Geesh, who cares if we’re slow?
And who cares if that make us “mediocre”?!
Apparently, “us,” is “younger athletes.”
I am really curious to hear what you guys think about this article (pdf here).
The article starts with a triathlon recount from a man in the 50-54 age group, and how surprised he was that he placed in the top 11%, ahead of many people younger than him. The article goes on to say there just aren’t that many fast “young” people these days.
So, here we go. Let me just share some quotes from the article:
- Many new runners come from a mind-set where everyone gets a medal and it’s good enough just to finish.
- Old-timers are suggesting that performance-related apathy among young amateur athletes helps explain why America hasn’t won an Olympic marathon medal since 2004.
- This is emblematic of the state of America’s competitiveness, and should be of concern to us all.
- Last month, Competitor Group Inc. announced it would no longer pay appearance fees for professional runners to compete at its Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon and half-marathon series in the U.S. CGI still pays travel expenses and more for the elite. But to some observers, that change contributed to a growing embrace of mediocrity.
Then the article mentions the Color Run and Tough Mudder and how they don’t time the event. And with how popular those events are becoming, it encourages people not to care about their finish time.
Geesh. It’s a sport, who cares? I mean, really… why do people care about this so much? Because “slower” people are crowding their events? Getting in their way at races? Walking through water stops?
Okay, it would be a lie to say I haven’t been frustrated with walkers starting in front of me in a race I plan to run before (Chase Corporate Challenge), but really… I got over it. It’s just a race. We’re not elite athletes. And those elite athletes are still fast.
What do you think of the article?
I just, ugh. This rubs me the wrong way. I think people should be encouraged to exercise. While I know I personally do not want to walk a half marathon or marathon, if other people want to and the race can support it… they should go for it! And should start in the correct corral, ha ha.
Themocracy
I think that given so many people in the US are sedentary and obese, all people should be encouraged to participate. As long as races use corrals or time posts to help seed people where they belong, I say run whatever pace you please! The concept that you get “as much praise for a 4 hour marathon that a 3 hour marathon so why train?” is just silly – I try to run good times for myself and myself only… as I think it should be!
Oh gosh, I read some CRAZY statistic the other day, let me look it up… crap, I can’t find it. Anyway, it said something about less than 10% of Americans getting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a week. WTF.
LOL, yeah, that “why train” comment was weird too. Although… damn, I wish I could NOT train and run a 4:00 marathon! LOL!
I think races should just be about the experience of running and not the stress of it being time. For me personally I struggle with time and pacing. I felt that the article was very one sided. However I enjoyed reading the article.
Again, I’m in Camp I don’t care. Ha! I think I’m the IDC camp counselor! Honestly I think it’s more important for people to out there exercising and practicing an active lifestyle. Really who cares about ‘praise’ for a marathon time? Most people don’t know what a ‘good’ time is and even that is up for interpretation.
Ha! So true! A time that would be AMAZING for me would be a personal worst for others.
I think I am totally a camper in Camp IDC!
I wish more people had your mindset.
One of the reasons running has become such a turn-off for me is the obsession with pace times and personal records and speed and medals, etc etc. I am very often just plain embarrassed to run because of the looks I get from runners because I am slow.
I know a lot of people who take the attitude of “Oh yeah? Eff you, I am at least out here!” But I am by nature a perfectionist and a “I must be the best at all things” that I very easily fall prey to the judging and get discouraged.
I think running can at times be very elitist. I don’t know if it’s just a product of American culture or what. Yoga CAN be like that, but definitely not the same extreme (and on principal shouldn’t be, but that’s a whole other rant…) Lead the revolution, Kim!! 😉
Aww, thanks! I should start a revolution, lol!
I do see some of that elitism in blogs and in people I know. And it just makes me sad. They are pushing others away, and making the rest of us look like assholes.
Do you still want to run? It would be hard to feel like you had to be the best at it, or even, your best! It’s so dependent on silly things like weather, hormones, wearing the right shoes (okay, at least that is in your control). I hope you do run, if you want to!
