Why do we run?

Lions, tigers and bears do it. Cats and dogs do it. Presidents, thieves, and talk show hosts do it. Regular people do it, too. We do it. The question is, why? Why do we run? Now that we no longer have to hunt for our food, why do we continue to engage in this primal activity?

"I don't think jogging is healthy, especially morning jogging. If morning joggers knew how tempting they looked to morning motorists, they would stay home and do sit-ups."
Rita Rudner

There are likely as many reasons for running as there are runners. Some of us run to think or to clear our minds. Monte Davis observed, "Running long and hard is an ideal antidepressant, since it's hard to run and feel sorry for yourself at the same time. Also, there are those hours of clearheadedness that follow a long run."

Others run for the challenge of testing one's limits and the sense of self-satisfaction that comes from digging deep into oneself and finding that you are strong enough to persevere. Pre, one of the greatest runners of all time, commented, "You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement." Fred Lebow, the co-founder of the New York City Marathon, put the matter this way: "In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."

To understand this sense of accomplishment, you must understand the pain that accompanies running. Bob Clarke, an NHL Hall of Famer and former coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, commented, "I like running because it's a challenge. If you run hard, there's the pain - and you've got to work your way through the pain. You know, lately it seems all you hear is? Don't overdo it' and? Don't push yourself.' Well, I think that's a lot of bull. If you push the human body, it will respond."

One thing is for certain: running is not for sissies. Runners may not be taking hits the way hockey players and football players do. But runners endure pain, tedium, adverse weather, bad gear, blisters, and exhaustion -- and that's just on the training runs! Just this morning, Mariana contributed another quotable quote on running weather conditions to the Go Girls collection of running wisdom. On this particular morning, the temperature dipped down to -1C with the wind chill. Mariana, who had heard that the temperature was +4C on the radio, reported that she stepped outside into the cold morning air and said, "What the hell?!" I have run in scorching summer heat, thick Toronto humidity, beating rainstorms, whipping winds, flying snow, sleet, ice, and absolutely frigid temperatures. I may have said "what the hell?" (or WTF?), but curiously, I ran anyway. And I am no exception. Runners defy all sorts of trying conditions.

"A lot of people don't realize that about 98 percent of the running I put in is anything but glamorous: 2 percent joyful participation, 98 percent dedication! It's a tough formula. Getting out in the forest in the biting cold and the flattening heat, and putting in kilometre after kilometre."
- Rob de Castella

I recall receiving wise words from a coach years ago at the outset of a long run. I was tired and sore from having played soccer the night before and as we started out the run, I moaned and groaned about how tough the training run would be. My coach turned to me and said, "It's supposed to be tough. You're training for a marathon. If you want easy, take a walk in the park." The Canadian marathon runner Peter Maher noted, "Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"

Runners do not merely run. They race. We pay money to pin a number to the front of our shirts and tie a timing chip to our shoes so that someone can make a record of how fast (or slow) we can run a particular distance. Racing is the moment of truth, the point where you will see if you have done enough training, if you are physically and mentally strong enough to finish the race. You do this test in public, before a crowd of peers and supporters. There is an official record of your efforts: a lasting testament to how prepared or unprepared you were. Of course, only you can know how successful your race truly was. Only you know if you truly gave it your all. Herein lies another reason to run: to test ourselves. Patti Sue Plumer, a US Olympian, commented "Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about."

"Ask yourself: 'Can I give more?'. The answer is usually: 'Yes'."
-Paul Tergat, Kenyan professional marathoner

Personally, I believe that I run mostly to test my limits or, more accurately, to push my limits. I run for many reasons, of course. But the thing that drives me is the desire to touch the outer limits of what is possible for me. Sure, I also run for beer, for fun, and for the company of other runners. But I run marathons to know myself. It is amazing what 26.2 miles can teach a person about herself.

