Quitting Before The Start

Interesting indeed. 15,000 entrants in this year's New York City Marathon were estimated to not even show up at the start.

15,000. Yes, I said 15,000. This number was a bit of a surprise to me too, but according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, that's the number of folks estimated to have entered the race, but would not show up at the start.

Why?

There are various reasons, according to the article. Most prevalent is injury due to improper training. This certainly validates the case for doing your homework prior to embarking on a marathon journey. It's not a physical endeavor for the meek or faint of heart. It takes a physical and mental toll.

I'm not saying you shouldn't do a marathon. It's a great experience. But it's too bad those 15,000 slots couldn't go to race entrants who are really anxious to compete in this high-profile event and would be more than physically prepared to make the race.