Every one of the comments so far has said something that resonates with me. In the 15 years I have been running in organized events, I can't really think of time I was "racing"--except beating Santa Claus in the Holiday Hustles over the years.
The endurance community has proven over and over that it is adaptive, supportive and inclusive…
Every one of the comments so far has said something that resonates with me. In the 15 years I have been running in organized events, I can't really think of time I was "racing"--except beating Santa Claus in the Holiday Hustles over the years.
The endurance community has proven over and over that it is adaptive, supportive and inclusive. So many companies are organizing destination runs designed to foster an appreciation of nature, travel, the list goes on. Racing may wax and wane and there will always be room for the competitive spirit. Likewise, there will always be room for the cooperation, support and joy that is present at so many events.
As an aging walker of half-marathons, I'm all for endurance and fitness challenges, but I often find that courses are not especially "adaptive, supportive and inclusive." Case in point (among many) is the Austin Marathon/Half-Marathon in which HM people have to be off the course within 4 hours or the traffic control is taken away from their course, and sometimes they cut it a bit short. At 60 yrs, I could do it in 3 1/2; now at 80 (on my next birthday) it takes just a little more than 4 for me, but Austin, where I now live, is not an option. My favorite HM has been the Missoula one, where the HM-ers meet up with the Marathoners early enough in the course to allow many more hours of leeway for old folks, slow pokes, and special needs walkers/runners. We're in it for the joy, not the competition, and the Missoula course is absolutely beautiful (as are the locals who put it on).
Every one of the comments so far has said something that resonates with me. In the 15 years I have been running in organized events, I can't really think of time I was "racing"--except beating Santa Claus in the Holiday Hustles over the years.
The endurance community has proven over and over that it is adaptive, supportive and inclusive. So many companies are organizing destination runs designed to foster an appreciation of nature, travel, the list goes on. Racing may wax and wane and there will always be room for the competitive spirit. Likewise, there will always be room for the cooperation, support and joy that is present at so many events.
As an aging walker of half-marathons, I'm all for endurance and fitness challenges, but I often find that courses are not especially "adaptive, supportive and inclusive." Case in point (among many) is the Austin Marathon/Half-Marathon in which HM people have to be off the course within 4 hours or the traffic control is taken away from their course, and sometimes they cut it a bit short. At 60 yrs, I could do it in 3 1/2; now at 80 (on my next birthday) it takes just a little more than 4 for me, but Austin, where I now live, is not an option. My favorite HM has been the Missoula one, where the HM-ers meet up with the Marathoners early enough in the course to allow many more hours of leeway for old folks, slow pokes, and special needs walkers/runners. We're in it for the joy, not the competition, and the Missoula course is absolutely beautiful (as are the locals who put it on).
Really well-said, John 👍