I suspect that there is a little bit of a revolutionary in each runner. We run because we can. We continue to run notwithstanding what people tell us about our knees and our ankles, what is good for us and what isn't good for us. Many people see running a marathon as a form of torture. We see it as a challenge, a joy, an opportunity, a celebration. Running gives us a curious sort of freedom: the freedom you feel when you are away from the office and just moving and breathing; the freedom you feel when you tackle something that most people see as foolish or impossible; the freedom you sense when you engage in a basic, primal activity; the freedom in the opportunity to test your depths and to know that you are stronger than you imagined.

Perhaps Sir Roger Bannister captured it best when he said, "We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves...The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, 'You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.' The human spirit is indomitable."

I May, I Might, I Must
If you will tell me why the fen
appears impassable, I then
will tell you why I think that I
can get across it if I try.
--Marianne Moore

Then again, we ought not to forget about the communal and social value inherent in running. We run to build and to sustain community. Richard O'Brien observed, "Running is not, as it so often seems, only about what you did in your last race or about how many miles you ran last week. It is, in a much more important way, about community, about appreciating all the miles run by other runners, too."

Perhaps we can honour those who have run their own races before us by continuing the tradition of running strong. I think of the women who have blazed trails for us by pushing the boundaries of what was deemed acceptable for women: the Katherine Switzers, Joan Benoit-Samuelsons, Sylvia Rueggers, and Jean Marmoreos. I think of my own mother. She is certainly not athletic by most standards. But she did not have much opportunity to develop into an athlete given that she grew up in the Netherlands during World War II and then lived through some hard years as an immigrant to Canada. When I see her tenacity and her bold spirit, I think that I inherited my love of endurance sports from her. I wonder what kind of runner she could have become if she had had different opportunities. And so, I run in part for the miles my mother has run in her own race, for the limits that she faced and subsequently conquered.

It seems that there are many reasons why we runners run. Perhaps as a final note, it is good to remember one last reason that we often do not highlight: hubris. As much as running allows us to push our own limits and to experience a sense of accomplishment, it also dramatically illustrates our weaknesses. Training is based on a simple principle: in order to get stronger, you must first work to the point of weakness. To be a runner, you must come to embrace those moments of exhaustion. You must learn the parameters of your weakness and you cannot be afraid to confront your weakness. Sooner or later, running will knock you flat off your feet and onto your rear-end. It is a wise and good thing to take such moments of hubris to appreciate the fact that we are, after all, only human.

"I'm a Runner"

Ever wonder who those crazy people out running early in the morning or late at night in all forms of weather are? Well, we know who they are. They are us. Runners. As it turns out, we are in good company. Magazines like Runners World and Canadian Running highlight (in)famous runners each month. Here is a list of some of the notable people who call themselves "runners".

President Barack Obama. He doesn't just run the USA; he also runs miles. Obama is well-known for his fitness regime, which includes treadmill running several times per week. I wonder if Bo runs beside him on his own little doggy treadmill?

Former President Bill Clinton. That's right: Bubba runs. When he held office, Clinton apparently logged 3 milers on a regular basis. Maybe that's because it is a 3 mile round-trip from the White House to the local McDonald's. In any case, since his heart surgery, Bubba does appear to have moved from junk food to logging more miles than ever.

Former President George W. Bush. Not only is W a runner, he became a fast runner once he quit the beer and the tobacco. Bush comments, "Back then (when he started running in 1972), I was a man who was known to drink a beer or two. And over time, I'm convinced that running helped me quit drinking and smoking." Quitting the booze and cigarettes certainly paid off. Bush ran a 3:44 marathon in 1993. While in office, Bush usually ran six times per week, although it was apparently challenging to find time to log long runs. I may not have agreed with many (or most) of Bush's policies, but I do agree with his views on exercise and running. Bush told Runners World in 2002:

"I believe anyone can make the time. As a matter of fact, I don't believe it-I know it. If the President of the United States can make the time, anyone can. Exercise is so important that corporate America should help its employees make time. There should be flextime for families, and there should be flextime for exercise. A healthy work force is a more productive work force. We have got to do a better job of encouraging exercise in America."

