Most runners would agree; we owe a lot to our sport.
If you have not volunteered to help at a race,
perhaps now is the time and this is the way to start paying back on that debt.

Marathon running is a very unusual sport. It costs very little to get into it (what? A pair of shoes and shorts?) You can do it by yourself or with a group. It crosses all economic, social and cultural lines. It can also be the most personal endeavor of all. By that we mean, most runners compete, most of all, with themselves. They compete with their own resistance to exerting effort, with not giving up, with their internal voices that say they might not make it and with all the psychological influences that come from the outside asking things like, "why are you running marathons?"

Those who make it to the finish line, whether it is 5K, 10K, 26.2 or even 100 miles, owe a debt to their sport. If you have stayed with it and played by those rules that dictate what is right for your physical well being, then this sport has given you a lot in return for your effort! Can I say better health and a longer life? How about a sense of pride that very, very few people can claim!

But, running races are not big money makers. To put on a good event, it takes a lot of sponsors and donations and volunteers in addition to the already high entry fees.

It is our firmest belief that all of us who have benefited through our running efforts are obligated to give back to our sport. In addition to a lot of participants, local races must have volunteers to exist. If you can't run, you certainly can help out.

We are building this site based on the assumption that any runner who is planning on venturing out to the interesting and unique events that the rest of the world offers, has, and will continue to participate actively as part of his or her local running scene (perhaps even more so). Also, an "exotic" event should never be someones first race. Do the first one at home. Do it where you trained, where you have direct support, where the only issue is your own running. An experienced marathon runner can more easily handle such things as diet changes, finding his/her way around, time zone changes, stress!!!... you name it. It is all very exciting, but it is too much extra baggage for someone who is still looking for the finish line. Don't get ahead of yourself. It could too easily turn out that you are wasting your time. But, most of all, it is part of your making and keeping that commitment to your own home town event.

Richard Salt, Executive Producer - MarathonChronicles.com™

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