Boston Marathon – Who are the “Real” Runners?
April 7th, 2009 at 12:13On the celebration of Patriots’ Day, the Boston Marathon makes it appearance as an annual rite of spring on April 20. Runners all over talk about it, train for it, live for it. But only those who qualify, run it. Boston is the only marathon – other than the Olympic marathon – that requires a qualifying time to get in…for regular runners, that is.
Recently, I read an article by Amby Burfoot about “Boston qualifiying.” He cited a statistic that “only 10.4% of marathon finishers achieve a BQ.” That is pretty impressive: Of the thousands of people who run marathons, only 10.4% run fast enough to get into Boston.
I know many friends who have qualified for and run Boston, and I am proud and happy for them. It is a great achievement. Personally, I have attempted to qualify many times but have come up just short of my BQ. I’m okay with it now, but that was not always my outlook.
Amby’s article brought this back into the front of my brain when I saw the article sidebars entitled “Real Runners.” It has long been implied, and conveyed in articles and books, that the only “real runners” are Boston qualifiers. I used to buy into this thinking … about others and myself. That is, until I met “real” runners.
Don’t misunderstand me. Boston qualifiers are indeed “real” runners; however, I just do not believe that they are the ONLY “real” runners.
“Real” runners:
- love to run
- raise money for worthy causes
- sacrifice their “time” to stop and help a fallen runner
- run a race with a first-timer
- teach others about running
- sometimes do a run-walk
- encourage beginners and veterans alike
- love to talk about running
- love to listen others’ stories about running
- feel nervous for their friends who are running a big race
- are happy for their friends who run a great race
- believe in themselves – that they are real runners
- and sometimes…even qualify for Boston
April 7th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
You always bring a balancing perspective to the running community, Coach Jenny. Being one of the “real runners”, I always know that it is how I run the race is important, and not as important as how FAST I run/walk/trot/shuffle the race. C U soon for the Illinois Marathon and Half! RC
April 7th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Here here Coach Jenny. I find that running shares with nearly every pursuit, “the problem of universals.” That is to say, even those that qualify for Boston, can always find themselves thinking they aren’t quite there if they’re not qualifying for the Olympics.
Your blog really hits on all the main points, so for the sake of not being redundant, I’ll attempt to conclude with this: getting into running, my eureka moment, was when I learned the term “PR” and what it meant. I liken pursuing a PR to what my Dad always says about golf, you’re not playing the players, you’re playing the course. If one’s aim is simply to PR or enjoy the race course, they’re there — that to me is being a real runner. For me, it’s like the categorical imperative of running, I just thought of it: “a real runner is one who runs for the sake of running.”
April 8th, 2009 at 5:05 am
George Sheehan said the only difference between a jogger and a runner is a entry blank. Can someone define at what pace you are jogging and then it becomes running? And why would you have to race to be called a runner? I tend to think that if you call yourself “runner”, you do it because it is a lifestyle you lead. At some level you are committed to not only making your life journey a healthy one, but to see the world by putting one foot in front of the other regardless of pace. You talk about it to others and you are more than willing to spread the “word” about the benefits of your passion, your desire. I don’t believe that a middle of the pack, who will never qualify for Boston because of the time standard is any less of a runner than a elite athlete. We are all merely trying to the best that we can with the tools, body we have been given.
April 8th, 2009 at 6:12 am
I agree! I also think real runners have to run – it keeps our sanity – and it doesn’t matter what the pace :0) I’d love to qualify for Boston some day – but for me, that may always be a dream – so I’ll do the smaller races and enjoy every step!
April 12th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Wonderful post! I live in a suburb, and everyone here seems to ‘get’ that a real runner runs, has a passion for it, and incorporates it into a healthy lifestyle. Some are fast, some are slow- and we are all runners!
April 16th, 2009 at 4:34 am
Great to be with you and all our real runners at the inaugural Illinois Marathon. C U later.
July 14th, 2009 at 5:29 am
I’ve never been a “real runner” though when I was younger I aspired to be! You have a great site here; you’re passionate about running and it shows.
July 14th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I’ve never been serious enough to run the Boston Marathon and I had no idea that they had a qualifying time requirement (not surprised though). Still it is a serious race for many and so I can see why they have it.
I think as long as you can allow the people who are really there trying to win it (let them go first) then there should be rules in place to let as many who want to run after them in just for all the reason’s you stated in your post. I’m sure it would be a great experience for many instead of just for the few.
By the way I used to run in the race in Falmouth (Cape Cod) many years ago and that’s a fun race to be in finishing up at the Heights Beach in Falmouth where I’m originally from.