Where have all the good runners gone? (Read 1621 times)

It refers to a 2006 annual marathon report which currently goes to a dead page (http://www.runningusa.org/cgi/mar_repts.pl) and to a list of results of 327 marathons in the US in 2005, which apparently is a link of 327 result sets. The first page isn't currently working, and I definitely cannot click through 327 result sets.

You are correct....the link is dead. RunningUSA has redesigned their website. Although the new website has provisions to display the RRIC 2006 Annual Marathon Report, apparently the report hasn't been uploaded yet. However, their 2008 Annual Marathon Report, which is uploaded, includes the same 1980 data.

Let me see if I understand your assertion in the article. You allege that in 1980 there were 53,700 male marathon finishers under 3:32:17. You allege that in 2005 there were 34,629 male marathon finishers under 3:32:17. Am I correctly characterizing your allegation? How did you get those numbers -- did you go through those 327 marathon results manually adding up male finishers under 3:32:17? Are you adding up total finishers, or only counting each person once? Also, you speak of a decline of American marathoners -- but your data seems to be marathon finishers in the US. By "American marathoners", do you mean "marathoners who ran in America" then? (That's not really the common understanding of the term at all.)

Yes, you understand my assertions. According to RRIC's 1980 data and the actual results of 2005 marathons as reported in Marathonguide.com's race results listings, the number of male finishers who finished under 3:32:17 in U.S. marathons decreased by 36% from 1980 to 2005 while the total number of male finishers increased by 115%. The 2005 numbers are a result of researching and compiling the results from all 327 U.S. marathons as reported on Marathinguide.com. See here for the data by race. The data reflects the total number of finishers, not the number of individuals who finished, some of whom ran multiple marathons in 2005. Of course, the same is true of RRIC's 1980 data, which makes the comparison apples to apples. I think your question concerning the meaning of "American marathoners" is a bit of fine parsing since the vast majority of finishers in American marathons in both 1980 and 2005 were/are Americans. For all practical purposes, the comparative summary performances of "marathoners who ran in America" represents the summary performances of "American marathoners".

Sorry I pissed you off with my "mediocre runner" comment, srlopez. I just find it odd that this question is important enough to be asked ad nauseam on message boards, but it's not important enough for people to get out and train and actually change the facts.

Sorry I pissed you off with my "mediocre runner" comment, srlopez. I just find it odd that this question is important enough to be asked ad nauseam on message boards, but it's not important enough for people to get out and train and actually change the facts.

You didn't piss me off. I think it is odd that this comes up over and over again too. I only utilized your word to balance what I was saying. At my current race speed, I think a 3:00ish marathoner is pretty damned skippy (even if my choice of 3:00 is indeed arbitrary)... whereas folks who are faster than that would not. It gets into the whole definition of 'good runner', which is a matter of perspective. Different for different folks. I'm not disagreeing with you and I'm not mad.

You didn't piss me off. I think it is odd that this comes up over and over again too. I only utilized your word to balance what I was saying. At my current race speed, I think a 3:00ish marathoner is pretty damned skippy (even if my choice of 3:00 is indeed arbitrary)... whereas folks who are faster than that would not. It gets into the whole definition of 'good runner', which is a matter of perspective. Different for different folks. I'm not disagreeing with you and I'm not mad.

+100000 Kudos Sr Lopez ... as someone who thinks a 3:00ish marathon is pretty damn fast (Hell someone that runs 3:15; 3:30; 3:45 ....), I appreciate the fact you are one of the few who can relate and provide great advise/perspective to runners of many different capabilities....after all ... All things are Relative in Life!

I don't think I even understand the question..... All Marathoners are good runners ---- I personally dont care what their times are ---- if they did it -- they are good...

All Marathoners are good runners ---- I personally dont care what their times are ---- if they did it -- they are good...

Well most of them certainly care.

I'd be cool with mediocre.