Cheater, cheater.....

[Sandy]

     As far as sports go, running has always been promoted as one of the easiest.  Lace up the shoes, head out the door and wait for the endorphin high to hit.  For such a laid back philosophy, running has been creating some seismic waves in the last two weeks.
     At the Marine Corps Marathon held in Washington D.C. on October 30 members from the Jeans Marines, a training group from Toronto, and the Leukemia Team in Training (TNT) were spotted shorting the course.  At approximately the 14 mile mark runners have short cut the course by running across a street go from 14 to 17 miles.  With guidance from their leader, participants were encouraged to take the shortcut in order to beat very strict time restrictions.  Outrage has been swift and emphatic as onlookers have lodged complaints to the organization, web sites have been busy with comments, and the marathon organization has asked for their medals back.
     Jeans Marines have been quick to defend, and then give in as it became crystal clear that other marathoners were in no way supportive of their actions or rationalizations.  Founder Dr. Jean Marmoreo stated simply that her ?desire was to help her slowest little birds make it to the finish line.?   While Jeans Marines contend that other fundraising groups have used the same strategy to get the back of the packers past the 17 mile mark, within 11 days of being caught they have revamped their policy structure to ensure this never happens again.
     In response to this melodrama but by the sounds of things not the catalyst to, Rosie Dimanno of the Toronto Star wrote a hazing article about women who run marathons ??they?ve got too much time on their hands and worship at the alter of their glorious selves,? and the fundraising organizations ?that prey on the insecurities of primarily middle-age ladies??   No doubt this may be more controversial then the whole cheating thing by the marines. 
     Without giving Dimanno more press then she deserves, after reading her angry tirade about non-athletic women who are self-indulgent, delusional and tiresome I had too overwhelming thoughts.  One: Ms. Dimanno may want to go out for a slow jog to get some endorphins flowing to calm the angry beast, and two: she was obviously always picked last in gym class.
     As controversial as these two subjects are, they have brought a festering problem to the surface to be examined and dealt with.  Fundraising runners have gotten out of control from the stand point that they are a means to an end, a mechanism to raise funds not to embrace running as a lifestyle change.  Regardless of how long it takes a runner to complete the task, they must not begin if they have no hope of finishing within the parameters of their chosen race, regardless of how noble the cause.  Marathoning is a serious, physical endeavor that should be engaged in for its own sake, with the understanding that it is hard but not unattainable.
     
     

[Jon]

"Picked last in Gym class"....that is too funny!!!   :yeah:

[Sue]

Oh Sandy,I love the last picked in gym class line!  Your right jbell too funny!
I found her article hurtfull and malicious. Obvious to me she's not a happy person! I took offence to what I call my new found sport!  I began to run for energy and health not to live forever but hopefully longer!  It sure beats sitting on the couch eating everything in sight and watching television!  What is wrong with feeling good about yourself and of acomplishment on completing a marathon! I also have met some of the nicest people running. Good for you Robyn writing her back! Hope she does come for a trail run with us to see what were all about!
Sue

[Robyn]

Oh, I love the dry humour.  Nice punch in the nose to that Miss Rosie.  Excellent article, Sandy.   I salute you.:hello2: :icon_salut:

[Jo-Jo]

I loved what you had to say...but hey

wait a minute about the "last picked for gym class"  I was one of those people...started running age age 49...did my third HalfM at age 52 in 1:55:28

And...gulp...now planning to train for a FullM in 2006!

BTW...Sandy...I am the woman who calls you my "Running Angel"...

I just bookmarked this site...hmm...maybe I'll visit more often!

[Jane]

 ? Jo-Jo, you had us confused!? You see we have another member on here known as jojo.? She is our neighbour across the road.? And an original member of our running group.? At first, when Heather started reading your post, she was thinking it was our neighbour!

Anyhow, welcome to our website!? I hope you will visit more often.? You should sign up as a member.? But if you are going to sign up, you might want to use Jo-Jo1.? Or your other name -- "Awesome Running Machine"? just to avoid confusion!? ?

It is amazing how many people are out there running who were picked last in gym class -- both Heather and I were a couple of those people too.?

Hope you are feeling better -- heard you were sick over the weekend!

Hope to see you on Dec 31 -- if not at the run, maybe at lunch afterwards?

[Awesome Running Machine]

Jane...have just joined website...as Awesome Running Machine.

Will see you at the Resolution Run...

[Jane]

Great!  You'll get to meet a few other people from our group here in the Trenton/Belleville area.

New Year's Eve - it sounds like it is a long way off, but it isn't!  That's scary!!