Sarah Ferguson, Dutchess of York. Fergie runs. After being part of the Royal Family, perhaps she found it necessary to run to save her sanity. In any case, running certainly helped her trim down after her well-publicized weight gain. She reports running five to eight miles on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and an additional two or three miles on the weekend. Well done, M'Lady.

Sarah Palin. Hey, it's not just the Presidents that run. Contenders for Vice President also run. Palin reports that she has been running for over 35 years. She also comments that she grew very frustrated in the 2008 Presidential campaign because the McCain staff would not carve out time for her to go for a run. Hmmm....Obama's staff made sure that he could get his exercise, but McCain's staff wouldn't let Palin out for a run. Is exercise key for electoral victory?

Anthony Edwards. Goose/Dr. Mark Green/Anthony Edwards is a runner. In fact, many actors have identified themselves as runners over the years, including Jon Cryer, David James Elliott, Jennifer Beals, Emily Proctor, and Will Ferrell. Other actors/stars who have run marathons include Oprah, P. Diddy, and Katie Holmes. (We're not sure if these individuals are still running.) So do these stars suffer as much as the rest of us during long runs? Probably. But then again, they also have body guards to carry their water for them.

Lisa Ling. Ling, a broadcast journalist, is apparently a dedicated runner. I include her in this list for her quotable quote on running hills: "Run hills? Never. My quads are already big enough." Right on, sister!

Ron McClean. CBC's straight-man on Coach's Corner is a runner. He can skate. He can run. He can harass and control Don Cherry. Ron McClean should be Prime Minister.

It seems that the Go Girls are in good company where running is concerned. In fact, it appears that one must be a runner in order to qualify to become President of the United States. The real question is, why do we run? Oprah could do anything in the whole world and she once chose to run a marathon. Each of us is strapped for time and energy. Yet we get up early on Saturday mornings to run. In fact, I dare say that running is one of only two things that can get me up early on a Saturday morning. The other thing is a house fire. In the next blog post, I will report to you on why we run. For now, we can simply rest assured that we are not the only crazies who prefer to be out on the road rather than under the covers on cold, wintery Saturday mornings.

Go Girls Saturday Run Recap

For the first time in many weeks, all members of the Toronto Go Girls and the Gentlemen's Auxiliary were present at our Saturday morning run. We also welcomed Janice, a newcomer, to our group run. And so we hit the streets of Toronto in full force for a lovely fall run along Rosedale Valley Road (hereinafter known as "Death Valley") and then up through Cabbagetown and back to our Timothy's for coffee.

The Go Girls are pleased to announce that they will soon be adding a new dimension to the group's training regime: shinny hockey! T is already an avid hockey player and Olga plans to join the ranks of hockey-playing runners very soon. We were delighted to learn that Janice also skates and can likely be convinced to join T and Olga out on the ice. Yes, the Go Girls will soon have their very own "Punch Line". We now need a few more players: four, to be exact so that we can have five skaters plus a goalie and one sub. As luck would have it, we have four more runners: Joanne, Mariana, Carol, and Nana. It seems that we have a ready-made hockey team.

Of course, there are some obstacles to overcome in forming the Go Girls Toronto Hockey Team (hereinafter the "Riff Rats"). For example, at least one of our players does not really know how to skate, although she assures us that she is "familiar with the concept and understands the principle of skating". The Leafs seem to exhibit a similar approach to hockey (i.e., the Leafs are familiar with the concept and understand the principles) and they play in the NHL. So surely this lack of practical training in skating will not be a barrier for the Riff Rats.

Another player insists that she only figure skates since she is a "lady". However, I believe that we can overcome her aversion to playing hockey if we print "Lady J" on her hockey jersey and if we treat her like a diva. For example, she should only have red and blue M&Ms in her dressing room and her hockey water bottle should be filled with Evian, not tap water. I am confident that if we give her a hockey stick and some real skates, she will be crushing people in the corners in no time.

