Running Inclusively

I saw a disturbing post yesterday on the Marathon Maniacs page.  A race director posted that he was saddened by a post by some runner (not a maniac) on his race's web page that having a 9 hour cut-off for a marathon is "what is wrong with racing today, that anyone can walk a marathon in that time." The race director pointed out that there will be a 50K running simultaneously and if the 50K course is going to be open, why not keep it open for the marathoners.  Sound logic to me.  Even if there wasn't a 50K going on and the permits allow for a 9 hour cut-off, why not make your event inclusive of anyone walking or running (or wheeling) within that time limit?  Using this other runner's logic, why even keep the course open for 3 hours since all of the elite finishers will be done well before 2:30?  How would this person feel if (s)he (probably a he)was excluded because he ran 3:05 but the cut-off is 3 hours.  I don't get the elitist attitude especially when it is unlikely that this person is not even close to being elite. I am sure that truly elite runners are not saying to close down the finish line at 2:10 because they finished in 2:08.  Certainly in ultra marathons, many of the elite ultra runners stay around to cheer the rest of the runners to the finish.  The marathoners at the back of the pack are not getting in anyone's way, particularly not those at the front of the pack.  So, the front of the pack should just be bothered by their race and not anyone else's.  Running has changed people's lives, truly changed them physically and mentally.  We as a running community should embrace everyone who is out there giving it their all, no matter what distance, no matter what pace as long as they are exhibiting good running etiquette. If we were to take this elitist attitude, there would basically be about 10 exclusive marathons in the U.S. instead of hundreds and hundreds of inclusive marathons.  As I age and look at cut-offs a bit more critically, I don't want to be excluded from a sport that has contributed to my life.  There are practical cut-off times, many related to permits, use of volunteers, road closures, etc. but to determine a cut-off time to exclude participation is wrong.  Even Boston has a liberal cut-off time.  The last place runner at Boston came in at 8:58.  I suspect that this elitist runner would say Boston is "what is wrong with racing today"  allowing people to finish in such a dismal time.  What a farce of a person.  I have wondered when I might stop running marathons.  I figure that as long as I can meet the cut-off times, why would I stop? This person will be in the same situation some day looking at cut-off times or most likely they will give up the sport because their best days will be behind them.  I'm sad for them if this is the case.  So, let us in the running community run inclusively and embrace everyone out there who is giving it their best! 

Days 255-260: 30 miles, 2014: 1,248 miles