I ran my first marathon (in Chicago) the same day Oprah ran her one and only marathon with the Marines. And she is the person credited with saying, "if you can run a marathon, you can do anything."

Of course, that is not true. Most things in life are more challenging than running a marathon, things like love and diplomacy and peace and sustaining marriage.

Running a marathon is one of the simplest things a person can do, especially if you count five and six hour finishes as "running" a marathon. Not that I am an elitist. I am not an elitist, and neither should running be. And as for the massive middle of the pack in races these days, well, goals are good. We need the informal jogs and the lone runs and the team training, and we need the races, too, with clocks and ribbons and spectators. (THANK YOU, SPECTATORS!)

In this generally slothful nation, where more people follow the leaders in sports from their snack-stained couches and hazy, neon-lit sports bars, we should be overjoyed that such a simple, accessible and affordable sport has grown as it has. Running is basic to human evolution and physiology. Running -- and especially long distance running, keeping it going for more than a few miles -- is part of what defines and distinguishes us as humans.

It's up to the leaders and the "elite" to run as fast and as far as they can or want. It is up to the rest of us to get outside, to get moving, to get our hearts beating, to build strength and stamina -- and to find joy. We are not stumbling in the pursuit of the elite; we are actively participating in the pursuit of happiness and of feeling not only awake and alive but vibrant. Vive le feet!

i was ignorant, not dense.

I love running. I love pushing my body to its own limits, setting long-term goals, and using the competitive atmosphere of a race to put myself to the test. For me it isn't enough just to finish -- I want to out-do what I've done before, and place as high as I possibly can.

Here's the catch: I'm a slow runner. I am not biomechanically gifted, and it's as simple as that. As much as I'd love for my slow twitch muscle fibers to be replaced by fast ones, there's currently no way that's going to happen. I've stretched my lungs as far as their VO2 max will go, and while speed training and hill workouts have improved my pace somewhat, I've accepted the fact that the only way I will ever qualify for Boston is if I'm able to maintain my current pace for the next forty years.

There are those of us who aren't great athletes but who still love the sport of distance running. I might only be able to break 4:30 on a good day, but I continue to work diligently toward that goal. Perhaps more importantly, the marathon is one of the only things I've ever done in my life content in the knowledge that I'm not going to be the best at it. What I do know is that competition in races makes me a better runner.

So, because I'm passionate but slow, should I stop running, to make more room for the "real" runners out there? I agree that the democratization of the marathon has perhaps diminished the impact of a marathoner's achievement, but please don't equate pace with intention. I may be a back-of-the-pack runner, but I compete through every moment of every race.

i think she's sexy - i hope she doesn't go in for marathons!

Why are so many men spending so much time obsessing about and judging Oprah? Dear Sir, run your marathon, snub your nose at those who are lesser athletes and let Oprah--an American far more humble and charitable than yourself--inspire potatoes to get off their couches.

Oprah, you rock girl!

TeresaBG

McClelland would be better off spending his time training instead of complaining. Even if he were an elite distance runner, he has no business telling others to stop racing.

The arrogance of this article is staggering. I wonder if there is a correlation between the arrogance of holier-than-thou American marathoners and the slowed time of all Americans. Perhaps if you worried more about yourself than what others do with their free time, you could help lower the average time.

Thanks, Salon, for another wonderful piece.

"Paula Radcliffe of England trained through pregnancy before giving birth in January. She won in 2:23.09."

Goddam Oprah slowed her down!

I have friends (over the age of 45) who are now trying to do the physically impossible, atleast for them: Run marathons, and 10K and 5K races too, usually by walking them just to be able to say, "I did the so-and-so marathon." It's like some kind of new status symbol among the smug and self-centered. A female friend (over 45 years old) started doing tri-athelons this year although she can barely finish in any respectable time to be comsided competitive. Though there may be just 2 or 3 persons in an age class, everyone gets an Award.

Thirty years ago I was inspired by Frank Short too. His performance made us all feel that maybe, just maybe, we could run too. But most of us were not naive enough to think that we could train the way these athletes train and run competitive times. And few of us had the time or energy to devote to trying.

Yes, I too have heard people brag that their involvement in these activities is simply "to finish." That's not a competitive statement or competitive objective. It's yet another way the ego-centric make themselves feel like they are actually doing something worthwhile with their money and their time.

Remember when water bottles were confined to the running events and other athletic venues (football field, basketball court, volleyball court, etc.)? Today you can't walk down the street without seeing hundreds of people clutching water bottles like security blankets. Hydrating is a sport too I guess.

Maybe it's time for two marathons. One for the 36,800 or so who "just want to finish." And another for about 200 who earn their way into the race with established qualifying times. That way, those who have talent, train, and want competition can get their recognition. Those who want to simply feel good and finish can take all day to say they did. And a few others may be inspired to work their way into the qualifying race.