Lance Armstrong will run the New York Marathon on November 5. Lance's roots are as a triathlete, so he's no stranger to running, but I don't think he'll qualify for the Olympic Trials or anything. On the other hand, he seems to be unusually determined, so he could surprise with a 2:40 or so.
In any event, Lance crossing over will be good for the event and good for the sport. I laud the NYRRC for this coup. Lance did in cycling what American distance runners have been unable to do -- consistently beat the world's elites. He's like the Geb or Tergat of cycling: the superman who made his elite competitors look like mere mortals chasing a god. I think that Lance will make some junior high and high school kids (our future stars, in other words) think that running is cool and inspire them to try it.
Sure, he'll draw some attention away from the guys up front. But he'll also draw attention to the event as a whole--and not as a charity runner, or a hard-luck story, but as an elite athlete saying: this is a challenge. That's a good thing.
You're not too far short of 2:40... are you tempted?
Posted by: steve | April 24, 2006 at 11:01 AM