The Upside of the Downside?

While many people are reportedly turning to comfort food to help them cope with the downturn, it seems that some are moving in a healthier direction, according to Britain's Telegraph, in a report entitled "Americans Run Off the Recession in Record Numbers":

Obesity be gone. Americans are lacing up athletic shoes and signing up to run in 5Ks, 10-milers and even marathons in record numbers.

In a country often lampooned as being populated with obese soda-swilling TV junkies, around 9.2 million people completed a certified foot race in the United States in 2008, up from 3.7 million in 1987.

Of those, 425,000 completed a marathon - 26.2 miles, or 42.2 kilometres - and 715,000 ran a half-marathon, according to Running USA, a non-profit group that promotes running. That is up from 143,000 marathon runners in 1980.

The numbers are expected to be even higher this year, said Ryan Lamppa from Running USA, a campaigning group that supports and promtes running as a sport. "There is still a pent-up demand for races in the country."

Marathons across the country are filling up so quickly that race organisers are adding half-marathons (13.1 miles, or 21 kilometres) along with shorter races on event day, Lamppa said.

Around 40,000 people ran the New York marathon in early November. In late October roughly 32,000 people ran the Marine Corps marathon in Washington DC, and 45,000 ran earlier in Chicago.

In Atlanta, 55,000 people signed up for the November 26 marathon - the bulk of the tickets sold online in seven hours - and 45,000 are expected at the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend on January 10 in Florida.

Why the growth? Running is the cheapest, fastest way to lose weight, and along with walking, the easiest way to exercise.

But that's only part of the answer.

We live in a financially uncertain, violence-scarred world, and running "gives you something to control - you can't control the stock market or the economy, but you can control your health," said Lamppa.

Michael Giordana, a sports sociologist at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, believes there are three aspects fueling the running boom: people inspired by the 2008 Olympics, increased social networking - for example runners opening Facebook pages to collect money for charity - and a reaction to what he called "the obesity epidemic".

According to the US Centers for Disease Control, about one third of American adults are obese, while another third is overweight.

As more people run and enjoy the experience, word-of-mouth attracts new runners. "The stories that come out motivate people to get off the couch and be more active," said Giordana.

Race days have also become city-wide carnivals, complete with live music, free food, street vendors, and crowds cheering on the athletes.

Big sponsors have jumped into the act. While schools and local shops focus on neighborhood 5K runs, marquee names like Bank of America, ING, McDonalds and Continental Airlines have sponsored major races this year.

Training is also widely available, Giordana said. Aside from scores of books on running, there are software programmes and training programmes held at health clubs, some catering to specific interests like religion or single runners looking for a partner.

Runner's World magazine, the sport's bible, held a virtual training programme through its website that culminated in the November 14 Richmond, Virginia marathon.

Need in-person support? Bridget Bowers heads a training programme run by Pacers, a northern Virginian chain of running shoe shops.

"It's a very social thing to do," said Bowers, who also coaches the American University cross-country team.

Although the article doesn't say so, I'm assuming there are other reasons for the burgeoning interest in running, including the fact that a growing number of Americans:

• Have more time available for such activities, because they are either unemployed or underemployed
• Have less money available for traditional but costlier leisure pursuits such as eating out or going to a show
• Need cheaper forms of stress relief (than alcohol, for instance)
• Feel pressure to buff up their appearance to gain an edge in a challenging job market
• Are more interested in life's simple pleasures, including enjoying the great outdoors

Comments

[dearieme]

Go short knees.

[Steve]

Wow, just think, if people had jobs where they had to "work" they wouldn't need to injure themselves (think knees, ankles, feet and hips) running. Sitting in an office concocting convoluted financial schemes or ways to avoid tax, is not "work". We need to make those who are stealing our future learn the value of real work!

Most people run on a paved surface, which our body was not designed to do. Running is better than being overweight, but it is creating another set of problems; the monetary and physical cost associated with the wear on your body from running. (This is not to mention the possible injuries to the fools who run in the street in the dark, tempting fate and literally putting their life in the hands of a driver, already distracted by cell phones and music, who probably can't see them!)

We need to become a society that actually makes things, and a little physical activity doing that, is a good thing.

[Boom2Bust.com]

"Are more interested in life's simple pleasures, including enjoying the great outdoors"

Kind of like one of those Allstate Insurance commercials says.

Anyone notice how a growing number of TV ads share the same message... it's okay you lost your shirt in the financial crisis. Everybody else did too. We're here to help (or, at least, sell you something).

[GYSC]

Running is bad for the knees if you are 30 years plus. May I suggest something else?

Hang a mirror, a heavy bag, a speed bag, and a jump rope area in the basement. If you can do 6 rounds on any combo (3 minute rounds) you are in good shape. Get up to 10 rounds, and wow. Forget about sparring, you just get broken noses. Forget about tournaments it gets worse.

[C.V.D>]

I walk 3 miles a day and afterwards burn a fatty and any stress disappears.

[robert]

I agree with the negative comments on running. Too many are running on concrete or asphalt and will most certainly damage their knees over time. The boxing routine described by GYSC is excellent but if you are not in decent shape to begin with it can literally kill you. I am over 50 and prefer vigorous walking to running (unless vicious dogs are involved). Ideally you should be taking 100 steps per minute for a minimum of thirty minutes. Everyday would be great but I settle for every other with intervals of light resistance/weight training.

I still enjoy alcohol as a stress reliever but have been making my own great wine for years. I think the most expensive wine I ever made cost me no more than a dollar a bottle. I buy sugar in bulk when on sale and look for cheap (verging on overripe) fruit that has been heavily discounted by a grocery store about to get a fresh shipment. Believe it or not you can make great wine with bananas for less than sixty cents a bottle.

[tim]

I agree with boomtobust. Theres no better workout than pummeling a heavy back for 12+ minutes if you go at it hard. I was a runner for thirty years and now, it hurts my knees to do it.