I want to hear your yoga elitist rant! 🙂
It was this kind of mentality that made me think that I couldn’t run, and would never be a “real runner” for years before I ever took it up. Would other runners judge me? A lot of people are competitive, and that’s great for them, but I’m with you – just getting out there and doing it, pushing yourself and doing your best is enough. Especially when I remember that there was a time not too long ago when I wasn’t even healthy enough to run at all. Sometimes I do feel down about my pace and wish I could move faster, but I don’t do speed work to try to improve that, and honestly, the only person I do compete against is myself. Do I wish I hadn’t finished like 15 minutes after most of the WRCE last night? Sure, but I wasn’t embarrassed or ashamed by my time, and I had fun and had plenty of faster friends there to cheer me on at the finish line! 🙂
Uh, that said, walkers do annoy me too. I’ve had this at races where people are walking RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE. Why aren’t you starting at the end? I know I’m not competitive, or even fast, but still. Move.
LOL, your last paragraph is cracking me up. Sigh. I think that happens at SO MANY races!!!
I wonder if we asked the person who wrote this article if they would rather see people sit around or run slow, which would he choose? Gah, the ass would probably tell them to find a new sport. Go swim. Lame.
It’s just … does NOT have to be all about speed. Like, really. I think that is why I enjoy trail races. And running races for fun. And running with friends for fun. It’s just a great way to experience a place and add some exercise to your day!
I’m with you. Without reading the article but just going off your summary that’s rude and ridiculous. If we’re only running so we can win the olympics, that’s silly. If we’re running for community and fun and health (regardless of pace) then we’re winning.
Did you read the Penguin Chronicles the other day (Race Relations) when someone basically blamed John Bingham for bringing the masses to races and them not having any desire to be better/faster? The guy basically said that nobody “races” anymore, we just participate. While I agree that I do “just” participate in a lot of longer races, even my “race pace” wouldn’t make any of these people happy. It’s for fun & fitness in my world. If I take it too seriously then it just seems like I’d be in a bad mood all the time for not living up to my own expectations and well, that’s just not fun OR healthy.
Yes! I think I did see that! LOL. Yes. It is ALL his fault. I am surprised this author did not think to blame him. Geesh.
Good point – racing for a lot of us is still not “fast.” And yeah. When I focus on time goals, I am so freaking stressed out!
This is the dumbest article I have ever read.
OK, maybe not THE dumbest. But … it’s terrible. Is this guy really criticising people for being active because they are not being active the way HE thinks they should be?
He can kindly go f— himself.
Where’s the “Like” button? I need it for this comment.
I skimmed the article, but a lot of his evidence seems to be anecdotal. You could make a counter-point that Galen Rupp won a silver medal for the US in the 2012 Olympics in the 10,000 meters, which was the first medal in that event for an American in some 40+ years. The rapid rise of running in other countries means that we aren’t always going to have runners in the top 10 like we did in the 1970s when those countries were just starting running programs. He also could have focused on the “thrill” of running fast as a motivator for the next generation, not just the fact that we need to “win”.
Great rebuttal. Slow clap.
All wonderful points! I should have sent you my rant first to review, lol, then you could put some logic in it.
So perhaps the coddling of Generation Y is catching up to them?
“Y’all get medals for showing up.” Hehe
Anywho, I’m glad more people are getting active. Running wasn’t as popular 30 years ago as it is today. Just ask my Daad who was a badass runner back then. Hearing his stories about “taking water during a marathon was a sign of weakness” and other such tales made me realize it was a different sport all together back then. Only the truly hardcore trained and ran races. There were no tutus and sparkly skirt or mud runs.
Maybe people are less competitive, maybe they should be more competitive… I totes disagree with him saying that’s why Americans haven’t medaled at the Olympic marathon in a while. There are plenty of elite runners and I’m sure they all want it bad enough to train to win.
But seriously, I still don’t understand why people care so much how others perceive them. I’m not the best and I’m not the worst, but I’ll keep continuing to fight for better times in races until my body says NO. I’m all “you go girl/guy” to the people slower and faster than me. Always. I could care less if people are slower or faster, I’m just happy they are moving. Their pace doesn’t impact my life at all. **unless they are walking in a race or on the trail and I can’t pass them easily. Then I’m all ragey. Hehe
LOL! Ha ha ha. Well… we definitely are NOT special for running. Any of us. The way it’s grown… it’s becoming less and less “special” by the minute! 😉
Oh gosh, IKR? I love all those “old time,” (ha ha, sorry Daad) stories. Like in Running Times, they usually have a flashback that makes me go “WHOA! Things are so different now!”
