I found this to be a good read,
Justin Kopunek from Flotrack.org wrote a funny blog post about how some of the elite distance runners have been getting married almost right after college.
I'm turning 20 in about half a year, and am in NO rush to get married (At least not like half of the University of Colorado Team), but this article has a lot of good points about the integration and relationship-building aspects that running may bring into our lives.
Article Link:
http://www.flotrack.org/blogs/blogger/Bx_Runner/6074-marriage-and-distance-running
"One explanation I can surmise is that to become a distance runner competing at the highest level, along with talent, one needs commitment to the sport. As many of us runners have touted in job interviews and personal essays, commitment to running is reflective of our dedicative nature. I am suggesting that how elite distance runners treat their sport transcends every aspect of their lives, including personal relationships. At the highest level, distance running requires a full commitment of mind, body, and soul. The same could be said of marriage and child birth. To commit to a sport so wholly takes a special personality type, one that would bring that same level of allegiance into any relationship. If anything, runners are a loyal breed. Loyal to a sport, loyal to a shoe, and loyal to their mates. "
I guess we can't really blame Adam Goucher, A high percentage of the teenage running community is in love with Kara Goucher anyways!
But seriously, it's a good read.
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2 comments:
Well, playing Devil's Advocate, one might say that any person has a fixed amount of energy, and if he or she devotes 80% or 90% to running, then that leaves 10% or 20% for everything else, including spouse and children. So being incredibly devoted to one thing in one's life doesn't imply equal devotion to everything in one's life. That would be impossible.
What did ring true is that the Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner may call for a life partner to provide balance, and that partner maybe should be another runner who understands the passion and the commitment.
Finally, loyalty and devotion may be attributes that predict a long marriage, but they don't necessarily predict marriage at a young age! The particular cases cited by the blogger don't prove much statistically. I'd like to know how many prominent runners DON'T get married young.
I don't think he's talking about commitment in terms of energy expenditure, or time spent with another person. I think he's just referring to overall fidelity and allegiance, which is why I bolded that particular part of his quote. It definitely does seem like a UColorado Phenomenon more than most to get married young, but I dont think he was indirectly arguing that marriage coincides with good long distance running. I think he was merely pointing out the coincidences.
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