Start the new year with a clear conscience
Athletics in all its forms has changed lives for generations and continues to do so.
Road running, in particular, being a mass-based activity, offers a healthy sporting activity to all. Track and field is more elitist in terms of ability and therefore not as accessible
Cross country is much like road running, but not as popular, probably because it is invariably short, sharp and with little opportunity to “hide away.” It is, however, the cradle of athletics.
Despite road races offering an opportunity for runners of all abilities to participate in the same race as the best runners in the world, there are unfortunately individuals who cheat. This is shared by runners across the board.
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) have just announced that three cheats have been suspended for misdemeanours in the 2019 race and that other investigations are being conducted. Full marks to the CMA for their vigilance.
In a race the size of Comrades it is not totally surprising as it is an occurrence experienced in many of big city marathons. Nonetheless, it is difficult to get one’s mind around the “why.” If a runner cheats, the one person who knows for sure they have done so is the runner themselves.
That becomes an all-consuming lie to contend with until the bitter end.
In this instance the cheating at Comrades revolved around issues like qualifying, but it has been worse on occasion.
Substance abuse is prevalent in every sport and that is confounding.
In some instances the driving force is financial remuneration, but most often it seems it is the ego that drives the craving, as was perhaps the case with cyclist Lance Armstrong, who came close to living the perfect lie.
And then it all came tumbling down. It cannot be worth it.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to be the very best runner you can be, whether it is a sub-30, 40, 50 or 60-minute 10km that one chases. If nutrition can assist, as indeed it can, then runners, their coaches and mentors need to be one hundred percent sure what and why they are supplementing and that no harm will be done to body or reputation.
The case of Albert Salazar in the US is another sad one. Not just because he was such a great runner whose own performances are now in serious dispute, but because of his influence over so many young athletes who are having their performances, and even talent, questioned.
New Year’s resolutions are but weeks away. I implore athletes to adopt a resolution along the lines of “I will be the very best runner I can, by using every fair means available to me and will proudly call myself ‘a winner’ within the realms of my ability.”
That way you will beat everyone that you need to beat — starting with you.
Share experiences to bob@boastrunningsuccess.co.za