Let's assume that this recent poll, shown on the home page for the last 7 weeks, with 40 votes is a good enough sample to represent the running and walking philosophy of the WMC, or more correctly, users of the WMC site.
Well it offers an interesting perspective. So here's my light hearted interpretation of the results. You might have a different view.
32% of us are masochists. (weeze, pant, pant...gulp. Why oh why?@$!) I knew it! To run or walk a marathon you need a certain amount of single bloody mindedness. But the high percentage has actually taken me by surprise. Of course you could view it to mean that 32% of us are just plain out of shape... but surely not?
22% of us are purists (I run/walk therefore I am) that live and breath our sport. It is the single most important activity that defines this group.
17% of us are much more well rounded (I am therefore I run/walk), taking a more even handed approach to the sport. I call this group the Darwinists. Man was designed to run. Not for speed but for endurance. Being the only creature that regulates its body heat by sweating, primitive man (and nomadic tribes today) literally run their prey into the ground. If you have the chance, read "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall.
15% of us take our running and walking in a spiritual manner (chill out, zone out, levitate...zen master). Using the time to chill out.
And 4 of us, soul brothers and sisters have been labelled a changing room athlete. I didn't know there were so many of us.
I wonder who the solitary vote that runs or walks but is too embarassed to say.
And I'm sure there is at least one member that comes along only because his other half runs ... without naming names.
