Running To Russia In Plain Sight

For the second time in the past year, Runners World has left me in an agitated state of confusion. First, I came across an interview they did with Mario Lopez about the part running plays in his life. Based on Lopez's past performance in the 2002 Boston Marathon, I couldn't imagine what advice he could impart to runners other than how to run a shockingly slow marathon. Now, Runners World has turned its attention to failed vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and, in their upcoming August issue, interviewed her about running and its influence on the rest of her life. At first I was worried that Palin was going to claim that she was a good runner because, as governor, she knew how to run a state. Luckily, however, I found out that Palin was indeed an avid runner and, unlike everything she said on the campaign trail, actually knew what she was talking about when speaking of running.

While I find it difficult to take any sort of advice from someone who claims to have sufficient foreign policy credentials based solely on the fact that Russia can be seen from the shores of Alaska, there were some interesting tidbits of information that came from Palin's interview.

* When asked if she could beat Mr. President Barack Obama in a running race (as opposed to a presidential one, which she's already lost to him), Palin showed no hesitation in replying that she would beat President Obama, "If [it] were a long race that required a lot of endurance I'd win...I betcha I'd have more endurance...If you ever talk to my old coaches they'd tell you, too. What I lacked in physical strength or skill I made up for in determination and endurance".

* Palin said that she was able to fit in some runs during the presidential campaign and during one notable run on John McCain's ranch, she injured herself when she fell down a hill, "“I was so stinkin’ embarrassed that a golf cart full of secret service guys had to pull up beside me. My hands just got torn up, and I was dripping blood. In the debate, you could see a big ugly Band-Aid on my right hand".

* Palin, who prefers running alone because "It's the only time I really am
alone, so it's a precious time," like to begin her runs listening to AC/DC and Van Halen. She then turns to country music and finishes up with "a couple mellow Amy Grant songs".

* Palin named her son, Track, as an ode to running.

Palin discusses a bunch of other running-related topics as well, but nothing too noteworthy. While my gut instinct, as a runner, was to view Palin in a much better light than I had before I read this article, my gut instinct, as an American, still overwhelms the runner in me. For, while Palin has certainly proved herself a worthy runner, she never convinced me she had what it took to be a vice president and to lead this country. Thankfully, there was one run she was not able to complete successfully....the run to the White House!