Just Another Runner

Since the Runner's World Half & Festival I've been working hard to read all of the books I brought home with me. The Big Book of Marathon & Half Training was a good read, albeit very basic. The next one on my pile was 'Going Long' which is an accumulation of stories from Runner's World, edited by David Willey. I had the pleasure of meeting Dave and his son, who both kicked my butt in the 5k portion of the Runner's World Hat Trick.

However, as I read these books from Rodale, owner and publisher of Runner's World Magazine, I find that one common thread ties every bit of editorial together, whether satire, drama, or documentary. The fact is Runner's World seems to think that everyone is a Boston Qualifier or a 3-something marathoner. (Even in the 'Big Book' the little blocks with personal stories often featured 3:xx marathoners.)

The truth? We're not. I am just as amazed and motivated as the next runner when I meet someone who's lost 100 pounds, run 10 marathons, and just BQ'ed... all in the last year. But the fact is that these people are the exception, not the rule. And qualifying for Boston is a big deal because it's HARD. I may never do it and that's okay. What irks me is that every book in the Rodale repertoire acts like it's normal somehow to tick off 7 minute miles on easy runs or do 8 mile tempos at a 5:xx pace. It's NOT!

In fact, the average runner is not a member of this club. Something like 62% of the field in my last marathon finished in the 4-4:30 range. I just missed being middle of the pack yet again. Maybe it's supposed to be motivating to read these times and paces that aren't even remotely on my radar. Maybe it's supposed to be inspiring. Really, though, let's face it. It's getting old. I'm sick of opening books on training and finding that the pace tables stop several minutes shy of my actual training paces. The race time comparison tables end long before my races actually did.

Maybe Runner's World is losing sight of their target audience? From what I see on their forums, the largest numbers are by far in the Beginner's Forum. The elite racing forum is tiny, the ultra room only slightly larger, and the marathoners and training forums still miniscule in comparison. People who are only just trading flip flops for Nikes or jeans for compression shorts are the bulk of the ones who are seeking advice and training tips and motivation. In all honesty, the runners who are at the front either have coaches, are coaches, or might as well be for the most part. Either that or they are inhumanly genetically gifted with a high VO2max, perfectly balanced fast and slow twitch fibers, and speedy recovery cells. In other words, they aren't me and I doubt they are the balance of my readers or my running friends.

Am I the only one noticing this or feeling this way? Is anyone else ready to take all of the Rodale and Runner's World books and pile them for a bonfire?