Am I Too Slow To Run Races?

Image Credit: www.solvencyiinews.com

I was reading a blog today, when I came across a comment that frankly, really ticked me off.  I'm not kidding when I say my heart was racing, as I was writing a response to the comment.  I was really mad.  I still am.

I will be civil and I won't call this person out by name, nor tell you where you can find the comment.  I'm not here to start a war, just share my own opinion, just like this person did.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and I get that.  As an additional note, the topic of the blog post where this person commented really had little to do with their comment.

Verbatim Comment:  "Coming from a track background and having run from an early age, there are a lot of people I think who shouldn’t run races… I believe races should have cut off times, maybe 2h15/2h30 for a half, and if you can’t finish in that time start on a shorter race. Do some training before you start wanting to run races. Over 2 hours of exercise is a lot and you shouldn’t be taking on something like that if your aren’t ready for it.  All that said lots of people want to walk a half and that has pushed away cut-off times opening the door to people who shouldn’t be lining up."

I have ran around 25 half marathons.  All of them have been between 2:23 and about 2:35, with a few slower than that in the beginning.  According to this comment, apparently I shouldn't be running races, because if I run this slow it is clearly due to the fact that I am *unprepared*.  I guess I need to go back to the drawing board, and maybe start doing 5Ks or 10Ks again, until I can increase my speed.

Wow.  I just honestly couldn't believe this comment.  While, I agree that some people do line up to the start line of a race unprepared, that's on them.  And, even if they do, they could still run a 2 hour half marathon because they are just naturally faster.  What does race time have to do with being prepared?  And a 2:15 cutoff - well that's right about mid-pack.  I'd be thrilled with a 2:15 half.  Do you really think we should cut 50% of the runners out of races?

I am a slower runner.  I own that.  I work hard, I train hard, but I am slow.  My training has paid off with faster times and often new PRs at races.....you know why.... BECAUSE I AM PREPARED.....BECAUSE I TRAINED. 

And do we really want to discourage people from attempting things they might have thought impossible?  I LOVE watching people at the end of the race.  That person that has the sweeper behind them, who's worried they won't make that cutoff....they PREPARED for this race day.  They may be 200 pounds overweight, but they are doing something extraorindary.  They got off their couch and started walking.  They are trying to find their way to health and fitness and a better life.  They worked to be there.  They didn't just show up and think *maybe* I'll walk a half marathon today.  No, they put in miles to be prepared to walk that half marathon, and hope with everything in them that they finish in time that day.

In general I think the blog world is so welcoming to all atheletes of all abilites.  This comment just really set me off.  It seemed so mean.  Maybe it wasn't intended to come across the way that it did, but that's how I read and interpretted it.  Like I said at the beginning, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and this one is mine.

So, what's your opinion?