白線上的跑者

Only few runners can make a living by running for a prize.

Here we have a race called - JP Morgan Corporate Challenge (Please check http://www.chasecc.com/). It is held several places in USA. Companies sponsor the race and encourage their employees to run it.

The distance is only 3.5 miles, i.e. 5.6 K. But as we all know, it's not necessarily easy at such a short distance, compared to the marathon 42K. This is because we all try our best and will run at very fast pace for shorter distance.

In each local race, top five company teams are awarded for male (5 men), female (5 women), and co-ed (mixed 2 men and 2 women). My company is used to be top three. I am in male team, who won the third place this year. The top one teams in each local race are sponsor by their companies to go to New York for the final in October.

This series of the races may not promote every Olympic runners, but it encourages more runners and more employees who work hard to get out of their office and run. Most importantly, it gets more companies to be involved in this activity and recognize it.

Any similar events in Taiwan?

Hi RunningYam Thank for your attention about running in Taiwan. I think the problem is that elite runners get little respect in our country. Although the government had set up the criteria for prize ( may be a lot of money ) , it is not a guarantee for the future of the elite athlete. Taiwan Corporate Challenge may be organized in the furture but now there are not any races hold between company teams. Generally speaking ,companies seldom encourage employee to run for health except some show time broadcast on TV . My point is about the Vietnan runner who won the marathon held on free way with bare foot under high tempeture in Taiwan... I don't think he like to run without shoes under such a condition.They can not afford a pair of Nike or Adidas running shoes cost 80-100 US dollars. Race doesn't have place to show and no one buy ticket to watch a road race. I worry about the future of our young elite runner. They must realize that they should have another plan for the future. In my memory the marathon and 10000 meters record holder 許績勝 of our country had been sponsored by Japanese enterprise and set the records in Japan. This is the reason for the Japan and Korea can get the gold medal in olympic. Anyway the government and enterprise should do something for promotion of distance running in our country.

I understand this, but it is still sad to hear about it again. Our country (Taiwan) simply can not help our best people succeed in sports, academic, etc. Athelets like 許績勝 have to go to other countries like USA, Japan to continue their career and become more successful. Many kids have to leave their hometown and develop their future in USA.

Running is an individual business, but what can we runners do about this situation? The problem may not be resolved right away. But just like we run marathon, we have persistence, consistency, strong belief/will, etc. Those mental strength make us differ from others. With theses advantages, there should be something we can do even little. A marathon is nothing but tens of thousands of little and strong footsteps!

Shall we better open a new thread to discuss this if there are some interests aroused?

runningYam 說得有點道理 跑步是個人事業 不論是為健康 生活 或是其他目的 喜歡跑步的人都有些執著 我因為民生報報導吳有家失業 又看到越南人打赤腳 心中有感而發 或許這些冠軍在於物質生活上較為貧乏，但內心應該很充實，而他們可能永遠不知道他們曾被我們討論過，祝福他們，我們能為他們做什麼嗎？

Great. Most of races in US have a portion of registration fee go to charities. But make sure you have planned part of the fee for this purpose and mention it in the race details so that runners gladly and proudly know where their money goes to.