Runners World - The worst thing for American Distance Running?

The MonBRO Doctrine wrote:

No. What serious runner reads RW for training advice?

Bingo.

Finding Jesus

Oakleys

Runners World Magazine

You know all those "__________ For Dummies" books? That's what RW is. I don't mean that in a bad way, just that it's more aimed to an entry level participant.

In case no one noticed, there's a fairly significant difference between a monthly magazine and a daily web site. Magazines don't even try to do news anymore--not Time, not Newsweek. They have all morphed into something quite different from what they once were. RW is about training, health, fitness, etc, and it's monthly appearance is greeted by more participants than any track meet or road race in the world.

As far as news goes, the one page of the RW web site devoted to news does an excellent summary job, thanks to Peter Gambaccini, whose reporting and Chats have been appearing there for five years longer than the entire lifespan of LR.

http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/03/01/racing-news-morning-report-12/

And I think that the serious competitive side being treated as a side bar is what gets some LRC posters upset.

RW is a participant, as opposed to a competitor, magazine. So, it makes sense from that perspective. They make a product for a specific audience. They make money. Boom goes the dynamite. No problems there.

However, in a sport where large-scale participation is promoted over understanding the sport overall and supporting the dedicated elite core, hardcore competitors are justly offended. It appears as outsiders coming in and looting the coffers the competitors work so hard for. This is a huge problem for T&F and promoting participation over competition does not translate into tangible financial support our athletes need.

Do elite bikers complain about "Bicycling" magazine which is the biking equivalent to RW?

Do hardcore hunters/fishermen complain about Field and Stream?

Too much elitism and insecurity here. As if a magazine geared for hobby runners is "destroying the sport." Get over it.

Not criticizing the last post, but there isnt much to "understanding" long distance running. He who gets from point A to point B the fastest wins. Most people get that if you sprint the first 100 meters of a 5K , that isnt good strategy. Sure there is a general lack of understanding as to the sweat and time of real training, and I think that is what eats at the typical letsrun poster.

By "understanding" I mean "knowing".

the reason why alot of people on letsrun read Runners World is because they are in fact hobby joggers. RW isn't a good magazine for anyone other than hobby joggers but that doesnt mean it is hurting the sport

Finding Jesus

Oakleys

Runners World Magazine

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Speaking of, whether or not RW is ruining running is debatable, but it's making conversation about it PC and lame.

I was all in the LetsRun mode of jabbing back and forth and having a good old time just being a right pain and I went over to an RW forum (that I was reluctant to be a part of anyway, but that's just my own damn shame) and wore that face and got read the riot act by a fuel-belt sporting suburban runner momma after making a Jesus joke. Good stuff. Little known scientific fact: Apparently, one's sense of humor departs around hour 5 of a marathon and never returns.

NFL (No Fun League) wrote:

Finding Jesus

Oakleys

Runners World Magazine

_______________________________________

Speaking of, whether or not RW is ruining running is debatable, but it's making conversation about it PC and lame.

I was all in the LetsRun mode of jabbing back and forth and having a good old time just being a right pain and I went over to an RW forum (that I was reluctant to be a part of anyway, but that's just my own damn shame) and wore that face and got read the riot act by a fuel-belt sporting suburban runner momma after making a Jesus joke. Good stuff. Little known scientific fact: Apparently, one's sense of humor departs around hour 5 of a marathon and never returns.

Just be thankful for the free, open, frontier-style atmosphere here at LRC. Any damage that RW is doing to the sport is clearly being counterbalanced by LRC.

If it wasn't for Runners World, you would have to look elsewhere to find people to belittle and mock. Your smug self-satisfaction score would drop and you might actually go a day on this earth without being a dick to someone. We simply can't let that happen.

or, maybe here's a thought.. instead of trying to claim that RW is nothing more than a joke..and insist on how much better you are without it - take a look at yourself. you're sitting on here bashing a running magazine/website. shouldn't you be out RUNNING since you are sooo much better than anyone who reads RW??

The More you Know! wrote:

If it wasn't for Runners World, you would have to look elsewhere to find people to belittle and mock. Your smug self-satisfaction score would drop and you might actually go a day on this earth without being a dick to someone. We simply can't let that happen.

Excellent. I don't get the harsh criticism. OK, someone wants to have a good career, a wife, and a family. They ran in HS and still like it. They can't train 100 mpw and make running their #1 priority.

I have many friends who are just that. They are in awe of me when I win an AG award (and I'm nothing special).

But, their hobby joggerness makes all these races possible.

AND- they have PR's to chase, SO courses have to be guarenteed accurate. When I first startted running no one cared of a 6 mile race was 5.8 or 6.2 we cared about out racing the other guys.

We have certified courses to satisy everyone.

Most of Runners World I don't mind. But the part I hate, and it seems like they have an article every issue, are the "10 foods to make you a better runner" or any of the eat this/don't eat this articles. I think anyone that has been running a while (serious racers and casual runners) has a grasp on what foods work well for them. Do we really need another article on why we should eat blueberries or some such thing...

Agreed. But what the folks bashing much of the RW mentality are often talking about is that racing, for many people, is this weird, seemingly illogical blend of being tough and merciless on your own body and on your competition, and simultaneously loving the heck out of your body and your competition.

Running hard hurts, but we love it, regardless of placement or speed. I think the reason some LR-ers bust on the RW mentality is that it's ushered in a softer approach that actually has more rules regarding decorum and inlcusion that LR has regarding smugness and exclusion. That's what I mean when I talk about a sense of humor. Lighten up, Francis.

Are there people here who get some self-satisfaction by insulting others? Duh. But every time someone does, you can be sure there's going to be a quick response from some enlightened self-appointed watchdog who derides that guy for having some fun and busting someone's chops, until the whole thing winds up at a Hitler reference, which I will not ma... Crap!

Rw forums aren't as bad as the active site plus RW gives a little insight into competitive runners and their training. While I'm a 30mpw 18:xx 5k guy that would fit better at Rw, I love the sport from mid distance track to the marathon and Rw'ers could care less. Their seems to be no middle ground between lrc and Rw where 80 mpw is low and 50+mpw is crazy. The dedication to training and pushing the limits is really a 1% vs 99% situation where you need the 99% to be an elitest douchebag. I make fun of the color coordinated outfits and fuel belts in a 5k and when I tell people I run I feel like that's what they know about runners. Thats frustrating even being dog slow if I was as fast as some of you I'd be a little more angry. Matching socks and visors are embarrassing but I don't think it's ruining the sport.

people should be thankful for a magazine that draws a lot of fans to the sport...if it wasn't for those people signing up for races, there would hardly be any prize money funds available for the elites.

you certainly arent gnna get as many people to pay just to watch the race.

regardless wrote:

or, maybe here's a thought.. instead of trying to claim that RW is nothing more than a joke..and insist on how much better you are without it - take a look at yourself. you're sitting on here bashing a running magazine/website. shouldn't you be out RUNNING since you are sooo much better than anyone who reads RW??

Was that aimed at me? Because I don't think I really "bashed" RW. All I said was 1) that it was aimed more toward recreational runners (i.e. people looking to run more for fun and fitness than for competition), and 2) that neither that demographic nor a magazine aimed at it hurts competitive running in America.

I have not read RW since they ran the article that said "White Men Can't Run". I can buy the magazine or not, though, so I don't.

What hurts our sport more is Nike. Lebron James = 23 million sponsored by Nike. How much money do they give runners?

I don't buy Nike. I don't read RW.