There are four kinds of runners (according to coach Jack Daniels):

1. Genetically endowed, high motivation. They train well, perform well, and often have fast times with rather low effort level. The "rabbits".

2. Genetically endowed, low motivation. These could be winners but don't train well, and often frustrate the coach.

3. Not genetically endowed, high motivation. These are the "Binghams", and are really who this thread is about. They may train seriously but still have low performance compared to group 1. Their effort level can be phenomenal because they are fighting a basic lack of ability.

4. Not genetically endowed, low motivation. Takes part in few or no events; does not enjoy them. (Most of the public is in this group).

So we see that there are basically two groups running these events, nos. 1 and 3 (they do grade into each other somewhat).

Personally I commend anyone who is not genetically endowed to have the gumption and personality to get out there and do what it takes to finish some of these grueling events.

PS for this reason I don't like the word "race". Participants in fair races should be fairly equal in ability, not genetic opposites.

I applaud everyone who gets off the couch and runs - but I have a hard time accepting the "I'm just slow and can't get any faster" attitude - the great thing about running is that if you work hard you WILL improve. - Whether you are a 5 hour or a sub 3 marathoner, hard training will make you faster. That's what I like about running.... To tell the truth, I tuned out Bingham the time I read his article about ordering pizza during a marathon.... Sure, some of us will be faster than others, but everyone can do their best and I'll applaud those who do their best without regard to their finish time.

And yes, I think "race" is a pretty good name for what we do when we push our limits ...and "jogging" is a whole other thing.


Ray

http://This message has been edited by rbbmoose (edited Nov-25-2007).

quote:<HR>Originally posted by rbbmoose:
I applaud everyone who gets off the couch and runs - but I have a hard time accepting the "I'm just slow and can't get any faster" attitude - the great thing about running is that if you work hard you WILL improve.<HR>

For those who don't know, this guy just ran close to 2:40 at the age of 47. As a result, he has a hard time accepting limitations.

Well, yes, that's the point.

The only one that we really ever race against is ourselves.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by lolligag:
Well, yes, that's the point.

The only one that we really ever race against is ourselves.<HR>

Nope. This past Thanksgiving for my 5 mile Turkey Trot, I entered with the sole intent of beating a friend of mine. I didn't care what my time was or what place I got as long as I was faster than Mike.

Son of a gun beat me by almost two minutes.


Grrr....

quote:<HR>Originally posted by tdelafe:
Sure, it would be great to have the luxury of working out 2-3 times a day, but what's harder: getting up at 5 a.m. to run, then going to work for an 8-10 hour day plus commuting, coming home to family responsibilities and having to prepare your own food, only to wake up the next day to do it all over again ... or ... running 3x a day with a personal trainer, dietician, speed coach, pacer and unlimited fitness equipment at my disposal and know that my only job when I got home was to get a good night's sleep? I think I'll take the latter, if you're offering ... =-)

I read my Runner's World religiously every month and use all the tips I can from the experts ... I'm just saying I'll never run a 7-minute mile or a sub-4 hour marathon.
<HR>

You might find this Running Times article on Brian Sell interesting:

http://runningtimes.com/rt/articles/?id=12152&page=4&c=130[/URL" target="_blank">

He didn't grow up pampered. He put in 10-12 hour days even at 12 years old, and, the article shows, he applied the work ethic he learned from that early experience to his running. Here's a quote from the article:

quote:<HR>The self-imposed pressure to make sure he?s ready for the toughest race of his life will drive Sell to run upwards of 160 miles during his peak mileage buildup, sandwiched around half days of work at the Home Depot as part of their Olympic Job Opportunities program. Typically, when Sell was accepted into the program, in which athletes receive full-time pay for flexibly scheduled half-time hours, he chose to work in the garden department, hauling bags of mulch and landscaping materials around the store. ?Most of the top-tier guys don?t work at all,? he says. ?That would be kind of nice, but it?s nice to have a real job, too.?<HR>

To be in a program like this doesn't happen overnight and as noted, Sell had to be accepted in the program. He was preparing for it throughout his life in far less glamorous ways. Even after getting into this program, he didn't choose something easy.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by tdelafe:
...I read my Runner's World religiously every month...<HR>

Then you're definitely a jogger. End of story.