What's that? It has already been a week since I last updated? Okay, well, lets do this again. I should probably get on a much more frequent update schedule (twice a week maybe...man that would be trying though). Anyway, here we go.
Recently, (two weekends ago now) I was watching the adidas track classic in Carson, CA. During the broadcast they mentioned that this year world championships was going to be held in Berlin, Germany. For the entirety of the broadcast, all that could be mentioned about the World Championships by the American broadcasters was how great Jesse Owens was when he won the 100m dash there in 1939....seventy years ago. Now don't get me wrong, the event was amazing and stood defiantly in the face of bigotry and racism. It was a great moment don't get me wrong on that (I find myself qualifying a lot of my beliefs in this fashion). However, the event happened 70 years ago now and yet they had to ask every American that won their race what Jesse Owens means to them going into the World Championships.
The first thing that really got me in regards to this was how this would never fly in any sport. What would baseball fans think if the league leader in every statistical category was asked after each at bat, or just randomly in the dugout about whether or not this invokes the memory of Jackie Robinson. They would be irked, because it adds nothing to the broadcast and it tells us nothing about the athletes competing, it is just puff to try to branch out to casual viewers who don't know anything. And that is depressing because for someone who knows something about track, I want more flotrack level commentary. I want you to ask Shalane Flanagan if she can maybe run 10000m with Trinuesh Dibaba (She's doing a lot of short races right now and is running the 1500m at the Prefontaine Classic so she is trying to get some speed in for worlds). Or ask her a question about Kara Goucher focusing on the marathon and what this does to the female distance running scene since the United States is now losing a former 5k world championship medal winner. Or how about asking Tyson Gay if anybody on the planet can run with Usain Bolt for 100 to 200m. Instead of pandering to Jenn Stuczynski about how she always gets an American Record at Carson, ask if she can maybe vault with Yelena Isinbayeva at Worlds this year. I mean, the stories are all there, I mean what else do you guys want in terms of drama?
And yet the thing that is especially irksome about this entire situation is that Germany, when it comes to athletics, is a great nation. They support the IAAF and the Golden League so well, that there was a real reason for why the event is being held there. Mainly because they will sell out a 70,000+ stadium with people there to watch track and field. Hey American announcers I can't quite remember attendance numbers in Carson, CA two weekends ago, but I seem to remember there being a lot of empty seats at a professional race. Hell, Hayword Field in, "Track Town USA" only has a capacity of 10,500 (thank you wikipedia). Meanwhile look at the spectator stats from the Berlin Golden League meet:
http://www.istaf.de/content.php?content=zuschauer&lang=en
For those not into track, a Golden League meet is roughly equivalent to a regular season football game, there are some big stars and some decent players, but it is no where near the level of competition of worlds (For a frame of reference last year, Wariner and Jelimo ran along with a couple big name people). If that is what they are pulling in at such a mid season affair, think what they will pull down for the worlds.
And that is what irked me about the large majority of the commentary, is that it gleans over the positive role the nation has played in order to belabor the point about a seventy year old event.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Defining Your Life
One thing I noticed in the years I spent running, hanging out with runners and having long conversations with runners is that there tends to be one common thread amongst serious distance runners, no matter the talent. That is they all seem to have this one moment in the past that they can point to and say, "This is when I decided I wanted to be a good runner, to focus and really achieve."
It seems to be a moment of self-actualization, where they realize what you want out of life and you know the route to go through to obtain it and just make it there. For me, that moment occurred 3 years ago, after a sub-par track season and a lot of effort exhausted for nothing, I came into summer training out of shape and basically lazy. Two things happened, one my dad (in a point of reverse psychology I still owe him for) told me I wouldn't last a week. Second, and most profound was I was going through my old high school running stuff and found the following quote:
In it I found my desire to run. That burning thrill to become more than the guy who is there to make friends and meet people. If I was going to spend 2-3 hours a day at practice, I should be improving myself. I typed up the quote and promptly printed it and placed on the door of my bedroom, everyday I left my room it was what faced me, everyday I went to bed it is what stared me in the face. I went out and worked the hardest I ever had over the summer.
