Is There Honor In Completing A Race As An Event?
In his recent book, Run Right Now1, Joe Henderson cites Dr. George Sheehan as saying, "Pinning on a race number means you've taken an oath to do your best, whatever that might be." In light of the movement towards event marathoning, I was struck by the statement and its apparent incongruity with what's popular in running today.
I've mulled this over and eventually came to the conclusion that for many of the marathon walkers, Sheehan would not have condemned them. I've seen may fast runners berate "the charity runners" or "the walkers" and do not condone this. While their contention is that the event is a race is correct, it is also flawed. Those who race or who matter in the race are typically confined to the top 20% or so of finishers. The others are there to either race themselves, challenge themselves or for the experience of the event.
Racing against yourself - chasing a new PR, trying to do better than last week (month or time), these are things that Sheehan wrote about in his columns and books. Challenging yourself is another concept that Sheehan weighed in positively on. So, now we are left with the experience the event crowd.
This is a much harder analysis, and in the end, the only one that really required deep thinking. Are they doing their best? What is "doing your best"? Must one's best always be measured athletically or physically? Many of the "eventers" are challenging themselves. For many, a walk of 6 or 7 or 8 hours represents a major accomplishment. Yet, for some, the act of finishing isn't a real challenge. Have they been untrue to Sheehan's oath? I say, "No." Often, they are out there performing other functions that, while not a challenge for them physically, do challenge them to "do their best" at something. For those who struggle to complete the event (and I've often used the marathon as the example here, but it applies just as much to the 5K's, 5-Miles, 10K's and Halfs), having that person next to them massaging their mind, keeping them from focusing on the hurt in their legs or back is critical. They do their best to support those around them with praise, advice, and other support. I have no doubt that without them being there, fewer of those who struggle would arrive at the finish line. So, even those who don't challenge their physical being challenge themselves to help those around them to achieve more than they thought possible. Were he alive today, Sheehan would find the "eventers" hadn't failed to honor the oath to do your best.
1Joe Henderson, Run Right Now: What A Half-Century On The Run Has Taught (New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 2004), 182.
I've mulled this over and eventually came to the conclusion that for many of the marathon walkers, Sheehan would not have condemned them. I've seen may fast runners berate "the charity runners" or "the walkers" and do not condone this. While their contention is that the event is a race is correct, it is also flawed. Those who race or who matter in the race are typically confined to the top 20% or so of finishers. The others are there to either race themselves, challenge themselves or for the experience of the event.
Racing against yourself - chasing a new PR, trying to do better than last week (month or time), these are things that Sheehan wrote about in his columns and books. Challenging yourself is another concept that Sheehan weighed in positively on. So, now we are left with the experience the event crowd.
This is a much harder analysis, and in the end, the only one that really required deep thinking. Are they doing their best? What is "doing your best"? Must one's best always be measured athletically or physically? Many of the "eventers" are challenging themselves. For many, a walk of 6 or 7 or 8 hours represents a major accomplishment. Yet, for some, the act of finishing isn't a real challenge. Have they been untrue to Sheehan's oath? I say, "No." Often, they are out there performing other functions that, while not a challenge for them physically, do challenge them to "do their best" at something. For those who struggle to complete the event (and I've often used the marathon as the example here, but it applies just as much to the 5K's, 5-Miles, 10K's and Halfs), having that person next to them massaging their mind, keeping them from focusing on the hurt in their legs or back is critical. They do their best to support those around them with praise, advice, and other support. I have no doubt that without them being there, fewer of those who struggle would arrive at the finish line. So, even those who don't challenge their physical being challenge themselves to help those around them to achieve more than they thought possible. Were he alive today, Sheehan would find the "eventers" hadn't failed to honor the oath to do your best.
1Joe Henderson, Run Right Now: What A Half-Century On The Run Has Taught (New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 2004), 182.
posted by Scooter at 10:49 AM
4 Comments:
Interesting. I'm saddened that racers would belittle "charity runners" and the like. Anytime anyone is challenging themselves to become something more than what they are, I applaud it. It's attitudes like that that kept my ass on the couch for 30 yrs.
Unfortunately, it goes on. I think those of us with enough experience to know better are very rarely up front with them. Stay off the couch!
PS - If fitness is a key part of your blog, a picture of you EATING! may not be the best way to portray yourself.
I don't know, Scooter... That looked like a pretty healthy slice of pizza that Tammy was devouring...
Oh, sorry.... no eating allowed in fitness... I'd hate for someone to think I actually EAT.
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