Fast Running Blog

In case you've missed it. Michael Wardian had recently run two marathons only 1 day apart, both under 2:30. He won the first (National Marathon in Washington) in 2:25:00, and was third in the second (Knoxville) with 2:29:50. He ran another marathon 13 days prior to National in Shamrock in 2:24:55 finishing second. Interestingly enough, his completely fresh PR in ideal conditions on a perfect course (Shamrock 2007) is 2:21:37. The National course is hilly, and this year's Shamrock was windy. Knoxville course is a beast as well.

So it is not like we have a 2:10-2:15 guy going out for what Paul would call "loafing through a marathon". He is able to be within 5 minutes of his course/conditions adjusted PR equivalent the next day!

Check out an article about him in Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2008/04/17/keeping_a_tireless_pace/

Interestingly enough, he is a vegetarian, according to the article.

He also won the  100km Championships last week.

Wow! I'm jealous. I wonder if he would go sub 2:10 if he tapered ;)

That is the whole point. He ran only 2:21:37 when he did taper. He possibly has the same problem as I do. The body is strong enough to run faster, but there is some hold back that keeps it from happening. So the only way to see that strength is in the rate of recovery.

I think many folks with that particular problem tend to go longer and get into Ultras....their ability to burn fats efficiently, sustain over long distances repeatedly, and recover quickly make them naturals.  Perhaps you're missing your *true* calling?

Sasha, you would tear it up in an ultra.  You should give it a shot one day to mix it up. Start with a flat 50k.  If you enjoy the climbing, move up to a trail 50m or 100m.  Your ability to recover would give you a huge advantage. 

I run not only to win but also for good health. I want to go on several LDS missions after my kids are grown. I do not think ultras are good for your health, in fact, I think a marathon off less than 70 miles a week is not that good for your health either. And ultras do not pay nearly as well as marathons do both in terms of money or publicity.

Yes, most people probably don't do ultras for the money or the publicity.  But then again, few people run for the money or the publicity.  I would say most do it cause they enjoy it and/or for health reasons.  Though from speaking to several ultramarathoners, it isn't too much harder than a marathon (from what they claim).

"I do not think ultras are good for your health"

I think Ted Corbitt would beg to differ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Corbitt

If your 84 and can still walk 68 miles in 24hrs, you'll do fine in several missions

How many ultra runners have you met? And how many of them are in poor health? Most of the time, ultra = trail. I would argue that standard marathon training is way harder on your body compared to ultra training, due to the extra pounding and much faster pace.

I agree you have more trail work and less road, so less over-use injuries.  More sprained ankles, I bet.  Plus, I hear the competitive ones have long weekend workouts- 30+ mile runs on Saturday and Sunday!  Lots of time!

For love or Money.
I think a good question here is how many of us run for $$$. I personally have never entered a race to try to win money. I enter and want to win and if there is money then it's a bonus. But running a race for pure financial reasons is kind of breaking a code of ethics in my book. The money driven glory has become a cancer to most other sports. Running is one of the few that (doesn't pay much) but have a following of participants who really love what they do regardless of what they might win or put in the wallet.

Well said, Clyde.

Clyde - that all sounds nice, but how are you going to support a family and reach your potential in running?  Not that I could right now with running alone.  If I did not know how to program and be well enough established in my field to be able to make a living working part-time, right now with the meager prize purses running would have had to be a hobby. There would be no Fast Running Blog, and I  would be running about a 2:35-2:37 in TOU on a good day, maybe low 2:30 in St. George. The fact that I am able to have this site, and run the way I do is a miracle, it is completely against the odds. Which is nice, but my point is that it should not be. More people run in the US than play football, but very few can run professionally compared to football. That is not right. That is not healthy in a lot of aspects. It is a reflection of our skewed values.

I choose to protest against it and this is how. I run as if I had to make a living with it. When I am in a race, I forget that I have other income. I do not consider my running income vacation money. I use it to pay the bills and to pay off my mortgage. I do not want an age division award, and I do not want a finisher medal. If I lost I lost, I do not need a trophy to remind me that I was not good enough for the cash today. I do not see my running as a hobby even though with all my best money management it is not even close to being called a significant source of income. I do not exactly know how much difference this approach is going to make, but deep down I feel it is the right thing to do. This is my way of saying: Look - I am a legitimate athlete, I am not a weekend jogger. Our sport is as legitimate as football and baseball, and we deserve respect. I think if everybody around us saw it this way, things would change. Not just that more than a handful in the nation would be able to run professionally, but more kids having better role models would stay out of trouble, more adults would set higher goals for themselves, and many other good things would happen.

That brings to mind the question: why should football and basketball players get paid for that matter? Winning an event (whatever the sport) brings no legitimate value to society. In my opinion, no athlete should be paid anything. Instead, pour our money into teachers, firemen, and cartographers. Athletic development doesn't really matter, especially compared to these other vocations.

None of us "deserve" anything for our running. It's not a right to get paid.

Sasha, I think it's interesting that you see running as a way to pursue money and publicity as "ends" in themselves.  There are much easier ways to make a few bucks and get your name in the paper than grinding out 120 miles a week.  In contrast, many ultra-runners (even those enjoying $ and fame) generally focus more on running as a journey than a way to reach a destination.  Then again, that's what running is about for a lot of people (me included).

While I disagree with your philosophy, I do respect the fact that you are upfront about your objectives. There is no doubt that you set a very high standard for commitment and performance from running.  Essentially, what you are doing is trying to set an example in order to influence the marketplace to make running a more financially rewarding endeavor.  Just don't forget to enjoy the running itself!

