Spring is most definitely in the air! I arrived in Delaware in May of last year, so I missed most of the spring season. My allergies are certainly still adjusting, but I’m looking forward to being here to see everything bud and bloom. Of course, there’s a good chance that it will snow on Saturday as I tackle a 36-mile run along the Brandywine River, but it’s still spring
Chasing42 Log: 20160402- 20160407
Run: My running has remained consistent, although my legs have felt a bit more sluggish than normal on a few occasions. I’ve been rolling them out consistently, and have been working on doing some more stretching as well. I’m guessing that a lack of sleep has contributed to this as well, so I’m hoping that my body and mind will let me sleep a bit more in the coming weeks! I returned to the Biden loop the past two days, and enjoyed the familiarity, although I found myself wanting to explore tangents but lacking the time to do so. I’m doing my best to spend some quality time running through Winterthur as well since spring means the grounds are beginning to come alive with color!
Thought: I came across this article today and it gave me pause. The author is questioning whether significantly slower runners (more than 6 or 7 hours) should really be running marathons or if they should find other outlets for their interests. There has been even more conversation lately (this article is from 2009), as the number of people registering for marathons increases, about whether these “plodders” take away from the marathon experience and in some way diminish the accomplishments of others. I must say that I’m torn on the issue. On the one hand, it makes sense to consider that we certainly have assumptions when someone proudly shows off a medal or shirt from a marathon. In that sense, it could be viewed as dishonest to say that you “ran” if you finished in 7 hours or more. However, everyone is entitled to their own journey and should have the ability to set their own goals. I would also point out that the increases in marathon entrants aren’t coming from a hidden group of 3 hour marathoners either so these “plodders”, as the author calls them, exert a significant financial influence. Perhaps the more dangerous outcome of this trend is the assumptions folks might make about their health simply by finishing a marathon in 7 (or 8) hours. Being able to walk at a 17 or 18 min/mile pace doesn’t take the place of eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity of any kind is a step in the right direction, however, and it’s always easier to get out there and move when you have others cheering you on
