Wow! In advance of the New York City Marathon scheduled for next weekend, the vitriol is really flying around the state of the marathon! My Feed is full of posts by runners from both sides of the debate  on whether or not the marathon has been turned into a meaningless cow herd competition by runners finishing in excess of 3 hours. Witness this post by Future Bird on Live Journal:

"Every time I see a bunch of slow runners on their way to a marathon finish that's over say ... 2:50 I just shake my head. What is taking these under-trained slobs so LONG! Do they even TRY? Why are they destroying the mystique of the sport? There was some women in the NYTs today and she had a time of 4:05:52 and she wasn't even ashamed! She let them print that god-awful slow-ass time right in the paper. Slow runners are destroying the sport-- running a marathon used to *mean* something. Not anymore!

"It's bad enough that some runners are taking 3:30 and such.. I can at least understand that... but 4 hours? is that even running if you go that slow? Sounds like walking to me!"

In an excellent article in the New York Times published last week called Plodders Have a Place, But Is It In A Marathon? Juliet Macure points out the slow-down trend that is being driven by significant increases in marathon entrants over the past 25 years. From 1980 to 2008, the number of marathon finishers in the United States has increased nearly 70%. In 1980 the median finishing time for women runners was 4:03:39. In 2009, it was 4:43:32.

John Bingham (The Penguin) is widely credited for starting the slow-runner movement in the early 90s weighs in on the matter (sorry for the pun)  saying “I have had people say that I’ve ruined the sport of running, but what I’ve been trying to do is promote the activity of running to an entire generation of people,” he said. “What’s wrong with that?”

Bingham added: “The complainers are just a bunch of ornery, grumpy people who want the marathon all to themselves and don’t want the slower runners. But too bad. The sport is fueled and funded by people like me.”

Ah - now we're getting down to the heart of the matter, John...money. In my opinion, blaming slow-runners for the problems with the marathon is like, well, blaming the unemployed for the recession. The fact of the matter is that marathons are hugely expensive to stage. The water stations, police escorts, traffic control and medical personnel are semi-fixed costs associated with marathon events...costs that can be recouped and exceeded by race directors willing to admit any runner who can fog a mirror. And let us not forget multi-million dollar corporate sponsorships and the hundreds of millions of dollars raised by runners to benefit the cancer industrial complex in this country.

In her article, Macure grazes this subject. After all, "Those back-of-the pack runners are income for the event too, and they're just as important for everyone. There's a feeling of  "I paid as much money as the other people to enter, so I should be treated the same.'"

Mmm...how about this: a "regressive tax" on slow runners. You have to pay an extra $1 on your entry fee for every extra minute over 2:58 you are likely to run the marathon. What is "slow"? Should we have "elite" only marathon events? If you gave that race, would anyone come?

I'm really interested in what you guys think about this issue.

Image: New York Times online

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Tags: new york marathon, distance running, racing, slow runners, marathon times, john bingham, the penguin, New York Times

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Here here firegirl! Posted by: bmoore on Jul 13, 2010 at 09:47 AM

I had to read this one twice. The first time I read it, I got so angry with the ingnorance, narcistic, closed minded, and just down right disgusting attidude, that I had to walk away and regroup. After the second read, I thought to myself, "Wow. There are still people out there like this?" Sounds to me that this person needs a large dose of Humble Pie. With that said, I am proud to say I am a runner. I am proud to set a great example for my children and show them what goal setting, a healthy lifestyle and a little hard work can do. I am proud that my 10 year old daughter has started running with me because she is learning from my example, applies herself and is learning may of lifes lessons through this sport. I am proud that I set examples and inspire others to change thier unheathly lifesyles. This is a sport like any other sport. It is for ALL. So lets all get out there and serve up some Humble Pie. Posted by: firegirruns on Jul 13, 2010 at 06:40 AM

I'm really suprised that this is even an issue. Who made fast runners the only runners in the world. Are they the only ones that think they can accomplish this? What if you are recovering from a tumor surgery (I ran the 1/2 this year with a tumor in my leg) and can't go as fast- are you going to kick me out too? It's rediculous. Who gave you the right to say who can run and who cannot? It's like a bully on the playground saying to another kid that they can't play on the slide because only big kids can play there. GROW UP I SAY!! Posted by: jessesgirl on Mar 02, 2010 at 12:30 PM

I have to agree with Greg's comment's too. This reminds me of that little lesson you get from your parents when you're 6 years old. There's always someone faster/smarter/prettier than you. Exceptional athletes who belittle the efforts of the thousands behind them not only show poor sportsmanship - but also a mean-spirited character flaw. Next time they enjoy the schwag at a race provided by the big-money sponsors or the beer garden I suggest they tip their hats to the 5:00+ finishers who have helped propel the boom in the sport we all love. Posted by: bmoore on Jan 09, 2010 at 09:44 AM

Couldn't have said it better Greg. Thank you! Greg New York October 23rd, 2009 4:32 pm I'm a 2:40 marathon runner and I am proud to toe the line with anyone who plans to complete 26.2 miles. Whether you are setting out to break a world record or trying to finish before the sun goes down, the point of running a marathon isn't to make other people for insecure or inadequate with their own goals. Running is about finding your own personal limitations, enjoying the journey, and getting out of it what you put in to it. Sure, training, preparing, putting in sweat, blood, tears; this is the definition of athleticism and athletic achievement for most. But for some, it's just about seeing what you can do with the time you have and the body your in. I don't understand how these sub-5 hour runners are turning their noses up to the plodders and don't expect the same treatment from those finishing in 2:30. At the end of the day, we all cover the same course and get to enjoy our own experiences. Don't diminish other peoples achievements just because you want to keep the bragging rights for yourself. Congratulations to anyone that has finished or is training to finish 26.2 miles. You're all marathoners in my book. Posted by: AlliePez on Jan 06, 2010 at 10:03 AM