When I started running, it would have been very useful to have it drilled in to me that all "running" is not equal, and doesn't have to be at a fast clip, until that makes sense. Of course running 26 miles seems crazy based on what it feels like to "run" a mile when you're untrained and trying to go fast. Yes, that guide starts out suggesting a run/walk routine - however I think it would do new runners much service to explain what kind of paces there are, what they feel like, and why most of your running should be done at an easy one.
> First pick a race.
Why?! It really bugs me that so much of current running culture seems to be about earning that 13.1/26.2 sticker for your car, or getting that "Finisher" t-shirt. Certainly, completing races and achieving goals in general benefits our psyche and sense of accomplishment.
But running can be so much more than a sequence of training runs leading up to the all important race. Runs should be enjoyed. To me, one of the secrets of running, or at least - something that takes time to learn - is that running becomes much more enjoyable with experience, and you may have to put in some grind time to get there. When running 3 miles leaves you feeling completely wiped, the "runners' high" seems alien and unimaginable. As you get more experienced, AND learn to pace yourself, 3 miles seems short, and you probably won't feel into the groove until you're at least 1-2 miles in. When you have the fitness to casually run 5 miles through the park or on your favorite trail and feel good afterward - THAT's where running really starts to add balance and enjoyment to your day, imho.
When you've leveled up a bit, running becomes personal time, meditative, and leaves you refreshed. While people may discover this on their own - encouraging the mindset of, "Pick a distance, plop down some money for a bib, and train" - seems to encourage people to treat running as a means to an end, where the end (the race) just means it is time to pick a new goal (longer race, better time.)
Why not suggest people find a beautiful trail within an hour of where they live, that would take them a few hours to hike, and then run until they can experience the joy of gliding through that trail in a fraction of the time?
There's a lot of great information in that article, but I suppose I feel like it falls in to the trap of spending much more time on the "how" of running - how to pick a training plan, what shoes and socks to buy, how to eat, how to avoid injury, etc... - and not enough time on why it's worth it to put in all that work. Other than for the likes you'll get when you make your half-marathon completed Facebook post.
I'm in full agreement that running's best enjoyed, but be fair to the writing and the audience. In the very next sentence, she explained exactly why to start by picking a race, and it wasn't about earning stickers or getting tshirts.
The reason is motivation, and having a deadline and a financial commitment is motivating for most people. This was written for an audience that isn't running yet, and most people who aren't running yet do need to have tricks to motivate.
Some commentary though -
When I started running, it would have been very useful to have it drilled in to me that all "running" is not equal, and doesn't have to be at a fast clip, until that makes sense. Of course running 26 miles seems crazy based on what it feels like to "run" a mile when you're untrained and trying to go fast. Yes, that guide starts out suggesting a run/walk routine - however I think it would do new runners much service to explain what kind of paces there are, what they feel like, and why most of your running should be done at an easy one.
> First pick a race.
Why?! It really bugs me that so much of current running culture seems to be about earning that 13.1/26.2 sticker for your car, or getting that "Finisher" t-shirt. Certainly, completing races and achieving goals in general benefits our psyche and sense of accomplishment.
But running can be so much more than a sequence of training runs leading up to the all important race. Runs should be enjoyed. To me, one of the secrets of running, or at least - something that takes time to learn - is that running becomes much more enjoyable with experience, and you may have to put in some grind time to get there. When running 3 miles leaves you feeling completely wiped, the "runners' high" seems alien and unimaginable. As you get more experienced, AND learn to pace yourself, 3 miles seems short, and you probably won't feel into the groove until you're at least 1-2 miles in. When you have the fitness to casually run 5 miles through the park or on your favorite trail and feel good afterward - THAT's where running really starts to add balance and enjoyment to your day, imho.
When you've leveled up a bit, running becomes personal time, meditative, and leaves you refreshed. While people may discover this on their own - encouraging the mindset of, "Pick a distance, plop down some money for a bib, and train" - seems to encourage people to treat running as a means to an end, where the end (the race) just means it is time to pick a new goal (longer race, better time.)
Why not suggest people find a beautiful trail within an hour of where they live, that would take them a few hours to hike, and then run until they can experience the joy of gliding through that trail in a fraction of the time?
There's a lot of great information in that article, but I suppose I feel like it falls in to the trap of spending much more time on the "how" of running - how to pick a training plan, what shoes and socks to buy, how to eat, how to avoid injury, etc... - and not enough time on why it's worth it to put in all that work. Other than for the likes you'll get when you make your half-marathon completed Facebook post.