Sacramento Running News

Unless there is some egregious error in a post, I almost never revisit something I’ve written here.

Last week, I wrote Going Big, which was a lamentation of sorts on the state of the marathon.

The article was triggered by my reading a newspaper story about Chris Spangenberg’s attempt to set a world record for being the heaviest person to ever complete a marathon. This story sparked considerable, energetic reactions in a number of people.

What was most fascinating to me was how my post served as a sort of Rorschach ink blot for the readers. Many readers resonated with my concerns about the sport, while others saw it as an attack on a specific individual (i.e., Mr. Spangenberg) or slower runners.

In truth, the irritation and frustration that I was trying to express was with two specific issues: the press for not covering running in any meaningful way, and the “marathon training industry” that has sold the idea that everyone can and should run a marathon.

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The world of sports lost one of its true champions today in the passing of marathon great Grete Waitz.

I can’t think of a runner today who enjoys the stature of Grete Waitz in her heyday. Only in the rarest of individuals does one ever find her combination of incredible talent, indomitable spirit, and humility.

In 2007, I had the pleasure of hearing Grete speak at the Boston Marathon Expo. She told of her first run of the New York City Marathon. She was warm, engaging and funny. She charmed the audience with a tale, not of the unbreakable champion, but of the incredible naif. Out of her depth. Overwhelmed by the experience, and difficulty of the marathon, she somehow emerged an unlikely champion.

In 1978, Greta Waitz was the world record holder in the 3000 meters and, as she told the story, her husband thought they should use that to get a free trip to visit America from their native Norway.

The race director of the New York Marathon was the first race to take them up on this, thinking that she would make a good rabbit to help speed the elite women to a fast time.

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