A professor from the University of Chicago is using a survey to study the relationship between marathon performance and satisfaction. For some the words 'performance' and 'satisfaction' may bring up memories of certain failures, or perhaps unsavory E-mail solicitations, but applying the question to marathons is intriguing.
The simple equation is that running faster equals more satisfaction. From personal experience I can see some truth in that. Who doesn't enjoy running faster? But there is a certain amount of nuance in the the answer.
My most satisfying marathon is still my first marathon. Having never run one before, my performance expectations were loose. In 1981, I had run 31:07 (5:00 minutes/per mile) on the track for 10K, but had never raced longer than a half-marathon. My loose goal for Grandma's Marathon that year was 2:36 (about 6:00 per mile). When I finished in 2:29, I was exhausted but exhilarated.
Of course, I could have looked at race prediction tables that say if you can run 31:07 for 10K you can run 2:25 for the marathon. Should I have been disappointed instead?
Three marathons (and ten years) later, I ran 2:26:01 at the California International Marathon in Sacramento. A side-ache derailed me in the middle, but it was a PR at the time. In the parlance of the marathon, you are allowed to drop the seconds portion of your time, so two seconds faster would have made me much happier.
My fastest marathon was 2:24 at Chicago in 1995. That was certainly satisfying in many ways, but I was trying to run under 2:22 and qualify for the US Olympic trials. Even though I realized I had done the best I could that day, I was left feeling somewhat empty.
For many years, I have worked with citizen athletes, helping them prepare for marathons. I always emphasize that the process (training, other races, rest, cross training etc.) is a big part of the experience. I urge marathoners not to tie all their satisfaction to their finish time. For many, that helps soothe feelings on a tough day of running, while also adding to the richness of breakthrough performance.
What is performance? Is it just how you do on race day? Or does it include all the training? Can you enhance your performance to improve your results and satisfaction? For those that follow the Tour de France bicycling race, you have seen another year of high-profile disqualifications for users of 'performance enhancing' drugs. Did their enhanced performance lead to more satisfaction? I hope not.
For that matter, what is satisfaction? Can you only be satisfied if everything goes well and you run a great time? What about if you manage your resources well, and deal constructively with an adverse day (e.g., Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in 2007)?
Years ago, I put on some workshops with legendary runner Jeff Galloway. He ran in the Olympics in 1972 and has a marathon PR of 2:16. He assured me that the most fun he ever had with the marathon was when he stopped caring about time, used walking breaks, and got to the finish line with a smile. It's true that not too many of the top finishers are smiling!
I am a certified ChiRunning instructor, and we are taught that ChiRunning is process oriented, not goal oriented. A successful marathon for a ChiRunner would be one where we listened to our bodies the whole way, maintained a steady rhythm or cadence, and let the experience unfold. How does that approach affect the performance/satisfaction equation?
If you are doing a fall marathon, I encourage you to check out the study, and also contact me to let me know your take on performance and satisfaction. No snickering please!
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