I am a fairly competitive runner (6min30s for 10K or shorter) and I completely disagree with the article. I think Oprah did a wonderful thing for the sport of running...Oprah has inspired thousands of people to make the commitment to run a marathon...and hopefully, has inspired people to take up the sport of running. Congrats to all of you runners (new or old) who run and who want to try to run marathons...just train smart and stay healthy.

I guess there are a few elitist jerks out there, like the guy who wrote this article. But all the runners I know are kind, generous with praise, and encouraging. My running buddies include my husband, who won state titles in high school and ran distance in college, and a female friend with an almost identical running background as my husband. Whenever I take on a new distance, they both say "Yeah, go for it. You can do it!" (And mind you, they both can outrun me in speed and distance any day of the week.)

At recent races, I've been heartily congratulated by everyone from a semi-overweight woman struggling through her first 5K to an Ironman finisher.

Don't let this guy wind your clock or bring you down. People who truly love the sport are happy to see anyone succeed.

He's right on a few points, but offers many half truths and misrepresents some facts here and there.

The average finishing marathon time is getting slower. Also, more and more people are taking to the field simply to cross the finish line and experience the marathon with little or no regard to time. He's also correct about our place amongst the world's elite.


Most of the other stuff he covers is highly subjective and has been discussed at length on several threads here and many starting lines across the nation.

Look, we're all out there for our own reasons. My reasons are no more or less valid than the next guy, nor are my opinions. If I say that I'm not impressed with a 3:55 marathon, what effect should that have on your running? Absolutely none, I would guess. I could chime in that anyone who crosses the finish line is a winner, and there's gonna be someone out there bemoaning his 3:06 marathon, angry that he didn't break 3:00 - so what.

Elitists, as they are often called, have a right to their opinion, whether I or you or anyone agree with them or not. Similarly, the penguins have the same right to their relationship with the sport. When all is said and done, run for whatever reason you see fit. If someone doesn't like your attitude or is unimpressed with your performance, does that really matter to you?

I am so sick of various people claiming Marathons are being "diluted" or complaining about the recreational runners + walkers etc etc

Do all these running snobs think there would be such a range of well organized marathons fully catered, supported and with roads closed for all these elites + fast runners to pick from if there were not 1000`s of 4 hour plus runners willing to train apply and pay to run ?

I don`t recall where I read it but someone recounted a conversation they had had with a top runner - the top runner had just finished in under 2:30 the novice in the over 4:30 range. The novice said to the top runner - I could never do what you did today - that pace was amazing - the top runner said to novice - are you kidding - you were out there running for nearly 5 hours - I could never do that

I don`t know what people get themselves all worked up about those that take over 4:30 to run the distance - are they ****** off that more and more people can now claim they ran a Marathon and they feel less special ?


I watched the NYC Marathon today from 3 points en route - mostly cheering for the 4 hour plus runners - by the last point - 3 miles from the finish - I saw a lot of pain - tears and mosly courage - people pushing on - finishing something they started - no less impressive than watching the top runners pass or the Olympic trials they day before

I agree with the poster that said there are some good points but a lot of them are misrepresented. I think that a lot of people dont have enough respect for the distance of a marathon. I started running and didnt think about entering a 5k until I could do it in under 30 minutes. Now Im working on shaving that time down even more. I dont even know what my marathon goal will be, but I know that Im not going to jump from 5k to marathon overnight. It takes a lot of preparation which most people think they can do without.

Quite frankly, Im sick of seeing people that I know very well have NOT trained at all for a marathon enter one just to finish. I know that it's a graet "accomplishment" but I think this year's race season (the Army 10-miler death, the Chicago death and shut-down) illustrates the need for people to take long distances a little more seriously.

Way not a newbie here - been running for over 35 years.

I've found that those most likely to bemoan the dilution of the sport are elite wannabes - not the truly great runners. I've talked with Bill Rodgers and Joan Benoit Samuelson, and they applaud the increase in marathon participation. Former Olympians like Jeff Galloway encourage slow runners to get into the sport and former Boston Marathon winner Jack Fultz coaches chaity teams.

What I don't understand is why does anyone care why anyone else does anything, especially run a marathon? As long as you're not hurting anyone else...who CARES why someone runs a marathon, and whether they've trained properly or not?

I was highly offended by that article, especially the reference to Oprah's "flab." I stopped reading it at that point and decided not to give that author one more ounce of my energy.

good discussion though....