The Olympic comment was just wrong. Those athletes want it and train for it. I feel like there is a bit of a genetic disadvantage, but what do I know?
I don’t think we will ever understand that, since we are the types to not care. Maybe we are not picked on enough? 😛
At the risk of being completely incendiary / controversial, my first instinct with the article and your post is that saying slow people shouldn’t race is like saying gay people shouldn’t get married. A slow person racing doesn’t discount a faster person’s race, and a gay person’s marriage doesn’t discount a straight person’s marriage. Saying otherwise seems to stem from judgement and elitism.
I also think it should be noted that faster runners who have this sort of view are assuming that slower racers are provided the same abilities and circumstances as the faster runner. It’s a big assumption to say a person is slow because they just don’t care. The slower runner could be injured, have medical conditions, have a highly demanding job or family, or so many other legitimate back stories.
Interesting point! I think they DO think having slower people there makes the race less… something. LOL. But really, it just makes you place in a higher percentage of the field. Isn’t that what these number/placement obsessed people want? 😛
Yes and yes. Not everyone can be fast. And geesh, even if they can, they don’t have to!
I’m with Maggie. Really bad, very one-sided article.
Are the American elites really getting slower or are they staying the same but have more competition from other countries?
Why do people hate on the Color Runs? I don’t want to do one but if people don’t mind paying the money then go for it! That’s called capitalism.
And, really? You’re going to be disappointed because you finished in the top 1% but still aren’t happy with your time? Man, I wish I had that problem.
We do have one person in my running club who is an “old timer” who used to complain that not enough “fast, young people” were racing for our club. That just leads to people not wanting to participate at all. Let people do the best FOR THEM, not force them to be who want them to be.
Oh geesh. Your last comment… sigh. Gotta make the CLUB look good, right? No. Being told to run fast is not fun. Running fast because you want to, is. Well, when it’s over.
I do NOT get the Color Run hate. I also do not want to do it, but do not effing care if other people do.
And I think it’s the other competition making our men and women sometimes not place at the Olympics. Geesh, do we have to be #1 all the time?!
Welp, I guess I’ll just trot along at the marathon this weekend since I’ll get praise no matter what time I finish in. Um. NO!
And since I’ll obviously never have a chance to bring home an olympic medal, I should just stop running right? Did the author ever have the drive to try to win an olympic medal? Man, he only finished in the top 11%. He should just quit now unless he’s trying to win the whole damn thing.
Anyone who thinks like this shoud shut up and train harder.
Also, I want to say that I’m really impressed with all of the eloquent responses on this post (mine is obviously not one of them). You have some very intelligent readers!
LOL, you are cracking me up! And really, 11%? LAME. I would be EMBARRASSED.
There are a lot of eloquent responses! I was worried when I hit publish that people were going to be mad and disagree! LOL!
This article really made me mad. Anyone can manipulate statistics to prove what you’re looking to prove. I think this guy just ends up coming off like an elite-est jerk. He needs to learn to get off his high-horse. It shouldn’t be surprising that a sport has changed over recent years.
And to go along with what Pete said, we can talk about Galen Rupp in the 2012 Olympics, or Leo Manzano (first US medal in the 1500m since 1968). Maybe I shouldn’t get started on the US Olympic team. I could go on for days. Lol.
This guy obviously is extremely one-sided and I’m very disappointed in the WSJ for posting this article. This is a highly reputable publication that we reference regularly at my work.
Ugh, the more I think about it, the more angry I get!!
LOL, I bet this is EXACTLY what WSJ wanted in publishing it though! They publish a lot of things like this. More publicity for them! 🙂
I like all your Olympic stats! Keep going! LOL!
This is a debate that’s been going on probably since the second running boom (I suppose I can’t honestly say whether that’s true or not, given that I got into running after the second boom began, and paid exactly zero attention to the running world before I got into running, but I’m going to allow myself to believe I’m enough of an authority on the subject to speak about it haha) when “the masses” began to be involved in running, and I have two primary thoughts in regards to it.
