poor marathon times = longer working day?

True or false statement:

The decline in depth of marathoning in the US is a direct effect of the increase in workday hours over the last 10 years.

I know for myself. Married, with a newborn, at age 30, working 30 minutes from home, 11 hours a day (7:15-6:15), running 120 miles a week just does not fit in. If I was working 9-5, fine, yes, I could handle a marathoners load and maybe in 3-4 more years, be one of the guys in the 2:20 range (AND THAT'S A HUGE MAYBE). But with an 11 hour day, seeing my wife and kid is more important than hitting the pavement. Even as it is, if I worked til 5:00, I think I would rather go home and see my family than go for a run.

As it is, I can sneak in 30-40 a week on 5 days (Sat and Sun, and if I'm lucky, 3 times during the week). I'm not complaining. I LOVE my life and willingly put my running career behind me to focus on other things. I just am curious as to what people thought about the amount of time spent running over 100 miles a week and how much time there is in the day. With such long workdays and weeks, it seems to me that we just work too hard to be good marathoners.

lack of PE and increased urbanization and fear which has limited the physical activity of kids. They don't run in school, nordo they play outside until late in the day, nor do they need to walk/bike many miles to where they're going, nor would many parents let them.

Change that word "urbanization" to suburbanization" and you hit the nail on the head. In an urban setting there are sidewalks and such to go places, in a suburban setting there aren't any and everyone must drive to get anywhere, ie go to the market and the such. Changing our settings from real neighborhoods to cluster homes surrounded by major highways have regulated us to pods on wheels.

To add the urban setting would also place people closer to where they work, therefore that 30 minute one-way trip to work (which is actually pretty short compared to many) would be reduced.

soooomie wrote:

True or false statement:

The decline in depth of marathoning in the US is a direct effect of the increase in workday hours over the last 10 years.

False. The decline in monetary support for most of all our track athletes, including marathoners, requires that they hold full time jobs.

Find a new job. What hate what you do? Not get to do what you want? I don't understand people that just put up with things when they are so easy to change.

You make some very valid points and seem to have things in perspective. Just out of curiosity, what do you do for a job with 11 hour work days? And how much have your PR's declined (if at all) since going to 5 days per week?

Look at the Japanese. They have the most crowded, affluent, and mechanized society in the world, and they are kicking the world's ass in the marathon.

The difference in Japan is that the marathon is a popular sport, and it's part of the culture.

Jason

That may be true, also in the US. But it would be for 200 and 300 pound men and women who think they are doing some great thing walk joging the marathon in 4 and half hours. In other words to be good it takes to much time like years. And as Americans we want or need instant gratifaction to do anything.

lack of depth in marathoning (all distance running, really) has a lot to do with lack of popularity which directly results in less monetary support. More than that I think, is the lack of base mileage. I'm not talking about the 2-3 month base in the summer before cross country season. Rather the 8-10 yr. mileage base, required for the body to be able to handle the marathon distance.

Unfortunately, most American distance runners don't start running real mileage 'til college, age 18-19. This means they really aren't ready for great marathons until age 28-29 which is where the human body should be and the rest of the world is peaking. Obviously there are aberrations but we are talking about depth. But I will say that most good American 5k/10k runners won't have the patience to run marathons [while still in their prime] unless it became more popular and more profitable.

What do you guys think?

5:30am to 6:15 5 miles and shower

6:15pm - 8pm 17miles easy

8-10 dinner and bedtime

its all about priorities.

blame it on the wife and kids, not your luxurious 11 hour recovery period.

Jorvack,

First of all, I'm not "blaming" anything on anyone. You and another poster on this thread (can't remember who) make it seem like I am complaining about not having the time to run 120 miles a week. I'M NOT. I did that and made a conscious decision to get married and have kids with the full knowledge I would not be able to run as much anymore. I'm cool with that. No... I WANT THAT!

So piss off. I've done the exact schedule you note above, so I know that can be done, and it was a pretty good part of my life, but one that I outgrew with new priorities and loves. Maybe I should have said "who thinks that the increase in the American workday in addition to family responsibilities has decreased the ability for potential marathoners to train at the level they need to."

So, my point. I threw out a question. I didn't say I don't like the answer. I would rather see my kid and wife the extra hour or 2 a day then go for a run. Honestly, I think anyone who doesn't feel that way has a screw loose.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that running and not being around more will ruin a marriage or that your kids will grow up f'd up because you didn't spend enough time with them, but I will say its pretty f'd up that you would want to go for a run rather than spend the extra hour or 2 with your family or providing for your family.

btw, that was the general "you" not you in particular. Also, despite being POSSIBLE to work 11 hour days and run 120 miles a week, you just don't rest enough to really be at the level you could/should be while running that much.

Well then instead of whining about it on here, just change jobs. You talk about wanting to spend time with your family. Obviously your job is more important then them. 11 hours is not a requirment. What profession are you in? You can't find something better then an 11 hour day? Sad.

Did you miss something? He said he isn't complaining... he is just proposing his hypothesis by using his life as an example. Perhaps you should go back to 11th grade English to learn reading comprehension.

I think you are are correct on one account, that the long work day does have a serious effect on distance running. However, I think the cause is the work and family appeals to the post-collegiate runners now. In the 70s and 80s runners were more inclined to postpone their "real-life" to pursue something they felt more urgent. Now twenty-somethings have a lot more pressure to get a real job and forget about athletic pursuits. Someone said a few posts ago that our society is one that seeks instant gratification. Taking a decent job gives that luxury. Taking a job is just more applealing to many people than putting your life on hold in pursuit of a dream. Living the running life is just too much of a risk. We have to take some risks if we want to get back to the top.

Yeah I read what he said, but he is obviously just spinning what he said. This whole thread sounds like an excuse for him to cry about not being able to run because of his job (yes excuses).

Working an 11 hour work day doesn't equal a "real" job. I have a real job and make good money and work 8 to 9 hours per day an manage to get my running done. It's about choices, people that work crappy jobs are just too lazy to look for a good one.

jorvack wrote:

6:15pm - 8pm 17miles easy

Your **easy** pace is 6:10 / mile?

sorry buddy, I love my job and wouldn't do anything else. Not even professional runner (assuming I had the talent, which I don't). So you're wrong. Not complaining at all.

How much I make and what I do is none of your business, but since you asked... much more than webb, much less than Arod. I'm a director level employee.

from your posts here, to answer your original question, it looks like YOU work hard too hard to be a good marathoner. i think most people who wanted to do something in running wouldn't go into the lifestyle and job you choose.