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I hope Mr. McClelland was writing tongue-in-cheek. I guess I don't really see a problem with having a variety of participants with differing levels of ability and motivations for marathoning. Participants are divided out by pace anyway with slow joggers and walkers to the back at the start. The "pros" should be able to set their own pace and compete among themselves. I don't see how having amateurs chugging along behind should affect them.
You know, when I see the numbers of not just overweight Americans, but huge, I mean huge Americans in public I am happy to see folks getting off their couches for any reason. If it takes an event like running a marathon, half-marathon,5k, 10 k to get them motivated, heh, lets all applaud that.
I recently walked the half marathon in Des Moines. It was my 60th birthday thing! I was so happy to be surrounded by people who looked fit if not Olympic material. And the overweight folks there were at least trying to do something good for themselves. Kudos to them as well as to the Kenyans turning in qualifying times!
Constructively I think organizers are going to have to consider limiting participants in the big marathons like Chicago as they are becoming nearly unmanageable.
That's my two cents worth!