Thought #1: I think the people who get their racing singlets in a bunch over slow people, are, in fact, the people who own racing singlets. These people, by and large, are either people who a) grew up in the sport, and view it as a competitive sport by nature because that’s their primary experience with it [the former or current track/cross country runners] or b) have been around the sport since “before it was cool.” In the first case, you’re looking at people who have always been taught that running is a competition: the goal is not to run, or to finish, but to win. They’re approaching the sport from a very different mindset than someone like me, who, with very few exceptions, is running not to indulge my competitive side, but just because I enjoy it. We’re looking at the sport through two different lenses. They may think I’m a “disgrace to the sport” for having absolutely no expectation of finishing the marathon any faster than 4:30 (which would be a BEST case scenario time for me), but I think they’re nuts for suffering through intervals. We have different goals, though, so this makes sense. For that second camp, the “running hipsters,” if you will (because they were doing it “before it was cool”), I’d imagine they have the same sense of frustration that many people have when some fringe interest of theirs suddenly goes mainstream. There’s a certain satisfaction that comes from being able to point to your interest as a sign of your individuality, and when all of a sudden everyone starts being into that interest, people get defensive. For example: there’s an actress on Pretty Little Liars who I’ve known about for the past 10 years. A lot of younger people are very interested in this actress now, get all fangirly about her, etc., and when I see that stuff, I feel a certain sense of indignation because, “YOU weren’t supporting her in 2005 when she had one line on Drake & Josh, BUT I WAS THERE. I’ve been there from DAY ONE, and you are poaching MY THING.” And I think, for those been-running-every-day-since-1981 folks, there’s that same sort of feeling, but even more so: “While YOU were sleeping off your hangover, I was out there on JANUARY 1, 1982, IN A BLIZZARD, DOING A TEMPO RUN, because I was running Boston that year! And you think you can call yourself a runner because you got colored corn starch thrown on you? You are poaching MY THING.” You know? And I think we can all understand that indignation, at least on some level, because yeah, it does kind of suck to have one of the things that made you an individual become available for mass consumption.
Thought #2: HOWEVER. At the end of the day, we’re all on the same team here, kids. I don’t care if you’re knocking out 5:30s on your easy day or if 13:45 constitutes a tempo run for you: if you, more than once, have chosen to put on a pair of shoes and go run instead of doing ANY other activity (sleeping, eating, watching TV, smoking, drinking, swimming, WHATEVER): YOU COUNT AS A RUNNER. Period. And even though running may be more popular than it’s ever been, I’d venture to say we’re still in the minority of, you know, humanity in general. And instead of in-fighting and finger-pointing and shaming (from BOTH ends of the spectrum…both the “you don’t belong here because you’re too slow” side AND the “you’re an elitist and need to get over yourself” side), maybe we should all take a second to recognize that if you are running, you are a runner, and maybe, JUST MAYBE, if we want our sport to be taken seriously, if we want our non-running friends to stop rolling their eyes at us when we use phrases like “only seven miles” or “just a 5K,” if we want our sport to have recognition beyond niche markets, if we want our heroes to be household names that children aspire to be when they grow up on the level of Michael Jordan or some other insanely famous athlete, we should stop bickering with each other and work on presenting a united front that running is fun, running does allow you to be competitive, running is a good way to get in shape, and running has a place for everyone, whether that place is on the podium or half a step in front of the sag vehicle.
Yes! Thank you for your thoughtful comment!
A friend of mine has been running for a couple of years now and mentioned to me how irritated she is with people picking apart the sport (really, in a lot of the posts I have written, like about virtual races, etc.). But yeah. If we want other people to take us seriously and quit thinking running AT ALL is stupid, then maybe, we should all get along and quit judging one another.
The “MY THING” concept really interests me. I think about that a lot. A lot of us are that way! We want claim to what we do, found, like. We want to get credit for being the first. But that is also not very welcoming. But, yeah. those fasties and running purists must be feeling that way!
Disclaimer: didn’t real the whole article yet. I saw in the first couple sentences that he was referencing triathlon, where the 40-55 age groups are the most competitive. I’ve asked the question alot – why is that??
