2:53.01 later. It was tough, but not as hard as running that 15 I did a few weeks ago, for some odd reason. I feel a little sore and a touch fatigued, but I know I could have hit 20 pretty easily. I was having trouble picturing another 6 miles on top of that, but I know it can be done since I've done it twice before.
This I know because from my 18 years of running hither and yon across most of the tri-state area, I've learned that the body doesn't do the running. The mind does. If you tell the mind that it has to run 18 miles without stopping, the body will obey, absent some structural injury that simply prevents forward momentum. On longer distances the mind requires a bit more attention, or distraction, depending on the circumstances. I firmly believe that with enough training of mind and body, anyone is capable of running any distance. I really hope I'm not eating my words come mid-November.
Taking the New eBike Home from Work
3 years ago
"I firmly believe that with enough training of mind and body, anyone is capable of running any distance."
ReplyDeleteInteresting, because in your comments on the NY Times article today, you wrote, "When I pass some fat dude who looks to be gearing up for a 7 hour finish I get a little annoyed at the fact that he's even there - because its obvious he hasn't spent too much time in training."
So because that "dude" is "fat" and "slow," in your opinion, he obviously didn't train? Were you there alongside him in the months leading up to the race? For all you know, he could've been up before you were every morning, logging his miles and working toward his goal. So you actually DON'T believe that anybody can run any distance. You believe that people you deem fit and fast can do so, and everyone else shouldn't try.
Assumptions are often incorrect. If I were to base my opinion of you on what you wrote, for instance, I'd think you were an arrogant elitist. And I'm sure I'm wrong, right?
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ReplyDeleteSorry, incomplete thought. Here goes again:
ReplyDeleteBlogger Mark said...
Well, I've been called an elitist, but I'm not sure where you're getting the arrogant part from. Ad hominum personal attacks are much more a sign of arrogance, if you ask me.
"With enough time and training of mind and body". I think I can safely assume that our hypothetical slow fat dude wasn't training properly if he was still fat and slow at race time. I was fat and slow once. I started running because I weighed 230 pounds and felt terrible. It would never have occurred to me to attempt a marathon at 230. I waited until I was down to 165 so I could make a real go of it. The time for training isn't when you're toeing the line at the start of the race, unless you're talking about a 5k or something.
My experience has been that people who try new things are often more successful when they're prepared.
Hey-just surfing the NYT comments and saw yours-I appreciate your providing a blog link. What isn't clear from the article or from your comment is where people who want the marathon respected would draw the line. I may agree with you re: 7 hours with a stop for lunch? What about 4:41:52 at 51 on a hot and muggy day? What about if that is the culmination of years of exercise as a way of completing cardiac rehab post-heart attack?
ReplyDeleteI think to the extent the idea is we all want to see people in the event that are doing their best, given their age and conditions, many would agree. The question is whether there should be a barrier based on the actual time.
Hey man,
ReplyDeleteSaw your comment on the NYT. I'll refrain from any ad hominem attacks, but I want to ask how someone who is "fat and slow" and going to finish in over 4 hours, detracts from your race experience at all? Do you get upset at the people who are genetically gifted and don't have to train almost at all to run a sub-3 marathon?
All in all, comments like the ones you made make me pretty sad. Where does all the anger come from? Isn't the race about what you can do? Why do you care about other people doing it, whatever their reasons or training may be?
The second sentence of my comment reads, "I have no problem with people plodding their way through a course in 6 or 7 hours". So I'm not angry and I really don't care what people's motivations are. Personally, I think you should finish the course in a decent time-a time that challenges you-that makes you sweat and pushes you to your utmost limit, or why bother doing it? Americans want everything served up on a platter. Running a marathon is hard. Walking it isn't. Finishing it in 7 hours isn't, baring circumstances that put you in a special cateogory.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem with staggered cut-off times for different age groups, or seperate rules for disabled runners, but for the majority of plodders, that seven hour finish time is more likely attributable to failing to properly train.
And anonymous dude...why don't you go read the first few postings of this blog before you make assumptions about how small my world is.
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ReplyDeleteDude. You need to stop being such an elitist. Have you trained for running after abdominal cancer surgery? I have. You might want to concentrate on your own game and stop focusing on other peoples' limiations that aren't necessarily self-imposed.
ReplyDeleteI guess what stood out to me is your declaration that you got up and ran 19 miles this morning, like others who train but run slower don't do that. I coach new marathoners and am meeting my group to run 20 tomorrow, but none of them will probably finish in under 5 hours. They are training as hard as you are, but they are brand new to running.
ReplyDeleteDo not assume that fast=trained correctly and slow=undertrained. I've known gifted people who have had less training than they should have who have run sub 3:30 marathons. I myself run between 40 and 70 miles a week and my best has been 4:30. Like you, I'm a loser. I came to this sport later in life after losing 100 lbs. What started as a personal challenge to run a marathon at 40, has culminated in 27 marathons. I never know when I start, despite my training, how my day will go. Last weekend I hit my PR at 4:30:26 but I started feeling like I was lucky if I had a 5 hour in me. In September I started my first mile literally ill (but running with one of my runners in her first), recovered within a mile and had one of the best runs I've had in a long time.
Other times I'd toed the start line feeling like I was going to meet a PR, but something has happened to slow me down (injury, illness--I have a chronic condition, weather, etc.) In none of those situations have I trained less than you have.
Celebrate the blessing to be able to run long and hard, and let others celebrate in their own way at their own pace. God forbid something happen to you to take away your gift of health and speed. I hope you NEVER experience a serious illness (like a pancreatic tumor that requires three surgeries and leaves you in the hospital for a month, taking a year to recover fully). I'm just happy to be alive and have the ability to run a marathon. I wish you felt as much peace.
Man, there are a lot pf people out there who have nothing better to do that get in my grill because I don't share your view that everything should be accessable to all people. Sorry, but I don't.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I wonder if you all sit around and write angry diatribes to the organizers of the Boston Marathon which requires a qualifying time. Maybe thats the answer. Marathons should require a qualifying time and if you don't meet it, you don't get to run. Period. End of story. I really respect those of you who, like me, have overcome tremendous adversity to be able to go out there and run. It doesn't change my opinion that the marathon is a race and should be run accordingly. I wish you all well though.
And I generally don't address anonymous posts. I figure if you believe strongly enough in what you're saying you should have the guts to sign your comment.
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ReplyDelete"when I pass some fat dude who looks to be gearing up for a 7 hour finish I get a little annoyed at the fact that he's even there-because its obvious he hasn't spent too much time in training."
ReplyDeletePerhaps you were passing the Buddha. I'm not sure, but I don't think you're quite the student of Buddhism you think you are.
But good luck with that.
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ReplyDeleteA military analyst is purporting to lecture me on the difference between religious belief and worldly action? That's a good one.
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