Here is what the crazy thing is, every runner who is truly passionate about the sport and loves its intricacies has a moment like that. The moment where they look around and say, this is something I want to be good at, this is where I want to devote my time and energy. The people who have made this realization in their life are people you can look at and just see the drive and desire in their eyes. They have their goals, their plan; to talk to them is exciting because their passion is unmatched anywhere.
Very seldom do people truly find those pockets of enjoyment, those activities and occupations where you look at them and think, this is where I'd be happy devoting hours of my life to this pursuit. Running is one place where this happens from time to time and it is awesome to see it happen to a runner.
It seems to be a moment of self-actualization, where they realize what you want out of life and you know the route to go through to obtain it and just make it there. For me, that moment occurred 3 years ago, after a sub-par track season and a lot of effort exhausted for nothing, I came into summer training out of shape and basically lazy. Two things happened, one my dad (in a point of reverse psychology I still owe him for) told me I wouldn't last a week. Second, and most profound was I was going through my old high school running stuff and found the following quote:
"People can't understand why a man runs. They don't see any sport in it, argue that it lacks the sight-thrill of body contact, the color of rough conflict. Yet the conflict is there, more raw and challenging than any man versus man competition. In track it is man against himself, the cruelest of all opponents. The other runners are not the real enemies. His adversary lies deep within him, in his ability, with brain and heart, to control and master himself and his emotions"
In it I found my desire to run. That burning thrill to become more than the guy who is there to make friends and meet people. If I was going to spend 2-3 hours a day at practice, I should be improving myself. I typed up the quote and promptly printed it and placed on the door of my bedroom, everyday I left my room it was what faced me, everyday I went to bed it is what stared me in the face. I went out and worked the hardest I ever had over the summer.
Here is what the crazy thing is, every runner who is truly passionate about the sport and loves its intricacies has a moment like that. The moment where they look around and say, this is something I want to be good at, this is where I want to devote my time and energy. The people who have made this realization in their life are people you can look at and just see the drive and desire in their eyes. They have their goals, their plan; to talk to them is exciting because their passion is unmatched anywhere.
Very seldom do people truly find those pockets of enjoyment, those activities and occupations where you look at them and think, this is where I'd be happy devoting hours of my life to this pursuit. Running is one place where this happens from time to time and it is awesome to see it happen to a runner.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Where I Pontificate On My Disdain for, "Marathon Culture"
For thirteen years I was a competitive distance runner on an ultra-competitive high school squad and then a fun but still competitive college squad. During that time, I built great friendships that have lasted till this day. Some of the best days of my life were spent out on the roads running with some of my best friends. So, hopefully you can understand, when I elucidate my following point.
I absolutely abhor the, "Marathon Culture" that has arisen in the past couple of years.
For the purpose of this diatribe, the concept of, "Marathon Culture" is what has been cultivated by the Flying Pig Marathon. It is basically the world of the couch to half or full marathon that so many people, especially those in my age group, are pursing today. My disdain doesn't originate from even their attempt so much, it originates from their approach towards running, and this is where the hinge exists. I have a couple of very good friends who are doing marathons and they vary greatly in talent and ability, however, one thing runs consistently throughout:
They actually enjoy running.
That is the problem, I feel. Since graduating college and thereby leaving my running safety circle I have met a ton of people who have come up to me after saying I am a runner and said, "Oh, I'm training for a marathon / half". Every time, I get bombarded with tons of poor running theories, tales of injuries and, the worst of all, pity parties. The poor running theories can be dismissed pretty easily as the result of Mr. Galloway's nonsensical books and the jogging culture (Marathoning for Mortals.../sigh, I swear, if I ever meet that man on the street). All the injury nonsense can be traced back to the poor running theories purported above and the fact that most of the people have gone straight from the couch to 25 - 30 mile weeks without building any base or resistance to that type of training. Of course you are going to have shin splints and tendinitis if you don't know what you are doing.
