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I've been running for 28 years now, and my joints are starting to tell me that another marathon may not be in the works. I still do the small community runs, and it saddens me to see that the bulk of the competitors are in the 35-55 year range. So I applaud everyone who comes out and competes, no matter what their age or capacity. As annoying as P. Diddy and Oprah are, there was nothing to ruin by their participation. I only wish we can get more younger people away from their X-boxes and cell phones.
The decline in American competitiveness in distance running is a complex issue, and has little to do with the great unwashed crowding the streets of New York and Chicago once a year. Today's loss of Shay is devastating, given that he is our best hope in decades.
