Why has long distance running emerged as the premier sporting activity of the modern-day well to do individual? If you were to picture a runner in your head more than likely the runner is wearing expensive pants, expensive shirt, and expensive socks made of teflon, neoprene, or some other material that sounds like it's used in advanced technological warfare. Also, what about an activity in which punishment and solitude are its primary features draws those society would consider the most succesful of our time? If we carefully examine the leisurely sporting activities of the rich of centuries past we can easily define what would attract people to said activities.
Sport hunting: Horses, guns, dogs with huge ears, and shiny boots that go up to your knee. It was man, long since freed from the burden of hunting (and gathering), returning to his origin in his spare time to act out the eternal battle of man versus beast in the much more comfortable position of being seated upon a steed and behind the barrel of a musket.
Rowing: Short shorts and even shorter hair surrounded with the sweet smell of the Ivy League wafting over the water from the shore. At a time when Britain ruled the world it was probably a good idea to participate in something so British.
Skiing: Turtlenecks, expensive equipment, and getting to say the word "chalet". So clearly this sport is awesome.
Then we come to running: With the 20th century came an exponential growth in personal wealth making activities previously reserved for the very rich available to the average citizen of the western world. Ever more people are now able to participate in whichever sporting activity they desire. Yet for what must be the first time in history, instead of upping the ante and inventing sports like yacht crash derbies or racing endangered species, the most affluent have decided to ... run. It appears as though in this aspect mankind has tried everything and has just given up on trying to entertain and fulfill ourselves with a combination of sport and technology. We are calling it quits, going back to just running around as fast, far, and long as we can.
I run myself. I am my father's son and since he runs, so must I. And come marathon time I'll be there, passing out into a wheelchair at the finish line as before. And it's going to be heaven.
6 comments:
not only are the affluent running, but they run in packs like wild dogs. well-dressed, well-parfumed dogs, only they hump each other behind closed doors as opposed to on the sidewalk or in the park.
have you seen ostrich racing? simply hilarious.
It's no wonder that packs of teenagers in stolen cars are mowing them down on Wellington Crescent, the most affluent of Winnipeg's Crescents.
What are you running from?
The starting line. Unless you know someting about races that I don't.
As I was busting my ass (Heart rate avg. 169, 15km in 1:09) in my last training session before the Leipzig (Germany) marathon, I too thought, "Why am I doing this?" I couldn't come up with anything besides "Because I can." Is that a Nike Women's slogan or am I allowed to answer in such a cliche?
is there a beginning or an end?
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