Monday, July 07, 2008

Running For a Cause


It is common for other participants in the London Marathon to walk up and ask why you are running - meaning not what motivates you, but what cause you are running for. There, all but the fastest runners run for one cause or another - a charity, a foundation, or perhaps a sick friend. And the elite runners are running for their country. Here in Portland and Oregon, where running and athletics is commonplace, you don't need a cause in order to participate. Yet, many races, if not most, have a charity.
There's a race to stop global warming, and a race against global warming. There are runs for dogs, cheetahs, seals, soldiers, children, parks, zoos, and oppressed peoples in distant countries. And, there are several runs for research, conservation, and for curing just about every disease imaginable.
Politics, it seems, is omnipresent, as pretty much any race with a cause may have political implications. Not that these races don't do a lot of good for science, world peace, and the community, but what is most important for us, as runners and walkers? Do we hold races for causes, or do we develop cause-related events so we can race? In the long run, it's probably a little of both. I think it's also important to remember that, structurally, some events are presented by race organizations that may be promoting a cause, while other events are presented by the cause, itself.
Three events locally presented by a cause:
Run for the Cheetah Koman Race For the Cure Run for Congo Women
[photo courtesy of Pine Hollow Tri, a benefit for the Pine Hollow Fire Department]

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