Finally and the most irksome of all, and the thing that boils my blood faster than anything is the pity party. I hate talking to somebody and they say, not even facetiously, Oh, it's so hard training for a marathon, I have no idea how I'm able to balance training for that and classes. This is nails on the chalkboard to me. NEVER. Under any circumstances say that sentence to me. I just can't stand it. Here is why, I love running, it has never been my cross to bear, it was something I legitimately enjoyed doing and when I was in better shape something I went out and did without hesitation and that is what irks me about them. They aren't running because they derive any legitimate enjoyment from it, they do it because it is something to make them sound better than other people. And that is my rub, I just feel the sport that I have devoted so much love and time is being devalued in a game of who is better. And it sucks.
This doesn't include my friends who ran Boston a couple of weeks ago. Or my friend who goes out and kills himself and trains hard, as he will see his own improvement. This diatribe is focused on the person who runs 20 miles a week on route to a slow marathon after which they will forever hang up the shoes afterwards. Above their desk will be a picture of them at the finish line of the only race they ever finished, next to them will be a guy actually pushing himself through the line, the guy who didn't tell a soul that he was running the marathon. The guy who just killed himself for 26.2 miles who did tons of training, who will look at his time and think, I can improve and go out a week later and start training once more.
And that is the crux, it is defining your life by running.
I absolutely abhor the, "Marathon Culture" that has arisen in the past couple of years.
For the purpose of this diatribe, the concept of, "Marathon Culture" is what has been cultivated by the Flying Pig Marathon. It is basically the world of the couch to half or full marathon that so many people, especially those in my age group, are pursing today. My disdain doesn't originate from even their attempt so much, it originates from their approach towards running, and this is where the hinge exists. I have a couple of very good friends who are doing marathons and they vary greatly in talent and ability, however, one thing runs consistently throughout:
They actually enjoy running.
That is the problem, I feel. Since graduating college and thereby leaving my running safety circle I have met a ton of people who have come up to me after saying I am a runner and said, "Oh, I'm training for a marathon / half". Every time, I get bombarded with tons of poor running theories, tales of injuries and, the worst of all, pity parties. The poor running theories can be dismissed pretty easily as the result of Mr. Galloway's nonsensical books and the jogging culture (Marathoning for Mortals.../sigh, I swear, if I ever meet that man on the street). All the injury nonsense can be traced back to the poor running theories purported above and the fact that most of the people have gone straight from the couch to 25 - 30 mile weeks without building any base or resistance to that type of training. Of course you are going to have shin splints and tendinitis if you don't know what you are doing.
Finally and the most irksome of all, and the thing that boils my blood faster than anything is the pity party. I hate talking to somebody and they say, not even facetiously, Oh, it's so hard training for a marathon, I have no idea how I'm able to balance training for that and classes. This is nails on the chalkboard to me. NEVER. Under any circumstances say that sentence to me. I just can't stand it. Here is why, I love running, it has never been my cross to bear, it was something I legitimately enjoyed doing and when I was in better shape something I went out and did without hesitation and that is what irks me about them. They aren't running because they derive any legitimate enjoyment from it, they do it because it is something to make them sound better than other people. And that is my rub, I just feel the sport that I have devoted so much love and time is being devalued in a game of who is better. And it sucks.
This doesn't include my friends who ran Boston a couple of weeks ago. Or my friend who goes out and kills himself and trains hard, as he will see his own improvement. This diatribe is focused on the person who runs 20 miles a week on route to a slow marathon after which they will forever hang up the shoes afterwards. Above their desk will be a picture of them at the finish line of the only race they ever finished, next to them will be a guy actually pushing himself through the line, the guy who didn't tell a soul that he was running the marathon. The guy who just killed himself for 26.2 miles who did tons of training, who will look at his time and think, I can improve and go out a week later and start training once more.
And that is the crux, it is defining your life by running.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Starting This Back up
Okay,
At the insistence of a couple of my graduate school friends, I have decided to restart my failed attempt at blogging once again. I will attempt to update this on a regular basis, though don't be surprised if some major changes occur around here one day. Like I actually buy a domain or something for it. So lets try this again, a deep and depressing look into the psyche of Andrew Keppler.
At the insistence of a couple of my graduate school friends, I have decided to restart my failed attempt at blogging once again. I will attempt to update this on a regular basis, though don't be surprised if some major changes occur around here one day. Like I actually buy a domain or something for it. So lets try this again, a deep and depressing look into the psyche of Andrew Keppler.
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