my light, my life, my salvation...this is what we advocate/preach?

I see your point. There is a fine line between passion and worship and heading down that worship slope can be dangerous. Passion and worship are not the same thing. I think it ridiculous to invest a ton of energy as a fan of a sports team or rock band because they are such spectator-based passions. Secondary passions. Of course, many fans are just going to games or concerts to have a good time, to be entertained. Nothing wrong there and certainly not worship. At least for most runners, the passion to run is an active passion and not the passive passion of a spectator or fan or religious follower. I agree worshiping anything is dangerous, but having passion for nothing is equally mind numbing.

go longer wrote:

I see your point. There is a fine line between passion and worship and heading down that worship slope can be dangerous. Passion and worship are not the same thing. I think it ridiculous to invest a ton of energy as a fan of a sports team or rock band because they are such spectator-based passions. Secondary passions. Of course, many fans are just going to games or concerts to have a good time, to be entertained. Nothing wrong there and certainly not worship. At least for most runners, the passion to run is an active passion and not the passive passion of a spectator or fan or religious follower. I agree worshiping anything is dangerous, but having passion for nothing is equally mind numbing.

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Did Jim Jones become a cross country coach? Someone is snorting the kool aid.

This reminded me of a story that George Sheehan told about a woman whose husband was no longer to be seen in church, because he had taken up running and went long on Sunday morning. She said, "Jim used to be a Methodist, but now he's a runner."

You ever read the speech "This Is Water" by David Foster Wallace? If you haven't, I'd recommend it.

Part of the argument in it is that you don't get a choice whether to worship something or not. Everybody worships. But what you get is the choice of what to worship. And that could be god or money or looks or intellect, etc etc etc. And he essentially is arguing that most things you can choose (or what you will likely choose by default if you fail to choose) will eat you alive.

But I'd put forward that I don't think you can choose to worship anything you want. We all understand, for instance, that not everybody could worship running. I guess I think you kind of fall into your options. And I'd ask: If you end up choosing running, is that really such a bad thing? Keep in mind that with anything, there are going to be better and worse ways of worshiping. Anyway.

Sounds like a washed up elitist old man trying to get attention with his philosophical ramblings. Either way, he's only convincing the people who choose to have faith in what he says. All he has to back up his claims is the fact that it made sense in his own head. People can try to explain worship in any way they want, but it doesn't make them right just because they're on the outside of the debate looking in. He's just another guy trying to make sense of it and failing to convince anyone who can think critically.

Why is a person who worships running any more of a nutjob than you are?

The principal in religion that believes "I am Right and everyone who disagrees with me is wrong" is the basic building block of terrorism.

It might be in your DNA to worship but it's certainly not in mine.

I don't buy the idea that everyone worships something. I don't really feel like I worship anything. Yeah I run a lot and enjoy it, but there's nothing deep to it.

"So Jesus turned water into wine. So what? I once turned a whole student loan into natty light. Your move broly man. MLIB."

Pre is "Jesus" to U.S. college runners.

There are two points that are being overlooked. First, Mary's quote was about a dude using running as his light and savior WHILE TRAPPED IN A MINE! Yes, she obviously applied this to how NYRR views the sport, but I think it's more of a commitment and dedication spiel than a "worship the sport" cult. Secondly, and this is very important, she doesn't advocate running replacing anything, so she's not saying there can't be other important things/a diety in your life. She's only pointing out the importance of dedication to running and healthy living.