Up early in New York for a long run from La Guardia through the old World's Fair park to Central Park and back. Nice day and a sweet run. Pretty sore from the downhill sections of the Des News 10k yesterday.
I've been thinking a lot lately about running, mostly in the sense of why it brings so much into my life and what drives all of us to do it. I'm seriously competetive, to a fault at times, but love the trail running and distance time just as much as running a good race. Most days it seems like I enjoy the people aspect of it all more than anything else. It's on my mind a bit more the past week for several reasons. First, it really helps when a sponsor pays your races and starts paying for the time you sacrifice to run some of these things. Inevitably it changes the reasons that you run for, and when you are good, but not great (like I am), it feels too much like self promoting after a while and starts winding down the basic fun of it all. There is a lot out there for good runners over 40 who can compete at that age, but there are also a lot of seriously fast guys over 40 who wouldn't touch an endorsement or sponsor. There is a huge part of me that admires that. Probably because I understand why they run. Same reasons why I won't drop a trail run off the day before a marathon. It's part of my life.
Anyways, this come up for me twice this weekend. I ran the 10k course backwards Monday after the race with Dane Raushenberg of "See Dane Run", 52 marathons in 52 weeks guy. I have got to know him through a few marathons and on FB. Link here for anyone who doesn't know him: danerunsalot.blogspot.com I really like him and have a good time spending time with anybody who puts their life into this sport. Good stories. I also however, have some endurance friends that detest this guy. They believe he is all about self promotion, cheats on times, and is just full of himself. Check this link from a guy that I know: daneraushengergcheats.blogspot.com. It's interesting that we love a sport so much but work so hard at drawing the line at what's acceptable for "recognition". It's OK for a guy to devote his entire life to a single Olympic marathon time, for years of preparation, but absolutely not for a guy to try and make a living out of running when he is at best just above average in speed. Not taking any sides here, just something on my mind today. The arguement at the awards desk at Draper days over money regarding the college runners was kind of related. Who would think that putting one foot in front of the other could be something folks could make complicated? | 