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Did you know that beyond the running community people view us runners as pretty
odd?
The man himself: Tadgh Crowley
Have a think about it. You’ve probably experienced it. That nervous laugh or
awkward pause when you explain quite matter-of-factly to a work colleague or
distant relation that your idea of fun is running long distances, usually early on a
Sunday morning when everyone else is enjoying a nice lie in. The awkwardness
intensives as you go on to explain that you’re a recent convert to distance running,
“I’ve only been running 6 days a week for the last 4 years, about 50 miles a week, or
80km if that’s your preference, before that it was only 2-3 days 20 odd miles, barely
anything. I’m a newbie really”.
And yet we are so fixated on running and everything that goes with it, we mostly
ignore these awkward moments or the many quickfire comments from friends or
family members. “Ooh Tadhg thinks he’s a professional!” “You training for the LA
Olympics?”
“Sorry did you say something? I was thinking about what new running shoes I’m
going to buy.”
Now don’t get me wrong, we’re not complete social pariahs. We don’t have to run
under cover of darkness like poor ol’ Paavo Nurmi, the 9-time Olympic Gold
medallist, who raced trams at night so he wouldn’t be spotted training. Or Joan
Benoit, the first female Olympic Marathon Gold medallist, who was ridiculed by
friends, community and even her own sport for running long distances.
But people do think us strange.
The reason this all came to mind was, I was trying to explain to my wife that my plan
for the Autumn is to race Cross Country. In explaining Cross Country and the reason
that I’ll be gone a lot of Sunday afternoons it raised a lot of questions. Too many
questions!
“In short, I’ll be running around different farmers’ fields, slipping and sliding in the
mud, it’ll most likely lash rain, there will be gale-force winds, probably will be covered
head to toe in all types of cow dung, some big fella from Leevale will plunge his
spikes into my Achilles and then we will all get dressed and drive home. No shower
facilities. Expect the car to stink.”
Carraig Na Bhfear teammates
Now my wife is a pretty open minded and tolerant woman (evidence = married to
me) but this she struggled to understand. With time I’ve convinced her to accept
running as part of our lives. Yes, it’s taken time, Sunday morning squabbles, agitated
afternoons with me standing by the front door (in full running attire) waiting for the
green light to go, missed bedtimes and debates over the importance of kid’s
activities vs my races. Now it’s become part of our lives, it’s kind of a family sport. Or
at least an extra family member who requires a lot of attention. But deep down I
reckon she still thinks it’s all a bit mad.
Sure isn’t it great fun: The debrief
So, how do I convince my wife and the many non-running partners that Cross
Country running is a legitimate leisure activity for a “GROWN MAN!!!”?
Write a blog on my experiences of course.