Our Southern Belle objects to playing hockey on cultural grounds. This is easily resolved. We only need to advise our Belle that we will rat her out for un-Canadian behaviour and have her deported if she does not play with us. I think it will also help if we tell her that she won't actually have to skate too much. Maybe she can play goalie. (Isn't it a tradition to put the people who don't know any better or who show up last in net if a team doesn't have a goalie?)

As for the last member of our squad, Carol, I believe the biggest concern may be springing her from work. Again, I have a plan. We simply send in the goon squad, aka the Punch Line, aka the Janice-Olga-T line to rescue Carol from her office. Then we use her Blackberry as the puck for the first period. Problem solved.

Alain, our token male, can serve as the coach/bench door opener/water boy/skate tie-guy. Et voila! A ready-made shinny hockey team. Look out, Toronto Maple Leafs! The Go Girls Riff Rats are here and I think we can beat you (as can every other granny hockey team out there)!

The Best in Running

Runners World has published its list of "The Best in Running". Here are some of the highlights:

• Best invention or trend in racing: Disposable timing chips.
• Coolest runner: Pre
• Most inspiring runner: Terry Fox
• Best training secret: Value rest.
• Must-have item for every race: Body Glide.
• Best performance by an Underdog: Billy Mills.
• Ideal Runners Food: Bananas (I include this item under duress; Mariana insisted that I highlight this reference.)
• Most Important Female Pioneer: Katherine Switzer.
• Best Postrun Food: Chocolate Milk.
• Best time of the day to run: Early Morning.
  
• Best workout to wind up puking: Mile repeats.
• Best thing about runners' bodies: Legs.

Not a bad list. But every list needs local content. So here is the "Best in Running, according to Toronto Go Girls".

• Best trend in running: The run-walk approach, opening the door to running for many of us.
• Coolest runner: Olga K.
• Most inspiring runner: Terry Fox.
  
• Best training secret: The power of the group.
• Must have item for every race: post-race lunch or dinner plans, preferably with a reservation.
• Best performance by an underdog: each of us, in every race we have ever run.
• Ideal runners food: Bagels (especially if Bagel Boy is working) or bananas (I include "bananas" under duress; see above).
• Most Important Female Pioneer: Jean Marmoreo.
• Best PostRun Food: Timothy's Coffee or Beer.
• Best time of the day to run: Any time we can fit it into our schedules.
• Best workout to wind up puking: We're flexible on this one, but running with beer in one's tummy is never a good idea. Mile repeats can do the trick, as well.
• Best thing about runners' bodies: our hearts...they're still ticking and we feel great!

A few extras...here are our "worsts":

• Worst eye sight and worst ability to provide a description to the police: Joanne
• Worst tolerance of cold and all things winter: Mariana
• Worst jokes: T
• Worst excuse for missing a run: "I had to write an exam" (Nana). Priorities, woman!!
• Worst language: WTF?! Clearly, it's Olga. (Pay-back for calling T's bruises "pussy bruises" and "pigeon droppings")
• Worst job: a tough call, but this honour goes to Carol, who coordinates exams for a living.
  
• Person who keeps the worst company: Obviously, Alain. He is a gentleman among wild women. We salute you, sir!
  

The International Run-Down

The Go Girls Saturday morning run on November 7 was truly an international affair. In addition to the usual Canadian suspects, the Go Girls were joined by Luciana (the representative from Brazil) and Arthur (the representative from France). It bears remembering that Nana, our Southern Belle, is an American. It was not long before the two Canadians in the group (Olga and Theresa) began to feel out-numbered.

When one considers that Olga is from the ROC (Rest of Canada, i.e., not Toronto), the Go Girls were left with one lone Upper Canadian: Theresa. However, as Nana noted, "But, Theresa, you're not even a real Upper Canadian. You're an immigrant."

"I don't know what you are talking about," Theresa replied, as her wooden shoes clattered down the street. "Just because my parents are fresh-off-the-boat and my family wears wooden shoes and we have all those white lace curtains and eat herring and...oh, screw it. I'm an immigrant."

