Just venting

The ruins of Burg Hohenecken
at night

While I am out of the country I keep in touch with the running community mostly through Facebook. There is one thing that annoys me quite a bit about some of my fellow runners: the complaints about races not having medals, not being eligible for the 9+1 program, shirts being cotton instead of tech, etc. etc. I have a question: when did we stop running races for what they are? Events to compare you with your past performances and you with other runners, in short, events to compete. Where did this expection come from that a race also has to have bling, swag, or other non-sense? Yes, it would be nice to get something for your achievment but shouldn't the fact that you ran it and finish it be the most important reward? Well, that's what I think. Luckily there are plenty of runners that disagree with the spoiled folks which can be seen that even the most humble NYCRUNS and NYRR races get sold out. Phew!

I have been running a little bit through the Pfälzer Wald and I am still on for the 10k a few towns over. I am already working on my travel plans to get there.