Found the answer after speaking with both younger triathletes (like myself) and athletes in those older age group. Triathlon ages well. Two-thirds of the race is a low impact sport and distance running tends to age well. Older athletes have more time to train – having mostly teenage kids who are in school (this came out of the mouth of several moms, so I believe them). Older athletes have more money ($$$$), and triathlon is an expensive sport.
This has been the case for as long as anyone I’ve talked to can remember, so I don’t think it’s our generation that isn’t competitive. I think that, in general, folks in their 20’s and 30’s are more career-focused – finding a job, building a career, having kids, buying houses, etc. They don’t have time or money for expensive sports like distance running or triathlons, so if they do compete, it’s not at the very best of their ability.
I think you make a lot of great points! This guy doesn’t mention what commitments he has outside of training! Many younger people have school, careers, and families to focus on!
Also I think race experience and racing smartly is a big factor in triathlons and it can take a few races for younger triathletes to figure out what that means for them.
Also a good point! I’m just now getting ready to do my first half ironman distance tri, and I have no clue what I’m doing. =) It makes a difference in distance running as well. Learning how to start out slow, how much to eat, etc.
Oh my gosh! I never thought of that but it all makes so much sense! And even with running, it seems like there are not many competing in the 20-30 age groups, because tey are out focusing on the other things you said!
I don’t understand why it always needs to be about the competition. For a lot of people, actually competing takes a lot of dedication. For me personally I’m only willing to dedicate so much of my time to training especially because I have a job, friends and family to see. I think everyone should choose what makes them happy and maybe that means more balance in their life and that means sacrificing some competition in their running. It certainly does for me! And I’d rather have running be fun. I don’t get paid for this.
Interestingly I just read another blogger’s post on her training and she is a top age-group triathlete. She talked about how in the last few years she’s been just missing the podium or just missing the next finisher and this year she wanted to “bridge the gap”. So she changed up her training and she reached her goals but in the end she said this “but if I can reach 99 percent of my goals on 50 percent less training – that’s not bad math.”
Being competitive isn’t worth it in some cases.
Wow, really interesting about that blogger! Good for her for reaching her goal! I do wonder if she will cut back now, since the training was SO MUCH.
And yeah. As much as I wish I was a full time athlete (hahahaha) I need to work and be social. Because my happiness is more important than my pace!
I love “My happiness is more important than my pace”! That should be on a t-shirt!
Should I suggest it to One More Mile? 🙂
The way she made it sound, she was going back to her old training approach with half the training time as she wanted to put more time into her family and business.
I’m still waiting to be sponsored by some food company! Until then I will keep working to fund my race habit!
I keep asking Fake Meats to sponsor me. LOL! No dice 😉
I didn’t read all of the comments but, for me, the article failed to mention is the change of the running community, in general, the acceptance of women into the sport and the general boom. I don’t think it’s fair to say that we are slower or less competitive as I believe those people exist. Heck, I see them at my local races. When the pool of fish gets bigger, it’s only reasonable to assume that not everyone will be as fast and it will cause a greater spread in times. The glory days of running, as the author so alludes to, existed at a time when the sport was limited by talent and means.
I haven’t always loved some of these novelty races but they do get people active and how can you hate on that?
Ha, good point. I wonder if they studied all results at races if the same amount of people would still be that fast, it’s just that more “slow” people are there. I said in another comment, “geesh, we are all making him look good, what is the big deal?!” 😉
Exactly! They are not for me, but go do your thang, peeps!
I think these type of articles are the reason I have trouble considering myself a “real runner!”
You mean these types of a-holes?!?! Forget them. If you run, you are a runner!
The dudes an asshat. That’s it. It’s like he thinks he’s in some superior level because he finishes ahead of the majority of the group without even considering what they’ve sacrificed to get there. It’s just ignorant and elitist. Apparently according to this dude hobbies are a waste of time and you can only partake if society deems you worthy.
Honestly, I say f this dude. The fact that he is not even considering the fact that as a whole Americans are a grossly growing obese nation and that these back of the packers are at least moving is obnoxious.
