Do you have to be competitive to be a runner?

A few days ago, the Wall Street Journal posted an article titled “The Slowest Generation.”  It’s a scathing report about how my generation is not competitive enough when we run races, that we are basically running one long, slow parade.  This article really touched a nerve with me.  Here are my thoughts…

They start the article picking on the Color Run.  While I am not a fan of the color run (I hate how messy it is!), I think the author is way off in his assumption that just because it’s not timed, it’s not a really sporting event.  The way I see it, if someone is up and moving that is a good thing.  If they are running or walking a 5k, it’s much better sitting on the coach.  I don’t care if it takes them two hours to complete the 5k; they are still doing something healthy for themselves.  Why knock that? 

Next, the author compared the Tough Mudder events with the Spartan race serious, making the Spartans seem more serious and valuable to do because they timed.  Why does an event being timed make it more worthwhile? 

The article them discusses how American’s are becoming less competitive in the world distance running. 

This is a topic I admittedly know very little about.  As much as I love to run, I do not follow professional runners.  I bet the author would not like that either…

We cannot all be competitive distance runners, that is just a simply fact.  We all do not have bodies that are not built to be competitive runners.  We all do not have the desire to be competitive runners.  I am admittedly one of the people the author is writing about.  I don’t even know my time on the last half marathon I ran—I simply don’t care.  I do races for the fun, for the experience, for the time with friends.  I am more worried about my cute race day outfit than I am about my goal time.  Yes, I train for every event I do, but my finish time does not dictate how I feel about myself or the events I do.  To me, the bottom line is that more and more people are getting out there and crossing the start line.  This news could not be better in my book!  Here in America, we are facing a growing obesity crisis.  It is out of control.  The obesity crisis costs us billions of dollars each year in health care costs, lost production etc. If running through clouds of colored corn starch gets people moving, that is an awesome thing!

What do you think of this article?  I would love to hear your opinions!

A dream is a wish…

--Amy

The Color Run Philadelphia

Lish and I before

On Sunday morning, I had my earliest wake up call yet for a local run.  I live about 2 hours from Philly, so I left my house at 4 am, while it was still dark outside, to make it to the race.  It feels like everyone I know was going to be at this race.  My friend and running partner Lish was there with her family, lots of Team in Training team mates, Princess Half friends....so many fun people to meet up.  I was not going to miss this one!

Lish and I after

I could not wait to get into town and get in on the action!  As I got off the expressway in Philly, the streets were crawling with white.  The race required all runners to wear a white shirt.  White shirts were everywhere!  I parked and meet up with my teammates.  We got a few pictures on the steps on the Franklin Institute.  Then I walked toward race village.  The sea of white got more crowded.  It was so much fun to see all the white.  I know it would not last that long...

I meet up with my running partner in crime, Lish.  She was running with her mom and sister in law also.  We were so excited to get started!  We chatted a bit and then headed to the starting corral.  The Color Run organizers keep telling runners that this is the 3rd largest 5k in the county with 23k runners.  How fun to be part of that!  Due to the size, they sent off about a thousand runners ever five minutes.  Their plan worked because the course never felt very crowded.  

The course was scenic but sunny!  We ran from the art museum, up near the zoo and then back along the river.  At each kilometer along the way was a color station with a different color--pink, yellow, orange then green.  Lots of volunteers were at each station squirting color with what looked like huge mustard bottles.  The dust made the air so foggy--you could barley see in front of you!  To color was a powder that did not taste or hurt at all.  We laughed so hard throwing it at each other, we barley ran.  

After the finish line, each runner opened and tossed their own color packet in the air at the Color Festival.  Wow, color was everywhere!!!  This was a very fun race.  No one took it serious as to try to PR, just have a blast.  If there is a Color Run in your area, do it!  But register right away, they see out quickly. 


A dream is a wish...


--Amy

Don't forget to register for my Firecracker 5k to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!