In praise of half

Let’s hear it for tomorrow’s other runners

In many endeavors, half is considered inferior to the whole. Just look at the language: halfbaked, half-truth, half-done and half-wit. But the half reigns when it comes to marathons.

Seventeen thousand people will run the UPMC Health Plan Half Marathon Sunday, nearly three times the number registered to run 26.2 miles. While the marathon gets most of the attention, 13.1 miles is the most popular distance in road racing, not only in Pittsburgh but across the United States. A challenging distance anywhere, its runners deserve equal glory.

The half marathon has become the second most popular road race, behind the 5K, according to Running USA, which surveys runners each year. Since 2000, the number of halfmarathon finishers has quadrupled, from 482,000 to 1,960,000. While difficult for most people, the distance is less punishing than a marathon, making both training and recovery easier. And recent studies suggest that runners who put in fewer miles live longer than those who consistently run longer distances.

This is not to diss the 6,000 people who will run the Pittsburgh course that The Active Times last year rated the eighth best marathon in the world. They are gods among mortals, and The Dick’s Sporting Goods Marathon is a phoenix among races, having achieved this ranking so soon after virtual obliteration. (Because of financial issues, it was not held between 2004 and 2008.)

There’s strength in numbers, however, and the half marathoners can take pride in their distance. Running 13.1 miles is a significant physical accomplishment, something that 99 percent of Americans are unwilling or unable to do. No, it’s not a marathon. But half marathoners, unlike those who double the distance on Sunday, will likely have all their toenails next week.