I enjoyed Mark Remy's article on Runner's World so much in response to a Wall Street Journal article on running, I decided to do one in a similar format. Recently, in case you missed it, a Wall Street Journal opinion article written by Mr. Chad Stafko, was published. The first word that popped into my head when I read it was, "Ignorant." Chad, an apparent non-lover of the running community, decided he had enough of runners bragging out their running feats and took to the reputable fitness journal, Wall Street, to share his thoughts on how self-centered and silly us "runners" are. Below is his article with my thoughts in bold.
Ok, So You're a Runner. Get Over It. By: Chad Stafko
There is one kind of
bumper sticker I see almost daily here in my small Midwestern town: a small
oval printed with "26.2" or "13.1." In case you're lucky
enough not to know what these numbers represent, let me explain: They indicate
that the driver or someone in the car has run a marathon (26.2 miles) or a
half-marathon (13.1 miles).
First off, my 26.2 bumper sticker is a magnet.
There is only one
reason running aficionados display the stickers. They want the rest of us to
know about their long-distance feats. So let me be the first to offer my hearty
congratulations. I'd even offer to give them a pat on the back—once they're done
doing it themselves.
Thanks, Chad. For the record, I've only patted myself on the back a couple times. It's difficult to do.
What's with this
infatuation with running and the near-mandatory ritual of preening about it?Almost every day I see
people running: in the city, through subdivisions or out on country roads.
They're everywhere and at all times, from dawn until dark, their reflective
gear flickering along the road.
Sorry our reflective gear annoys you. It's to protect us from getting hit by people like, well, you.
I thought I was
imagining this spike in running's popularity, but that's not the case.
According to the group Running USA, there were some 15.5 million people who
finished running events in 2012, compared with approximately 13 million in
2010. These 15.5 million are hoofing it through marathons, half-marathons,
10Ks, 5Ks, fun runs, night runs, charity runs and what can only be labeled as
insane ultramarathon runs of 50 miles or more.
Incredible, isn't it? Our inactive country is becoming active.
When they're not out
there sweating through the miles, they can relax with a running magazine. There
is Runners World, with its 660,000 subscribers, but also Running Times, Trail
Runner, Runner's Gazette and several others. Reading. About running.
You're probably a subscriber to NASCAR Illustrated. A magazine. About racing.
Or these runners, when
they're not running, can go shopping—at a running store. There's one such store
less than 15 miles, or better said, just a bit over a half-marathon, from my
house. It sells only running equipment and apparel. The store has been in
business several years, so apparently it is making money.
A specialty retail store? I've never heard of such a thing.
This "equipment,"
of course, is nothing but shoes and clothes. You can buy these same shoes at a
sporting-goods store or online, probably for much less.
Actually, I find much better deals at my local running store. Friendlier/more knowledgeable staff, too.
But the clothes—well,
that's a different story. Many of the shirts on the racks have running logos,
motivational slogans and images of stick people running.
Of course they do. Why would I go to a running store to buy an "I'm with stupid" shirt?
Like the 26.2 and 13.1
bumper stickers, this apparel serves a clear purpose: We can look at them and
immediately know that the person wearing it is a runner—perhaps even an
accomplished one.
Yup, that's exactly why we wear them. In fact, I'm going to put a call into all the major sport leagues to inform their respective commissioners that no championship winning player is allowed to wear a "Champions" shirt or hat after winning a title.
I have several friends
who are runners, or at least I did before writing this. Some have completed
marathons in Nashville and Washington, D.C. One even ran the Boston Marathon.
Yep, they are not your friends anymore.
A few days ago, one of
these running friends said, after describing a recent run: "Why do I keep
doing this?" I have no idea.
Every runner says this. It's a rhetorical question. I can tell you that we DO know why we run and sadly, it's something you'll never understand. Unless, you start running.
Why would someone want
to get up at 5 a.m. and run 10 miles adorned with fluorescent tape to avoid
being struck by someone who has the good sense to use a car for a 10-mile
journey?
Dedication, my friend. Also, why would I go for a 10 mile joyride over a run?
I have a theory. There
is no more visible form of strenuous exercise than running. When runners are
dashing down a street in the middle of town or through a subdivision, they know
that every driver, every pedestrian, every leaf-raker and every person idly
staring out a window can see them.
If you really think that's why we run, you're dumber than I thought.
These days, people want more than ever to be
seen. This is the age of taking a photo selfie and posting it on Facebook with
the announcement that you're bored—in the hope that someone will
"like" that information. People want attention and crave
appreciation. If you're actually doing something like
running—covering ground, staying healthy, almost even having fun—what better
way to fulfill the look-at-me desire? The lone runner is a one-person parade.
Yay.
Hey now, I post my pictures on Twitter and Instagram, too.
OK, I know, this isn't
the case for all runners. Many of my friends who regularly run have done so for
years, decades before there was a thing called social media to put humanity's
self-absorption in overdrive. These folks also tend to be infatuated with
fitness anyway. If they're not out on the streets showing the sedentary world
how it's done, they're at the gym or in a spinning class.
Just so we are clear, I enjoy using social media to share my running accomplishments with my fellow runners because they GET IT! If a family member or close friend happens to read my post and it inspires them to get out the door, awesome, but that's not my goal. Most importantly, my post are never written in a way to demean those that are not active, EVER!
But what about the
others? You can spot them, wandering through the mall or killing time at Starbucks proudly
wearing their "[Fill in the blank] 5K Run" T-shirts. They're getting
what they want, without losing a drop of sweat.
I prefer Dunkin' Dounts coffee.
I saw a great new
bumper sticker the other day. It read 0.0. I'll take one of those, please.
Haha, that's awesome! Where can I get one?
Nice work Doug. Hope this guy gets a good run in one day and finally gets it.
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks for sharing. A Runner talking to a non runner about running is like a football fan talking to a non foot ball fan about football. Opinions are like assholes. Everyone has them and they stink. This guy does not know what he is talking about though. He might not be a runner, but his mouth is doing a pretty good job of it. haha
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