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Avocados Number said:
As a final, somewhat philosophical observation: I'm pretty sure that most 2:30 marathoners would be better off spending more time "training" to be good husbands, fathers, doctors, teachers, and so on, and less time training to qualify for the Olympic trials. So let's not pretend that it would be so horrible to have fewer post-collegiate men chasing their athletic dreams with 120-mile weeks instead of moving on with life.
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As a reasonable, somewhat logical inference: I'm pretty sure you are a complete douchebag. I hate to make judgments based on a few posts from a messageboard, but I'll go out on a limb for this one.
Numbers, times, and effort are all individual and arbitrary, and there is always someone running more miles, faster, and harder than somebody else. There is no end to that argument, so I won't argue about the value of a six-hour versus a two-hour marathon. Every person's effort has intrinsic value whether you deign to endorse it or not.
What I take issue with are the assumptions in your post: 1. Those without the requisite talent who train at a high level are somehow wasting their time, and are inadequate in their personal, family, and professional lives because of said training. 2.That training at a high level to achieve a goal is not somehow part of, and, in fact, is contrary to, living a well-rounded and satisfying life.
You're wrong on both points. I read a half dozen blogs on a regular basis written by people past their 'prime years' with wives, two or more children, and full-time jobs, who are running 80-120 miles every week and chasing their own personal goals. To suggest that the training they do detracts from rather than adds to the quality of their own, their family's, or their professional lives is ridiculous. Read some of these blogs yourself, and show me an example from any of them that supports your contentions. Here are a few to start with:
http://championseverywhere.blogspot.com
http://rubbishrunner.blogspot.com
http://downeastrunning.blogspot.com
Goals are the driving force behind every single action made in every single person's life. Fortunately, it's not up to Avocados Number to decide which goals are worthy of pursuit.
And as far as the standard changing to 2:19 goes, I say 'do or do not, there is no try.' At least I still have the opportunity to participate if I make the standard. Anybody with four years, two legs, and a lot of ambition should just be happy the OT qualifier still exists.
Eric Sondag
http://www.runnorth.com