Sasha- I agree that it is difficult to support a family and reach your potential in running- that is what myself and 95% of the bloggers realize every day.  Few runners ever reach their real potential, because life, family, money, and injuries get in the way.   We have had this discussion before, too, of WHY people run, on someone's blog.

We are jealous of professional athletes, but we forget that even they are the exception rather than the rule.  There are millions of kids and adults who play basketball, football, soccer, baseball, etc just for fun.  They even pay to be able to play and see it as a hobby.  The number of athletes who get paid for any sport is very low, and most of the athletes who do get paid are actually in the "entertainment business" rather than athletics.  Running is not as entertaining as the "rich" sports, and will never be, so that is why runners will never get the same money.  Only a very, very few elite get paid well for doing something "fun" for a job (such as professional athletes), since there are so many other people who would be willing to do it.  Likewise, runners don't get much much prize money or sponsorships because there are so many other people who would still do it for free or pay to do it (i.e. most runners at races who expect no prize money), so it doesn't make financial sense to pay runners a lot of money.  Which makes me appreciate any sponsorships (FRB/St. George Running Center) even more!

I do wish that more runners could get good sponsorships.  But I am very happy with the revival that running is undergoing right now in the US, though, so will leave it at that.

They don't get paid because of what they bring to society.  They get paid because they are entertainers.  Entertainers, not athletes.  And I am discovering our society will pay more and more money to be entertained.  But I will refrain from commenting on escapism, etc...

In my opinion, cartographers are way undervalued in our society.  Without cartographers, my ancestors would still be drifting around in little boats off the coast of Wales ...

If your ancient ancestors were still drifting around in little boats, they would probably be dead by now... ;)

Not to mention we wouldn't have pretty maps of sports venues.

My ancestors could beat up your ancestors, so there!

I'm glad I just run for fun. Running a race to try and win money sounds more stressful than trying to hit a time or PR. I get paid with self satisfaction.

My ancestors could beat up your ancestors, so there!
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Well, my ancestors conquered the known world, discovered america, AND gave you carbo loading! Everything goes back to us Italians!

And money in sports is all about the entertainment value. LeBron's skills and entertainment probably bring in a crowd bigger than the whole Wizards team, and as such, gets paid much more than the usual player. He increases ticket sales, and, if you include the whole market of shoes, clothing, hats, and everything else that can be made off his image and name, he's making alot of money for alot of people, so he gets paid more.

Not even Geb could get that kind of money to everyone. Even El G was unknown to the majority of people when he paced Lance Armstrong for a few miles in the NYC marathon. People were excited to see Lance, not the fastest miler in the world...which is why Nike will now do running commericials with Lance Armstrong, and not Bernard Lagat.

I have noticed that in Europe (for the most part) you will see more commericials and products in local stores with famous runners, cyclers, and other athletes. Some stores I used to go to sold the lastest Adidas, Puma, Fila track kits that were being used by current elite runners. Eurosport tv channel gives play time to almost every sport (even curling) and plays all the major european track meets in full- without cutting to the last two minutes of the men's 5 or 10k.

Does playing music bring any value? What about painting a picture?

Most developed countries invest into things that do not seem to yield immediate material returns such as art, music and sports. Why? Some will argue just because they can afford it. I would argue the other way around. They are able to prosper economically because they possess a more balanced vision of life. Those things are some of the most distinguishing elements of the human race. They help us hone the qualities that separate us from animals. The more we support this form of development on a personal, community and national level, the less animal-like and more God-like we become. Which in turns gives us power to take care of our material needs with much less effort.

In general, Europe has a lot more appreciation for the low-profile sports - running, cycling, speed-skating, swimming, you name it.  Not to mention the almost rabid fanatacism for soccer (football).  Maybe it's because the "American" sports have never really caught on there, so there is much more diversity and more dollars that can be divvied among the "other" sports?  I don't know, but I am grateful that there seems to have been more US coverage of track and field recently and more media attention to running in general than in the past.

I think when the mindset changes, the commercial aspect will take care of itself. If people learn to appreciate one's ability to run fast, a way will be provided for people with talent and desire to dedicate themselves to developing that ability. We do not necessarily need to worry about how. What we need is to change the mindset.

Why is it good to change the mindset? People who appreciate talent and hard work tend to act better in a number of ways. They are more likely to be hard workers themselves. They are more likely to ask themselves what talent they may have that they should develop. They are less likely to be involved in counter-productive and destructive activities. They make the world a better place. Teaching people to appreciate one's ability to run fast is one of the ways we can contribute to reversing the quick fix mindset that is growing in our society.

How can we contribute to the change? I've thought of the following:

a) Set an example. Work hard. Dig deep within yourself.

b) Open your mouth. When you have a chance tell your friends and family members that you run and why.

c) Encourage others to exercise and discover their athletic potential.

d) Communicate when possible that training for a marathon is not a pleasure activity done in your spare time. Explain what it takes to reach your true potential in the sport.

e) Educate. Explain some basic facts. Marathon distance is 26 miles and 385 yards. A competitive marathoner does it without stopping to walk. Competitive marathoning is closer to sprinting than jogging. When outdoors, invite somebody to run along you for 50 yards at your marathon race pace, BQ pace, OTQ pace, and world-record pace. You do not go to the Olympics unless you make top 3 at the Trials, and you do not go to the Trials unless you make the standard. And you have to run this fast for over 26 miles just to make the standard. Haile holds the world record. Ryan Hall is the fastest American marathoner today. Etc.

The ancients used to appreciate the run...it shows up in so many places in history. Somewhere along the way, people lost this appreciation. I suspect it came with the invention of the cubicle.

I think it came with the invention of the horse and especially the car...

I think it came by the invention of the TV, computer, and all video games... Why work your legs when you can work your thumbs?

fast food and tv morning shows, too.