I think that even if you walk the whole distance, completing a marathon is an accomplishment. Whether you can maintain an 8 minute mile or are somewhere around a 15 m/m you deserve that finishers’ medal. Thats why article like “Plodders have a place, but is it in a marathon?” (in the NY Times) make me more than a little upset. 

I sign-up for races of all sorts to push myself towards a fitness goal. When I first started running in 2007 I was a good 30 pounds heavier than what I am now, and I started a “couch to 5k” program to shed some weight. Signing up for a 5k race was a way for me to confirm and celebrate my commitment to personal fitness. When I crossed the finish line nearly 40 minutes after I started I was incredibly proud of myself. Who cares if I was slow? I had just spent the past 12 weeks getting myself to the point where I could run 3 miles without stopping. When we live in a nation where obesity is on the rise and obesity related illness is costing us billions, wouldn’t runners of all sorts want to encourage fitness goals like mine?

Meg’s 5k Race History:
- First 5k, March 2007 : 39:40
- 5k, August 2007: 36:47
- 5k, August 2008 : 33:29
- 5k, August 2009 : 34:10

Meg’s 10k Race History:
- First 10k, April 2009 : 1:10:28
- 10k, August 2009: 1:14:00 (the mountains of WV are brutal!)

Meg’s Tri History:
- First Sprint Tri, May 2008 : 2:01:18
- Sprint Tri, August 2008: 1:50:59
- Sprint Tri, May 2009: 1:55:35
- First Olympic Tri, September 2009: 3:48:18

As you can tell from the times above, I am by no means a super star. Since 2007 my running has gotten better - I can go a bit faster for a bit longer, but even when I have been at my “peak”, thus far, I run a 10 minute mile. During all of my races I follow all the race rules and I listen to course directors. I make sure to stay to the right and let the faster people pass me by. I even cheer for the people who pass me, and I’m just generally there to have a good time. Can elite runners not share the course with a few over-weight but dedicated runners like myself? Well, I frankly don’t care what they think. I’m looking for more races to sign-up for right now :-)

Thanks to Mr. Geoff Zelenka for sending me the article link ;-)