Ironically, now that the Go Girls has encompassed a handful of Canadian-born runners, an immigrant or two, an American, a few Brazilians, and a Frenchman, the Go Girls Running Club is more Canadian than ever. We're all about the diversity, eh. It's the Canadian mosaic, ya hoser. Put on yer toque and hit the roads, ya Crazy Canucks.

Opera, Arts, and Ice Cream

The Toronto Go Girls demonstrated this past week that they are not just a bunch of uncultured road jocks. This week, the Go Girls showed that they are endurance athletes in the truest sense of the word: on the road, at the office, and at the opera.

On Tuesday, the majority of the Go Girls attended Opera Atelier's performance of Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride (1779). This opera had a background story (you know that the opera is serious when there is a background story): father sacrifices daughter to rescue sister-in-law; mother is highly annoyed at this aggressive form of parenting and kills father; son must avenge father and so kills mother; son goes crazy with guilt; daughter, unbeknownst to all, is rescued and sent to an island where the gods dictate that she must kill every stranger who washes up on shore; and son sets out on an unfortunate voyage that results in him and his best bosom buddy washing up on the shore of his sister's death island.

The opera itself focused on the terrible premonitions that apparently everybody was having on this island, the daughter's duty to kill the strangers who are really her brother and his friend, and the bonds of friendship between the brother and his friend, who are both willing to die for each other. Of course, since no opera would be complete without some form of mistaken or secret identity, the daughter and son do not learn that they are related until it is almost too late. In short, there were many heavy ruminations on fate and the gods, discourses about guilt and cursed lives, and pledges of love and loyalty, in addition to much cleaving and heaving, dancing and prancing, and so forth.

The music was spectacular and the costumes lovely (though at times, a bit revealing). The dancing was amazing and wonderfully choreographed. In sum, Opera Atelier put on a wonderful production. However, to be truthful, there was a lot of death, heaving, and sighing to endure for a Tuesday night. Tuesdays are, as Miedema commented, "the best TV night of the week". It was occasionally challenging to sit still to watch nymph like dancers tormenting the brother, as he sang of his madness and his guilt. But the Go Girls are endurance athletes and endure they did. In the end, the runners did appreciate the artistry of the production. As Carol noted, the dancing was perfectly timed and all could agree that the music was outstanding. Alain and Carol were able to speak intelligently about the opera in the context of the period in which it was written. Miedema was able to speak appreciatively about the ice cream that she and Carol had during intermission. Well, we each bring a different strength to the table.

The Go Girls also had the opportunity to meet the lovely ladies with whom Olga recently vacationed. These ladies assured us that Olga acted with the utmost decorum while vacationing abroad. "Like a nun," they told us, "Olga was like a nun." We are not sure that the ladies had the right Olga, but we will have to trust that the three rather mischievous looking ladies did in fact conduct themselves with conduct akin to nuns.

As a final note, the Go Girls missed having Joanne and Mariana with them at the opera. However, Joanne and Mariana have assured us that they already have enough culture (or at least more than the rest of us) and therefore can afford to miss one artistic event. I suspect that both Joanne and Mariana were at home watching a special edition of Monsterpiece Theatre, but I cannot confirm this information at the present time.

Go Girls Goes Global

The Toronto Go Girls has officially expanded its reach internationally. Member Mariana packed her running shoes with her on her recent trip to Brazil. While visiting Rio de Janeiro, Mariana took time out of her very intense coffee-drinking schedule to log a 7.5K run at Lagoa. Lagoa is a lagoon located in the Zona Sul (South Zone) of Rio. The lagoon is connected to the Atlantic by a canal which is bordered by the Garden of Alah park. The canoeing and rowing events at the 2016 Olympics in Rio will be held at Lagoa. While there is speculation that Mariana was scouting this location for the Canadian Olympic team, Mariana was not available to confirm this story.