You know, you mentioning hobbies makes me wonder if he has OTHER hobbies and if he has to be #1 at them too. I wonder if he is some sort of messed up perfectionist. I am much happier in life NOT trying to be the best at everything… but just my best.
As a fellow baby boomer ( to the article author) we work harder, put in more hours, care more, run faster, suffer more, save more, spend less, appreciate things than any younger generation! Ha Ha!!!! LOL (I am joking)
Seriously – the point is to get MORE people exercising! If it takes “color runs” or “mud runs” who cares! We have children that are obese! We need to make exercise fun.
So races are bigger than they were before. And there ARE color runs & mud runs.
But is this saying that Kara Goucher isn’t beating Deena Kastor because of the color runs & mud runs? I think not. Yes – those events are encouraging America to move. And yes- when more of America moves, the overall times will go down… c’mon we’re getting people who weren’t moving before off their behinds. And there are probably then more people getting into regular 5Ks & marathons.
Yes – that does mean that the people with faster times become more competitive when compared with performance. But does that mean that America is settling for mediocrity? I don’t get the correlation.
(Sarcasm): Maybe we should only allow the people who at age 9 are built like runners & groom them to run. And everyone else has to sit out and eat cheeseburgers. Maybe that’s the better option?
Well everyone likes a parade, right? 🙂
In all seriously, I am bothered a lot more by the Color Run, Warrior Dash, etc. being for-profit companies than I am about them being untimed. I will also say that I’m bothered that people think everything has to be made fun and exciting in order for them to do it. Running is running. Suck it up and do it. You don’t need a good post-race party or bling or paint or glow sticks or whatever..just do it!
If making it fun makes people work out… I am fine with that. I hope it will make them start to like it for what it is!
I can see the initial frustration for those who are trying to run at their own pace, but I agree with you… it’s a sport and the more people you can get to exercise, the better. We need to be more focused on the health and fitness of everyone, not just a select few. There will be the select few that excel at the top of their game… and that’s fine. But they are professionals. The rest of us enjoy being active.
I read this yesterday to and was like geesh someone needs to get over themselves. Then I read a bloggers pov and this person sounded even worse and they really need to get over themselves! I am a slow runner. Would I like to get faster? Sure maybe. I just have a LIFE (marriage, kids, school for them, school for me!) besides running to take care of to. So yeah it’s nice but it’s not everything.
My opinion about the fun runs are as long as they get people off the couch then it’s great….Though I am half tempted to just sign up for the hot chocolate (Even though I swore them off!) because the swag looks great even though it’s $$. eh. I am a hypocrite. LOL!!
I could say a lot, but I just bow to the discussion here:
http://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/1mrtyd/the_slowest_generation_younger_athletes_are/
%of slower runs !=slower generation, just greater numbers racing. Elites getting faster, just filling more people into the fun!
That article REALLY rubs me the wrong way. I’ve actually been turned off by the running community as of late, especially accompanying my mom to some of our smaller local races put on by a race company. One time, she ran a half-marathon and they had pacing groups that only went to 11:00/min miles and when someone asked where the 12:00/min mile pace group was, he LAUGHED at her and said they didn’t have a pace group for a pace that slow. LIKE WTF?!?! After I witnessed that, I knew I would never ever ever run a race with them. I typically don’t like smaller races anyway because I am a tortoise and I’m always one of the last people to finish. Ha. I much prefer bigger races that cater more to EVERYONE CAN RUN LET’S THROW A PARTY WOO races (like Iron Girl). Usually more expensive but the atmosphere is SO much more welcoming, in my opinion.
Maybe it’s all in my head but I just feel like there is this elitist attitude in running today. Or maybe I’m just too concerned with what other people think! (Probably more of the latter, ha!) And that article doesn’t make me want to get out there and run. But I guess it wasn’t written with me in mind…
Anyway, I’m definitely Camp Who Cares?! and I think if you’re getting out there and running MORE POWER TO YOU! (Although, yes, pace corrals are great… as long as people put themselves in the right one! Ha.)
That really sucks that someone was so rude to your mom. 🙁 And it was someone working there? That makes it even worse 🙁
I think there may have always been an elitist attitude in some runners. Maybe it just seems like they are more vocal about it now, since there are more venues to express that 🙁