Obama/economy to blame for slowing of running times across country?

Training Advice/Discussion General

10 years ago 10/11/2013 9:39am EDT

In the WSJ, there is followup column to Kevin Helliker's article about how American road race times are so slow nowadays.There is a possible explanation no one thought of the original thread. I had to chuckle at this quote:

Youngcoach wrote:
Some young people said that baby boomers had wrecked the economy, creating so competitive a market for today's college graduates that few had time for endurance training. "Everybody I know is just struggling to get a job, much less train for a marathon," said Tyson Hartnett, a 27-year-old entrepreneur, writer and sales professional.

Helliker's new article is here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304171804579123661553124776.html?KEYWORDS=KEVIN+HELLIKER

The original discussion of his first article is here:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=5405848

10 years ago 10/11/2013 9:42am EDT

re: leaning to the right

Seems like you'd have more time to train.

10 years ago 10/11/2013 11:14am EDT

re: leaning to the right

The economy's improved consistently ever since Obama's policies started to come into play. Imagine if he had been able to add significant job programs after the first two years, fixing infrastructure, etc..

10 years ago 10/11/2013 4:10pm EDT

re: leaning to the right

This may be the most ridiculous I have read.

10 years ago 10/11/2013 7:58pm EDT

re: leaning to the right

The opposite is true.

When I was really nailing my road races, I was mad as hell at the economy. When I secured employment, though I kept training, the killer instinct wasn't quite there.

I'm working on getting it back.

10 years ago 10/11/2013 10:19pm EDT

re: Daryl Basarab

It's basically because 95% of "races" aren't races anymore. They are viewed by the public as charity events and nothing else.

Also you have many more people entering "races" just to lose weight. These folks are not obsessed with times or being competitive. They just want to do a 5k run and have a great time. You would hardly ever see this group running at all 10-30years ago. With obesity skyrocket people need a way to lose weight and feel accomplished doing it. Add to this groups like underarmour and crossfit and their push for toning BS fitness and you can see why it's beginning to look the way it is today

10 years ago 10/11/2013 10:41pm EDT

re: leaning to the right

didn't WSJ have an article about how the recession pushed more people into post-collegiate running?

10 years ago 10/11/2013 10:51pm EDT

re: fadsfads

The opposite is true. As the economy declines, disenfranchised citizens that were 4:10/8:30/30:30-collegs-types that are unable to find employment will say: "hey, if i can't make much working, i might as well keep training hard" and 1 in 4 of those people becomes a 'Jason Hartmann'.

It's called 'opportunity cost' - a term liberal-america has attempted to remove from the conversation.

Now, abstract this concept to a 14-yo east african with a starving family and you might add a tad of reserve to the genetics conversation.

10 years ago 10/12/2013 2:37am EDT

re: leaning to the right

The fart I just ripped stinks. I blame Obama. Because the beef I had for dinner... idk, it's just his fault.

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