RunStrong/ LiveStrong
November 8th 2006 11:13
Lance Armstrong made his marathon debut this past weekend, and in an impressive performance, broke the 3 hour barrier. Any runner will tell you that under 3 hours is a good time. For women, it is a great time. He qualified for the Boston Marathon, arguably the most prestigious marathon in the world, on a training regime that could best be described and substandard, haphazard, and plagued with interruptions. In a sport where long runs, sometimes up to 24 miles, are the backbone of any preparation, the man in yellow did one two hour run in the weeks leading up to the event. Why? After dedicating 20 of his life to cycling, Armstrong admitted that he did not want to watch his diet, resume an existence consisting of only eat-sleep-train. He asserted that he did not want to compete, he ran to finish, to enjoy himself, but he sheepishly admits that a fiercely competitive athlete still emerges when he runs. Obviously, Armstrong posessed tremendous fitness and natural ability. In his marathon debut, he ran a time most of us dream of running.
Many people don’t realise that Armstrong’s ex-wife Kirsten is a marathoner. She has lowered her personal best to less than 4 hours, and is on the verge of a Boston Marathon qualifying time. She became a public figure during her marriage to Armstrong and over the course of the disintegration thereof. Armstrong (she has not shed her married name) also attracts a lot of media attention for her running, writes and speaks publicly about how running helped her through her divorce, a separation she openly mourns. Every year, she runs the New York Marathon, and in a recent issue of Runner’s World, admitted that she was happy knowing that somewhere on the start line, “the man in yellow” would be there too.
Why does Lance Armstrong need to enter the same marathon as his ex-wife? Perhaps it is an act of support, of solidarity, and maybe I am far too cynical. But why in New York, and why the sport for which his wife has made herself a name? There are far more prestigious marathons, with a greater number of participants. It seems to be too much of a coincidence….
Recent articles published by the New York Road Runners describe Armstrong’s marathon triumph, but some also admit that it detracted from the elite athletes running world class times. The best up and coming marathoners from around the globe gather in New York each year to test themselves on the course that winds it’s way through the city, and this year, they received a fraction of the media attention they usually would due to Armstrong’s presence. In a sport when a brief interview, photo in the newspaper, or mention on television can give a runner notoriety, perhaps leading to badly needed funding, Armstrong stole the show from athletes who were there, and needed that attention to gain a livelihood. Granted Armstrong will not be stealing endorsement deals from up and coming long distance runners, but the sport of marathon running has few heroes who are household names. By taking the attention that is usually reserved for these athletes, Armstrong inadvertently did the world of long distance running a disservice.
I am not trying to argue that Armstrong ought not run in races. He should, he is a fabulous role model for young people to get moving, get active, and for those in his demograph to get off the couch. He is joined by the liked of Mohammed Ali, Wane Gretzki and Nadia Comaneci as one of the greatest athletes to have ever lived. However, by simply being Lance Armstrong, any sporting action he does will gain media attention, and as such, he needs to tread carefully. One also has to wonder, if a runner (say, Kirsten Armstrong) was able, through some supernatural event, to enter the Tour de France, how would lance react, knowing all eyes were on someone else? But, again, I have been known to be a bit cynical…..
Recent articles published by the New York Road Runners describe Armstrong’s marathon triumph, but some also admit that it detracted from the elite athletes running world class times. The best up and coming marathoners from around the globe gather in New York each year to test themselves on the course that winds it’s way through the city, and this year, they received a fraction of the media attention they usually would due to Armstrong’s presence. In a sport when a brief interview, photo in the newspaper, or mention on television can give a runner notoriety, perhaps leading to badly needed funding, Armstrong stole the show from athletes who were there, and needed that attention to gain a livelihood. Granted Armstrong will not be stealing endorsement deals from up and coming long distance runners, but the sport of marathon running has few heroes who are household names. By taking the attention that is usually reserved for these athletes, Armstrong inadvertently did the world of long distance running a disservice.
I am not trying to argue that Armstrong ought not run in races. He should, he is a fabulous role model for young people to get moving, get active, and for those in his demograph to get off the couch. He is joined by the liked of Mohammed Ali, Wane Gretzki and Nadia Comaneci as one of the greatest athletes to have ever lived. However, by simply being Lance Armstrong, any sporting action he does will gain media attention, and as such, he needs to tread carefully. One also has to wonder, if a runner (say, Kirsten Armstrong) was able, through some supernatural event, to enter the Tour de France, how would lance react, knowing all eyes were on someone else? But, again, I have been known to be a bit cynical…..
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