Just what does the AVERAGE time have to do with the LEFT HAND SKEW of elite runners? Unless the elite runners are stuck behind the masses (and I'm pretty sure the faster runners get to start first), there's absolutely no way the democratization of running has resulted in what the author implies.

This article was just ridiculously mean-spirited. I love running. It has been the only way I've consistently exercised to keep in shape. I will never be a "good" runner. In fact, by the author's standards I am, and always will be, a "terrible" runner. But I enjoy entering road races, and I always strive to beat my personal best time. I usually finish mid-pack. I am always careful to respect "real" runners by starting at the back of the back, so as not to slow anyone up. I believe most road races are arranged that way anyway. I would hate to keep someone from achieving his/her own personal best, as I strive to beat mine. Yeah, I'm not racing the best, but I'm always racing myself. The idea that my presence in a race somehow degrades the whole sport, or slows elite runners, is hurtful. I would hope that the author, in his future marathons, will be able to take his mind off the back of the pack and allow himself to remember the pure joy of achieving a personal goal.

How true! The inclination of the masses to elevate form over substance is irresistible and marketers are only too happy to encourage them if they don't make the connection. The Kodak moment at the finish line (suitable for hanging in the cubicle) becomes the focus rather than how the marathon distance was covered. There is a mass market yearning to establish their bona fides and a savy outfitter ready to set them up with the latest gear and a Dummies Guide to get them to the finish line. But marathons and even Ironmans are really pikers in the game of cred establishment - these days nothing less than joining the tour guide led conga line to the top of Everest will do. Just don't look askance

And so.

Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk. So if you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly.

And when you earnestly believe you can compensate for a lack of skill by doubling your efforts, there's no end to what you can't do.

Hey, Edward.

I am a professional writer. I write for a living, and I have noticed lately so many people trying to write even if they aren’t best-selling authors. So, stay off my writing track, you amateur. Why, if everyone who had an interest in writing wrote, pretty soon the world would be full of wannabe writers. The horror! You'd have amateurs jotting in journals, puttering in poetry, dabbling in diaries, writing wizard books in cafes, or worse, writing essays in Salon. So, slowly step away from the keyboard and get out of the way so others can quickly write words that sell.

but was it intentional? (sorry if i'm being dense)
"Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk."
-and even better-
"And when you earnestly believe you can compensate for a lack of skill by doubling your efforts, there's no end to what you can't do."

It gets tiring when 'elite' athletes, get pissy about the masses ruining their sport. Even high school varsity types with a decent winning record are almost always the product of sheer genetic luck, then early positive social reinforcement, later augmented by hard training. The truth is, most people can eat, train, and strive 24-7-365 an never win a competitive event...although they'll get much, much healthier in the process.

Granted, narcissistic celebrities like Oprah, and their attention-starved antics, often come across with all the appeal of biting down on tinfoil. However, high level competitive sports are every bit as narcissistic as any Oprah stunt, but with much less outreach. 'Look, I shaved .02 off the world record! Bemedal me with gold, endorsements, and adulation!"

Sports are - or should be - about participating in healthy activities, not worshipping the lucky and talented. If you weren't born tall and thin, with a genetically high VO2 max, then the 'fancy equipment' of good running shoes and decent clothing help move sweat, decrease joint stress, and get you out running/jumping/excercising more often. I have a very hard time seeing a problem with that.

While McClelland writes well and touches on some interesting points, for the most part he's just displaying the typical subject 'conceit' necessary to capture the attention of magazine editors. It's basically the cynical manipulation of reader emotions. Effective, yes, but not relevant to any real issue.

Very appropos, walter_map!

I used to run 5mi a day, 3-5 days per week.

I did this till in my 60's.

I've had a ruined knee since I was 18 which I wrecked playing hockey and, it was further wrecked by some hacksaw maniac whio termed hisself a surgeon.

I was also a gym rat and, due to strengthening my legs with weights, my knee was able to withstand running.

RUNNING NOT jogging which is a total osteodestruction activity.

about 5 years ago, I grew asthma.

The wiz-crack drs immediately put me on prednisone.

Since I began injesting that poison, there is approx 45-50lbe more of me.

This larger me has been torture for BOTH of my knees.

Of course, I can breathe now.

I went through the quack of the month club at the local va clininc.

These local clinics are NOT the real VA.

Rather they are clinics which contract to the VA to make $$$$$$ off of us.

Well, I FINALLY got to see a real dr who didn't walk like, talk like and quacked.

He got me off of the poisonsone and onto Asmanex.

I'm breathing quite easily now and will soon go back to the gym to see how much of my fatfiled ass I can leave on the gym floor.

I doubt whether I'll ever run 5mi per day again hwever, I WILL do my best to se how far I can walk every or every other day.

As for the title of this article, it seems that these blowprah types do everything they can to ruin everything they can as long as they can suck $$$$$$$.