THE BARK
Marathons: Race or “Metres for Millions” Fundraiser? By Ken Parker
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Many less competitive people think that racers are taking both the event and themselves too seriously. To them the “race” is really a social event, and they run/walk it no faster than their training runs. Jim Hage, who won the Marine Corps Marathon in 1988 and 1989, makes it clear which side of the argument he favours. “Why don’t charity runners start with more manageable goals, like walking at the mall, jogging at a local high school track or even competing in five kilometre races?” he says. “They could work their way up to running the entire 26.2, just like the rest of us have done – and maybe even decide to do it for the run, not to raise money for some other cause.” On the other hand, Hage seems resigned to the changing face of running when he says, “When charity runners first descended upon the marathon en masse, they were immediately blamed for everything from ‘dumbing down the most prestigious of athletic events’ to corrupting the competitive spirit with an ‘everyone’s a winner’ attitude.
efore Ottawa had a marathon race, the city held a 50-km fundraising walk called Miles for Millions in the 1970s. (After “metrification,” it became Metres for Millions.) One year a local marathoner ran the entire distance. Soon Ottawa boasted a world-renowned marathon race that attracted runners from virtually every continent. The Metres for Millions walk disappeared. Thirty years later, have we come full circle? Are charities now taking over marathons? For several years many established marathons (and other races) have focussed on raising funds for charities, filling events with thousands of non-competitive runners. This has led to conflict between serious runners and the joggers/walkers who block their path. The Washington Post recently published a story entitled “A Running Feud: Marathon Groups Split.” The newspaper said “marathons are attracting two types of runners: “We needed to develop some guidelines and establish race serious athletes, and newcomers manners and proper road etiquette.” who think the elite runners are smug and narrow-minded.” According to the Post, the focus of marathons changed Ten years later, while U.S. marathoners remain as slow as from an emphasis on performance to one on compleever, internationally the health of the marathon has never tion or survival, popularized by Ironman triathlon and been stronger.” Adventure races. Naturally, this creates a diverse (and Recognizing the tension between newer and older rundivided) field. ners, the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is trying “The Marine Corps is the local marathon (in to educate novice charity runners through RRCA Vice Washington), but now I feel it’s not worth the effort to try President, Freddi Carlip’s, Miss Road Manners. “We’re to get in,” says Paul Goldenberg of Columbia, a veteran just trying to spread the gospel of good race manners,” of 42 marathons. “It’s unfortunate. I don’t have anything says Carlip. “We needed to develop some guidelines and against raising money or training programs that help establish race manners and proper road etiquette.” people. But if it’s meant to be a race, I just want to sign Locally, Ottawa’s National Capital Race Weekend is up and run.” experiencing overcrowding. This necessitates a route Sometimes longtime, serious runners resent races change next year that will help alleviate the problem, but that turn into fundraisers because the quality of the will not eliminate it. Has Ottawa’s marathon weekend run deteriorates. Many serious runners are annoyed by become a “Metres for Millions” type of event or is its runners/walkers who take the Jeff Galloway approach that goal still to be an Olympic trials calibre race? advocates walking breaks at regular intervals. “(These The National Capital marathon was originally adverparticipants) walk three or four abreast. They don’t tised as “The Runner’s Race.” It had one of the highest even know how to behave at water stops,” says Henley percentages of sub-three-hour finishers of any marathon in Gabeau, of the Road Runner’s Club of America. the world. Today, despite increasing numbers, the perforThe problem stems from a lack of understanding by mance standard has dropped dramatically, as it has across newer, less serious runners. Competitive runners are very North America. social animals on most long training runs. However, What are your thoughts on this subject? Can a race when it comes to racing they are goal-oriented and focus cater both to serious runners and charity joggers? Should on achieving a specific time. They feel that a “race” it try? Or should there be separate events? should be managed as such. Overcrowding the course Take the survey at the Runner’s Web....and/or post your with thousands of people who do not share this philosocomments in our forum at: www.RunnersWeb.com. phy only creates conflict. —Ken Parker is a long-time runner, coach and race-organizer. 40
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