Just an opinion you are probably one of the most ignorant people I have ever met. How dare you say to someone that their obsession, running, is a meaningless and pathetic endeavor. The fact that someone lives and breathes running, that they live a disciplined life in order to be te best possible runner is not selfish and meaningless. The are glorifying their life, they are making something of it, they are putting a whole hearted effort, giving 100% of themselves in order to test the limits of their bodies. They are saying to themselves that they want to be the best they possibly can be. How is this meaningless. If every man in the world would put 100 percent into something the world would be far better off. The fact that the person is simply running in circles around a track is not selfish and meaningless. Their running is inspiring people, every joe-schmo hardcore not so great runner, has some admirer on the neighborhood wishing they could run as hard or care as much as joe-schmo. Do you understand how many lives running has saved. The discipline and self worth of running has given meaning to so many peoples lives, and here you are degrading them saying their obsession is worthless. Running is a micro-lesson of the world. Everything I have ever learned about the world and how to live my life, I have learned through the endeavour of running. I have learned a myriad of lessons that I would have never of learned else where. The monetary wealth of running for me so far has been zero, and maybe never will be much, but the wealth spiritualy,physicaly and emotionaly is not meaningless.
So many kid in kenya would be dead, if there was no running.So many depressed people in the world would have commited suicide if it wasn't for running. So many people would have never of been the doctor they are today if they would have never of ran their hearts off when they were younger. The fact that you have had bad experiences and, you feel you have gained no wealth from running,is so sad. I feel deeply sorry for you, because I wish you could experience all the wealth running has for me. But dont speak in ignorance and say running is worthless, becuase it simply isn't. Its sad that you ran 29:30 and feel that you are better than everyone and need to share you superior knowledge from your high pedastal. But the jury has spoken and they all think your wrong, and if it is so meaningless why do you feel the need to go to letsrun.com and give us your opinion. Maybe subconsciously you know you cant live without running and only hate the sport because you could never be as great as an abdi, and want everyone to stop running because they might end up miserable like you?