Pond-sizing

Friend and occasional commenter Nigel sent me a link:

As competitive amateur athletics explode, a new form of gamesmanship is emerging. Millions of people can now say they've run a marathon or a triathlon, but how many people can say they've won one? In the past, that hasn't been easy for weekend warriors who work long hours at the office and lack six-pack abs. Now, some are trying to gain an edge by finding where the fast racers aren't. Instead of training harder, they're spending hours online to scout out the field, and they're driving hundreds of miles to race against thin competition in out-of-the-way places.

Hey, if it encourages these folks in living an active and healthy lifestyle, great!

I'll stick with selecting events based upon things like rendezvousing with friends and possibilities for playing tourist. Oh, and ideally lack of hills!


[ObEcon: Choosing the Right Pond: Human Behavior and the Quest for Status by Robert Frank]