Comments on: Now I know why I’m not an endurance athlete

By: Rufus

Rufus — Thu, 17 May 2018 21:58:47 +0000

I think it’s an entirely personal thing. Some folks have the bug, others do not. Neither side can likely understand the other.

I read David Epstein’s, “The Sports Gene” and one chapter (I’m fairly certain it was chapter 14) gave me insight into this. The chapter begins with the story of a woman who simply must move, nearly all day long. The chapter gives other examples of such people, many of them athletes to some extent and I saw myself in the description. I don’t have the traits of ADD or ADHD at all, but I loathe sitting still and love to be active, preferably sweating to the point of exhaustion. It’s simply how I’m wired and it’s likely genetic.

Like all human traits there are almost certainly many reasons some folks choose to subject their bodies to tests of endurance. No matter what my tempo or pace I always find it interesting to learn what I am capable of, although I am critical of people who take it to the point of selfishness or a high risk of harm.

By: om

om — Thu, 17 May 2018 21:25:13 +0000

Jaurek also earns income from sponsors of products sold to trail runners and ultra runners. Being at the top of the game has monetary compensations.

It may be hard to make a living as the top player in Frisbee Golf? 🙂

By: parker

parker — Thu, 17 May 2018 04:01:05 +0000

GB,

Manuel labor under adverse conditions is different than ‘working out’ or even runnining/jogging a marathon. I am not saying running a marathron is no big deal, it is a real accomplishment. Hard manuel labor is a horse of another color.

By: om

om — Thu, 17 May 2018 02:17:14 +0000

“Art for art’s sake,” no so much?

By: miklos000rosza

miklos000rosza — Thu, 17 May 2018 02:02:29 +0000

om,

Yes, artists and authors and most musicians are exhibitionists. Absolutely.

By: Paul In Boston

Paul In Boston — Thu, 17 May 2018 00:39:25 +0000

ArmyMom, don’t worry, there are lots of people who run the Marathon here who don’t qualify for a number. For starters, there are the Reserves who start at 5am and do the course wearing 60 pound packs. They walk. Even if you don’t make it very far, so what! You’ve had fun. There are always lots of people and runners who straggle in all day long. The route is a party with the Wellesley girls handing out kisses (at least they used to) and the Boston College kids reviving the runners at the top of Heartbreak Hill. There are lots of vendors and families yelling encouragement to runners. I live close to HH and used to take my boys and their friends and lots of pocket change for goodies and balloons and junk food. Great fun.

And then there’s Boston, a beautiful old place with lots to see and do. Visit the USS Constitution, the oldest ship in the Navy. Wander around the North End and follow the Freedom Trail past the Old North Church, one if by land…, to Paul Revere’s House plus a ton of really good restaurants. Then follow it into Boston to see the places where the Revolution began.

Get off your feet and go on a whale watch, then follow it up with seafood straight off the docks at one of the many restaurants right on the harbor.

There’s lots more to Boston than getting out of breath and sweaty.

By: Geoffrey Britain

Geoffrey Britain — Wed, 16 May 2018 22:35:03 +0000

parker,

Now that’s a marathon…

By: om

om — Wed, 16 May 2018 22:22:28 +0000

ArmyMom:

I was younger then. I’m slower now.

I’ve never run Boston, but my older brother did, he was faster than me, now he’s into Tango dancing for fun and exercise(?). I did have finish time in 1990 at Napa Valley that was fast enough to qualify for Boston. All my marathons have been in CA or the northwest. I’m trying to get back in shape for another, as the last one was Portland in 2001.

Hypothermia, yep, that would do it to you.

Time files. Keep after it!

By: ArmyMom

ArmyMom — Wed, 16 May 2018 21:09:04 +0000

om – Sorry you passed out during your marathon. You are a super fast runner to have walked 4 miles and finished with a 7:45 average pace! And wow….your regular pace is about 6:30….man I would have to wear skates to even get near you for a few minutes. Have you ever run Boston and did you see the awful conditions this year? I have several friends who DNF Boston this year because of hypothermia. I never will make it to Boston since I am a 10-11 min pace runner. I am a proud Turtle runner. 🙂

By: parker

parker — Wed, 16 May 2018 20:54:37 +0000

Ever try, as a 15 year old, to spend 8 hours in the hay loft stacking 60 pound bales where the temperature is 110+ and the humidity is around 90%? You are soaked with sweat, chugging water, and covered in hay chaff, and there is still 5 more acres of alfalfa to go.