No other explanation, it had to be some anagram of Santa that would take away our last vestige of excellence in running journalism. I reached out immediately to one of my oldest buddies and career contributor to Running Times. Jim Gerweck, you might not know the name but if you’re a serious runner you’ve read thousands and thousands of his words. Sad days indeed. I’m also keeping my former mate and Times publisher Jonathan Beverly in my Christmas wishes. He’ll land well but not sure if he’ll remain with Rodale Press, those responsible for the dumbing down, we are all winners, run your best 5K on 3 days/week, pablum for the masses trumping Real.
More kudos to wunderkind Seth Hirsch. Top ten at NXN (Nike Cross Nationals), sub 15:00.
Survey Says! Questionnaires flooding the airwaves about what constitutes elite running. Locally and nationally. This coming weekend’s Club Cross in San Francisco has been a work in progress. Each club has received a slate of questions to determine which RACE they will be slotted into. Going to be some feelings hurt, maybe none more than Alan Webb’s?
In a move that warms my heart like a heavily spiked nog Pink Gorilla is also soliciting input into their elite efforts. I’d wager that my response contained the most stringent definition of what “Elite” means than any other. Linda is Elite around the Bar None. A lot of “local elites” putting up locally respectable times, but the higher up the food chain you go the more you realize your station. Regional Elites, also an entry in my dictionary. National Elites, straight in my wheelhouse. Across most of the US, local elites are just that, able to perform consistently near the top of your Friends of the Library Fun Run.
For your inspection I offer the following times: Local Elite Men 5K <16:30, 10K<33:30, Half <1:15:00, Full <2:45. Women 5K <19:00, 10K <39:00, Half <1:30. Full < 3:15. If you want to be considered Regionally Elite you’d better get to work. Men 5 <15:00. 10K <31:00, Half <1:09, Full <2:25. Women 5K <17:00, 10K < 35:00, Half <1:20:00, Full <2:50. All around the country these times and athletes are known as “Sub Elites”. If they continue their developmental arc and are Truly Talented, these times hold sway: Men 5K <14:30, 10K <30:00, Half @ <1:06, Full @ sub 2:15. Women 5K <16:00, 10K < 33:00, Half <1:15:00, Full <2:40.
We may not have Running Times to trumpet excellence anymore but I hope you will continue to read these musings, I promise I’ll never be co-opted or dumbed down to a mass audience.
Now get to work!
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