Whine, Whine, Whine

Another arrogant asshole whines about citizen-runners doing marathons. He says:

Has this country's marathoning spirit been trampled by hordes of joggers whose only goal is to stagger across the finish line?

He dismisses Oprah, who ran 4:29 at the Marine Corps Marathon, as "a middle-aged woman hauling her flab around the District of Columbia. If Oprah could run a marathon, shame on anyone who couldn't.

When Oprah expanded the sport, she also lowered the bar for excellence. For the previous generation of marathoners, the goal had been qualifying for Boston. Now, it was beating Oprah. Her time of four hours and 29 minutes -- the Oprah Line -- became the new benchmark for a respectable race ...

Once the supreme test for hardened runners, the marathon became a gateway into the sport. Soon, gravel paths were crowded with 5-mile-an-hour joggers out to check "26.2 miles" off their life lists. Team in Training, which raises money for leukemia research, promised to turn loafers into marathoners in 20 weeks. I met a lawyer who started running because, "They say if you can run a marathon, you can do anything!" The marathon was no longer a competition. It was a self-improvement exercise."

What's wrong with running being an exercise in self-improvement? How are 4-hour, 5-hour, 6-hour marathoners dragging down elite runners, as this writer, Edward McClellan, states?

He goes on to say:

"In the last 15 years, the Chicago Marathon field has increased tenfold, to 45,000. But with this change in the running culture, the average finishing time for men has dropped from 3:32 to 4:15 -- not far from the Oprah Line, or my own performance. Last month's Chicago Marathon had to be shut down mid-race, because undertrained five- and six-hour marathoners couldn't handle that much time in the 85-degree heat.

McClelland has run one marathon, in 4:16, a time he deplores. He ends the essay by stating:

"I'm ready to do my part. My bum knee just carried me through a half-marathon. Next spring, I'm going the full distance -- and I'm going to do it in the spirit of the first running boom, in under three and a half hours. I may even wear a cotton T-shirt and a sweatband.

Hope you slather on the Vaseline, Edward. And don't look behind you. That'll be me, gaining on you and ultimately passing your cotton-clad ass.

Sore Tootsies

My feet were killing me. I was at Mile 7 in my long run this past Sunday, and the soles of my feet felt as if I'd trodden on sharp rocks for all seven miles. And I still had six to go.

We had driven down from Tahoe the afternoon before, and we were in the East Bay visiting E.'s mom for a day before heading back to LA. I ran here (Pamela, you probably run this trail all of the time), a fairly non-scenic trail, unless you count fences and highway underpasses scenic.

It was the first time I'd logged a long run in my new Pearl Izumi Synchro-Floats. And it will be the last. The shoe's description says it has "enhanced cushioning," but I definitely felt every pebble and crack of the tarmac each time my feet hit the ground. My right heel is still sore five days later!

So what gives? I'm a fairly efficient and light (108-lb.) runner. Perhaps I pronate more than I thought - this shoe is more for supinators.

Thank you!: To all of the folks who gave me suggestions on which marathon to run in January. I think Carlsbad may just be the ticket. The Surf City Marathon looks like a lot of fun, but its February date is a bit late for me. The Phoenix RNR Marathon looks great, but I don't have time to travel, alas.

Another day ...

of getting my ass kicked. I'm still not used to the high altitude, and today's 5-mile run on Tahoe's west shore humbled me yet again. My legs felt heavy, and my heart pounded in my throat as I navigated the hills and valleys around here.

Tahoe is experiencing a cold snap, and I ran with my dog on a chilly (mid-40's), overcast and windy afternoon. I was going to run 8 miles, but my chocolate Lab-mix pooped out on me (the thin air got to him, too!). So I dropped him off at our house, and when I did, the neighbor across the street came over and started chatting.

Diversion! After about 15 minutes, my legs felt stiff. And I got lazy. So I wimped out on the remaining 3 miles.

Help me decide: And, anyway, I don't know what fall/winter marathon I'm doing any more. I was going to run the Santa Clarita Marathon (just north of Los Angeles) on Nov. 4. But the packing, moving, driving x-country, etc., has done serious damage to my marathon training.

Another possibility is the California International Marathon in Sacramento on Dec. 2. I've heard great things about this race, such as it being a great Boston qualifier. But the marathon is only a week before the Honolulu Marathon (which I'm going to run just for fun), and I've already booked my travel plans for that.

Sigh. There's the Orange County Marathon on January 6, 2008. But it's muy expensive ($90 compared to CIM's $65) and much of the course is on knee-punishing concrete. There's also the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach. But it's not until Feb. 3. And it's also expensive.

Any suggestions on which marathon I should run? The rules: It has to be on the west coast, preferably in California. The race also has to be in November, December, or January.

I know. A head-scratcher.