Why Go Long and Not Fast

This was originally going to be titled, "An Open Letter to Joe Friel" but after his retraction and clarification in his following post, I think it's been covered. So instead of Joe Friel bashing (I really do enjoy his blog: www.trainingbible.com), how about some questions, some food for thought concerning the psychology of sports and humanity in general. Joe's recent blog was about how the sport of running has changed such that the "cool factor" has gone from "how fast?" to "how far?" There's merit in that question but one of the things I objected to in the blog was the fact that he implied that there's no honor in "just finishing" an Ironman (insert any long distance event here - marathon, ultra, etc.). I personally had a problem with his dig on the "silly tattoo" but that's just me being defensive because, you know...I am the proud owner of one of those silly tattoos. His last line is it's easier to just finish than to go fast. There are so many things wrong with that statement I hardly know where to begin. For those who don't know, Joe Friel is a legend in the sports of running and triathlon. I personally own three of his books (which are excellent I might add). He's made an absolute fortune on the sports and has coached athletes for decades. So why would he say that it's easier to finish than to go fast? Is he: 1) that out of touch with the non-elite tier of athletes and 2) human psychology in general? His retraction made his point a little more clear - setting the same goal year after year doesn't improve you as a human being. Overall, though, his comments brought some interesting questions to mind. I got a real kick out of the comments that flowed as a result of the post. 99% of them were people jumping on the "I love Joe Friel" bandwagon saying how right he was. Many people vented that they get mad when people ask them about their racing and are judged negatively when they respond that they only do sprints or Olympic distance especially if the offender had never done a triathlon themselves. Seriously? This entire issue isn't about racing or triathlon or distance anything. This is about humans juding other humans. No one wants to be judged especially by someone they consider inferior (for not having participated at all). Do you see the irony there? No one wants to be judged...by someone they consider inferior. 'nuff said. Ironman itself is a business (an a very successful one at that) - that change in sports from fast to distance isn't the fault of Ironman. It's selling an identity. You pay $500 and spend countless hours and dollars in the months prior to hear when you finish, "You are an IIIIIROOOOOONNMMMMAAAAANNNN!!!" You get to wear the (silly) tattoo. You get bragging rights. You get the indentity of being someone who's worked hard enough to cover 140.6 miles in less than 17 hours. There's a reason IM gives you 17 hours. This is the IM catch that nets it so much money. It makes it accessible to the average person. If it were limited to 12 hours, your field (and hence money making potential) would be severley restricted because the number of athletes would be significantly smaller. There wouldn't be the drama. People love drama; they pay for it at the movie theater, they love soap operas. Drama sells. Americans love stories of 75 year old nuns kicking ass. Not only that but it sells and makes money for every facet of the sport: nutrition, gear, apparel, magazines, books, gyms, clubs, races...and on and on. The ripple affect of IM is huge and goes far beyond just distance sports. IM has been the wakeup call for so many non-elite people to get off their ass and make something happen. Unfortunately, we don't get to define our sport and we shouldn't. Joe doesn't own the rights on how successful athletes are defined and the sport will change again in the coming years. Even though I've competed in countless triathlons, I don't get to bitch when the sport changes in the future. If I don't like it, I vote with my wallet and take my money elsewhere. Joe's blog entry seemed off the mark to me because he seems to forget that many people who are buying his books (one is called "Going Long"; ironically enough not "Going Fast") are the ones who are "just finishing". After reading, it sounded to me like Joe felt marginalized because what he considers the marker of athletic achievement is no longer considered that by the average American. My final question is the the people who commented on his blog. To those people who get angry when someone judges them weak because they haven't completed an ultra distance race - why do you care? Racing is something we do, not who we are - do you feel personally attacked? Get over it already. At the end of the day, we're not Ironpeople, we're still just boys and girls tryin' to get by so why do people get their undies in a bundle over someone who wants to judge them as lesser? If you also get torqued because someone judges you as weak because you drink Zima, then there's nothing I can do for you anyway (both the judging thing and the Zima...) If they're so clueless that they don't understand that doing a successful Olympic distance is every bit as challenging as doing a successful IM, they their opinion isn't worth anything anyway so saddle up and leave them in the dust. The same week that Joe's blog came out, Alan Couzens wrote one with the finsher (in reference to the endurance lifestyle) that said, "the journey is the destination." Couldn't be more true. It just so happens that the average American who doens't understand triathlon and running thinks that the journey to a fast 5k time just isn't as sexy as the journey to finishing an IM or marathon. These are probably the same people that wouldn't understand why someone would take a lesser paying job to spend more time with family and friends. Having spent probably way too much time wondering why I train for distance races (always have - love to go long), I have just wasted another hour here but again the journey is the destination and I needed something to write about... In any case, I will likely never do a double Roughwater, a Double IM, an ultra marathon or anything else that crazy and don't consider myself lesser for not having done so regardless of how someone might judge me. What I have done already has trained me for the real endurance race that is life, has taught me patience, mental endurance and to face my own artificially set limitations. So Joe, that's why I think it's ok "just to finish". IM doesn't breed or reward mediocrity as is suggested. If it does then someone better tell Sister Madonna that she's one mediocre nun. Aloha Nui Loa P.S. To my younger sister, I still love you even though you don't run races :) You're an endurance athlete of the best kind. Mom with two kids and full-time job - now that's endurance!!