The impact of the Go Girls' first international foray was felt almost immediately. Various Rio running clubs commented that they were honoured by the presence of this growing Canadian running club. Some clubs, however, noted that it would have been nice if the Go Girls had sent along a true Canadian representative to accompany Mariana, who is, of course, a Brazilian national. This sentiment was apparently shared by the Canadian members of the Go Girls, who were left behind to shiver in Toronto while Mariana runs in Brazil. "She didn't even know that we make ice rinks inside all year round," one member complained. "Plus, it sounds unnatural to say 'hoser' and 'toque' with a Portuguese accent. I'm not saying Mariana should not have been our official representative to Brazil. I just think that someone should have accompanied her."

Perhaps future diplomatic missions to Brazil involving the Toronto Go Girls will involve more members than just our token Brazilian runner. For now, however, Mariana is doing a fine job representing the Go Girls on the roads in Brazil (and in the coffee shops, too). We salute you, Mariana, for representing our Canadian running club in your native Brazil. We also wonder: is it finally warm enough for you to take off those running gloves?!

New York, New York

New York, New York: if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere, at least according to Frank Sinatra. It's a reasonable assumption, at least in terms of the NYC Marathon. The NYC Marathon course is challenging. You run NYC to run NYC, not to set PRs. Then again, tell that to this year's winners.

This year's NYC Marathon had its own set of happy endings. Meb Keflezighi won this year's NYC Marathon, becoming the first American since 1982 to win this event. The win was particularly emotional for Keflezighi; two years ago, he feared that an injury would end his career. Moreover, two years ago, his friend, Ryan Shay, died whilst running the NYC Marathon. His victory was not only a personal comeback, but he also notched a personal best (2:09:15). Keflezighi made his break at mile 23 and beat second-place Robert Cheruiyot to the finish by 41 seconds. Ryan Hall, the other great hope for American runners, finished fourth.

In the women's event, Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia took the victory, beating Paula Radcliffe, the two-time defending champion in New York. Radcliffe, struggling with an injury, finished in fourth place. Tulu only decided to race in New York in September, after she ran a solid half-marathon in Philadelphia. She completed the course in 2:28:52. At age 37, Tulu is the oldest woman to win NYC since 42 year-old Priscilla Welch won the event in 1987. Interestingly, the second place finisher, Ludmila Petrova, is 41. Apparently, 2009 was a good year for "women of a certain age" racing in NYC.

As for our friend and mentor, Dr. Jean Marmoreo, Jean had an outstanding race. She completed the course in 3:49:33 notwithstanding a 14mph headwind that slowed runners down and the inherent challenges of the rather hilly NYC course. Jean finished third in her age group. Congratulations, Jean! As always, we are proud of you!

For a full race report, see the article by Fanhouse Newswire, "American Meb Keflezighi Wins Emotional NYC Marathon".

Wittenberg weighs in on the "plodders" debate

Mary Wittenberg, CEO and President of the New York Road Runners (NYRR), has weighed in on the continuing debate about the role of the "plodders" in the marathon. Her response is excellent and captures what I believe is the heart of the marathon: a distance that humbles you; a distance that requires focus, dedication, and perseverance; and a distance that, when conquered by you, empowers you.

You can read her full comment by following this link: "Wittenberg: Plodder debate misses the point". Here are a few excerpts from Wittenberg's response that are particularly compelling:

"To us, it’s about conquering the distance and conquering self doubt. The marathon is about dreaming to achieve and putting in all the work to make that dream reality. That quest, and the runner's ultimate success, routinely changes people’s lives in rich and meaningful ways. Our runners, no matter the pace, typically overcome all kinds of hurdles and challenges to reaching the marathon finish line. It is that ability to persevere that translates to other parts of their lives. Making them stronger and better for the pursuit – well beyond improved physical fitness."

"A marathoner is a marathoner regardless of time. Virtually everyone who tries the marathon has put in training over months, and it is that exercise and that commitment, physical and mental, that gives meaning to the medal, not just the day’s effort, be it fast or slow. It’s all in conquering the challenge. Ask any marathoner you meet in NYC on Monday, November 2."

We couldn't have said it better ourselves. Thanks, Mary Wittenberg, for expressing so eloquently what many of us not-so-swift runners feel.

Now, who wants to go for a run?