The Marathon Effect
Kevin Selby on February 15, 2012, 2:00am
Is the marathon hurting track and field both in the US and at the international level?
There is a slippery slope for top distance runners both in the US and worldwide, and it has the most skilled athletes headed for the marathon. This slippery slope occurs in the middle of a perfect storm in our sport, and the draw of the roads is too tough to resist. The track is being left behind to a degree. Just check your nearest marathon results sheet.
I wrote most of this article before my interview with Scott Bauhs<http://www.flotrack.org/article/10538-Scott-Bauhs-The-Free-Agent>. He demonstrates my point in saying that he may have helped his chances to resign with adidas if he had run a good marathon.
2012 is already off to a quick start in the marathon, and the event is so competitive and deep in talent it is hard to keep up with who is running these ridiculous performances. This flood of talent is not testing the waters of the track, at least not yet.
The appeal of the marathon may be detrimental in the long run for athletes. Kenya is unleashing 2:06 or faster marathoners as frequently as the US producers 6 foot 6 guys who can run the floor and jam it home. It makes the US marathon core look like my Golden State Warriors- a few studs, but only a single playoff appearance in 17 years.
Read on here<http://www.flotrack.org/article/10604-The-Marathon-Effect>.
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