so - ya gotta clink on the link above; great article on "famous movie quotes" - it is a good read, and, gives pause for thought on a number of fronts: has script writing gotten worse than it used to be? have movie audiences become so "web driven" that we/they lack the interest in Mamet like scripts that used to hold us on the edge of our collective seats ("Glengarry Glen Ross")? has the memorable one-liner — a brilliant epigram, a quirky mantra, a moment in a bottle — now found itself in danger of becoming a lost art?
It is, by analogy and extension, a lot like the current state of affairs in running - in that the "modern" crop of runners [Africans aside] arguably do not hold a candle to the runners of, say, 25 yrs ago. Look at American marathon times - collectively they are significantly slower as a percentage of the fields now signing up. Sure, the WR sits at 2:03:59 [Haille rocks!]; but look at Boston, for instance. Used to be several dozen American (and Canadian) runners would be under 2:20 - now, not so much. And in Canada - Jerome Drayton's marathon record from nearly 25 years ago continues to stand, untouched. No current Canadian marathoner has come close - Reid Coolseat nailed a 2:11 at Scotiabank in September, and yes, also met the Athletics Canada standard; but, he had set out, I believe, to surpass Drayton's long held record - and while his race was noble, gutsy and damned impressive, he missed [at least this time].
Maybe Simon Bairu will come close in NY in 3 weeks - he does hold the Can record for the 10,000, when he ran 27:23 [which was an EPIC RACE - one of my all time favourites, ever!; Just watch Solinsky go sub 27 (I mean, damn, he nails a sub 1:58 last 800!!), and the announcer goes absolutely ballistic!!!!](more on the Beast tomorrow - after all, the guy rips it up in white knee highs (see post below!!))...
So - what is the issue with 21st century writing and running? Funding? Saturation? Dumbing down of the ethic of "winning" vs "participating". Just dumbing down of all us?
Je ne sais pas.
enjoy,
Johnny boy
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