Average finish time at NYCM was 3:32 in 1980 -- in 2008 it was 4:16

[rehammes]

In what other sport, major or minor, is there such a push to be as inclusive as possible of the uncompetitive types in competitive contests in a capacity beyond spectating or officiating? 

Golf? 

[Andrew A.]

In any and every prize money tourney?

[Ryan]

I don't see many amateurs swinging away on the PGA Tour.

[rehammes]

Not to belabor the point, but with the exception of the major tours that receive press coverage, there is a venue for players of any ability to play competitive golf via club tourneys, municipal tourneys, corporate outings, or any of the countless 'mini-tours' that exist much like the opportunities that runners of any ability have to compete.  The 20+ handicappers may not have the opportunity to compete head-to-head against the world's greatest, but they can certainly play the same tracks.  Then again, only the bet of the best can compete in the Olympic running events.  I don't want to split hairs, but the two sports seem somewhat similar.

I would rather focus on the benefits made available by the explosion in popularity of running.  Any body type of runner can find a comfortable pair of shoes or clothing at an affordable price.  Runners in any metropolitan area can find a competition at the last minute giving them an opportunity to hone their skills.  The socially conscious runner can use the sport as an avenue for charitable giving.  I think that those who consider themselves competitive in the sport chose their level of participation carefully to avoid some of the pitfalls of 'Charity-Name-Here-5k-Run/Walk' and instead focus on the races with the reputation of providing a theater for competitive running.  I'm sure we would like for every event to be a contest amongst the best, but if there were not so many 'to-do-listers' and charitable souls anxious to try their hands, then there wouldn't be so many contests available to us all.

I think the free market of the running community is speaking, through discussions like this, that there is absolutely a demand for competitive races that focus on the sport rather than the t-shirt and free bananas. I don't want to speculate on the motivations of any other runner I line up against, they are his/her own.  If it is a life's to-do list, they has no effect on me. I wonder if the sky-diving or bungee-jumping community has a similar distaste for those who partake just to experience it once.  Does a foursome of scratch golfers have a conversation like this about the hacks that get all the late-morning, weekend  tee-times, or do they just play at other times or courses.  If some chose to participate, with what we would consider to be inadequate preparation, I guess that is their choice.  I am sure that there is a direct correlation between their level of preparedness and the experience they garner.  I think it will be interesting to see if the children of this generation of marathon participants takes an interest in the sport at a much younger age than their parents, and if so, will that result in a much more talented US running community?  

.....just a few scattered thoughts.....

[Andrew A.]

I don't want to speculate on the motivations of any other runner I line up against, they are his/her own.  If it is a life's to-do list, they has no effect on me. I wonder if the sky-diving or bungee-jumping community has a similar distaste for those who partake just to experience it once.  Does a foursome of scratch golfers have a conversation like this about the hacks that get all the late-morning, weekend  tee-times, or do they just play at other times or courses.  If some chose to participate, with what we would consider to be inadequate preparation, I guess that is their choice.  I am sure that there is a direct correlation between their level of preparedness and the experience they garner.  I think it will be interesting to see if the children of this generation of marathon participants takes an interest in the sport at a much younger age than their parents, and if so, will that result in a much more talented US running community?

Perhaps if those scratch golfers saw tee times fill up 2-4 times as quickly, requiring scheduling tee times 4+ months in advance rather than 1-3 weeks in advance, along with greens fees doubling over the course of a decade or two then they might speculate as to the cause (increased demand from a flood uncompetitive golfers?).  Same if the wait and cost both saw exponential growth in bungee-jumping and skydiving.  If that is not happening in those sports/activities then that is likely where marked contrast lies between them and marathon running, the impacts on long-time participants differ significantly.  It might mean nothing to people who are well off enough to think almost nothing of devoting $100+ to an entry for something that is months away and might wind up being for naught if injury strikes within that timespan, but it does mean something to the budget-conscious would-be participants/competitors with performance goals. 

[Ryan]

From what I've seen, it's not an exaggeration to even talk about fees tripling or quadrupling over the course of a decade.