Speaking of the nature of excellence, my sister-in-law Sarah Dupré Healy ran her first marathon today — the Chicago Marathon. She finished seventeenth in the Women’s Race, which is not too shabby, given there were about 40,000 people running altogether. Conditions were windy and she suffered a lot over the last 10k or so, dropping a few minutes off what had been a 2:38 pace. But I think it’s just fantastic that she finished in the Top 20, which is why I’m telling all of you about it.
I remember seeing pictures of the first woman to win an Olympic Marathon - Joan Benoit, in 1980, Los Angeles, the first time women were allowed to compete - and this photo reminds me of her. I’m in awe. These women look as though they are in physiologic shock while running, yet they are somehow very beautiful. I cannot imagine how much it must hurt to run such a race.
I was actually at the race where the picture of Sarah was taken. That was a fantastic meet, although it was marred by the fact that everyone was enthralled with Regina Jacobs breaking the world indoor record for the 1500m, when it was quite obvious at the time that he was taking illegal performance enhancers (this view has recently been vindicated). 2:38 is smoking. When I was in top form I think I could maybe have gotten below 2:50. Unfortunately my days of running are over, but I definitely think I could crack 2:38 on my bike :-)
…with regards to how much these things hurt, I have some pretty heavy duty experience in the world of suffering on the run course. One of the fun things about really being on your game is that “pain don’t hurt”. It’s not just a redneck cliche, but when really running well on one’s game and when very fit the sensations are very very different than the average yahoo going out and trying to run a mile.
That said, excellent running… there aren’t many capable of that kind of effor, especially on a first marathon.
Good for her!
Wow, very impressive!
whooot, that is something! You don’t realize how much strategy can be involved in long distance racing until you are involved with it.
Just to finish is a victory, but to finish well up in the standings at the first race is quite something.
holy cow…that is freakin’ fast! Righteous!
That is a totally awesome achievement! The Chicago Marathon is considered “fast”, but it is also a madhouse. Good on her!
The speed of marathon runners always amazes me. Do it in 2:36 and you’re averaging ten miles an hour.
I can’t do that on a bicycle. In my case, unlike Kieran’s, there’s no maybe about it.
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