A few days ago, Runner's World "tossed a rhetorical hand grenade" into its Daily Views column, asking "What do you think of folks who run a marathon for the sole reason of crossing it off some sort of 'bucket list'?". A bucket list being a list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket.
The article got over 200 comments and inspired this post today:
"Whew! Is it safe to come out now? Dear readers, before the weekend we sparked a doo-doo deluge when we asked for your thoughts on the "Bucket List Marathon." After more than 200 comments, including accusations of being "insulting," "elitist," and "off our rockers," we're ready to call a cease-fire. Let's all tip-toe away from that little battlefield, and agree that from this point forward, we'll never again mention the word "bucket" unless we need a synonym for a pail of water."
I thought the posted comments were refreshing, particularly the first one: "I've been running for 45 years (7+ miles per day) and I ran my one and only marathon to cross it off my bucket list. You don't have to be a marathon runner to be a runner!" (I've only read one issue of the Runner's World print magazine so far, but I was struck by how the editorial staff seemed to assume that all runners want to run a marathon.)
The reaction to the writer's tone and assumptions in "The 'Bucket List' Marathon" shows that many Runner's World readers are bucket list marathoners. Did the writer overestimate his readership? Should we take his post at face value, that it was a "rhetorical hand grenade". He certainly stirred up quite a conversation.
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