Marathon runners take note: Unless you’re at the front of the pack, you’re slower than somebody. So don’t beat up on those who are a little - or a lot - slower than you are.
Tensions are rising along marathon courses around the world, now that more people than ever are running the 26.2-mile races. Most of them fall well short of the Bill Rodgers ideal: In 1980, the median finishing time for male runners in US marathons was 3 hours, 32 minutes, and 17 seconds, or about 8 minutes a mile. By 2008, the median finishing time had risen to 4 hours and 16 minutes. Predictably, some Type A runners are complaining about the leaden-footed in their midst. “There used to be a pride saying that you ran a marathon,’’ one college cross-country coach told The New York Times, “but not anymore. Now it’s, ‘How low is the bar?’ ’’
Sure, some rules should apply: At the starting line, walkers should line up at the back of the pack. And stopping for lunch along the course bespeaks a lack of seriousness. But success is measured by more than just the time it takes to put one foot before the other for 26.2 miles. Trotting along for six hours requires more mental toughness from some beginners than finishing in half that time does from expert athletes.
Running - slowly or speedily - doesn’t require fancy equipment, special uniforms, or membership in a club. It’s the most democratic of athletic endeavors. It doesn’t belong to the elite, and neither should a marathon.
