Think about the possibility to interview Spyridon Louis, the winner of the lads’s marathon within the first fashionable Olympic video games.
Based mostly on Klein’s (2021) article in regards to the race, I’ve my questions prepared:
Had you met Michael Bréal, the French linguist who proposed the marathon for the 1896 Video games?
How did a Greek farmer like your self practice for such an extended race?
What was the working climate like on that early April afternoon?
Simply why did you cease to eat an egg and drink some wine alongside the route?
What was it like to complete the 24.8-mile trek within the stadium in Athens, Greece—your property nation—earlier than 80,000 followers?
How most of the 16 different starters crossed the end line?
The unique third-place finisher was disqualified for getting a trip in a carriage for a part of the race. Did you see this occur?
You have been a nationwide hero at age 23 and selected to return to the farm. Why did you not run one other marathon?
And maybe crucial query: What do you consider the evolution of the marathon, now roughly 26.2 miles, and different aggressive races in 2024?
In any case, races have tailored in all sorts of the way.
In his handbook on artistic considering methods, Michalko (2006) highlighted SCAMPER, a seven-letter acronym to spark concepts. The “A” in SCAMPER—adaptation—includes the method of changing into accustomed to others’ concepts. As Edison identified, “Make it a behavior to maintain looking out for novel and attention-grabbing concepts that others have used efficiently” (Michalko, p. 84). Among the many issues that may be tailored for artistic use embrace processes, contexts, behaviors, and supplies.
The variation in working races is putting, and it begins with themes. It’s simple to seek out holiday-based races, together with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. In the case of meals, one of many extra artistic runs is the Krispy Kreme Problem, a race that begins on the North Carolina State College campus earlier than shifting to the closest Krispy Kreme the place runners attempt to eat a dozen donuts previous to the ultimate 2.5-mile stretch to the end line. The annual occasion has raised over $2 million for the North Carolina Kids’s Hospital since 2004 with over 1,000,000 donuts being eaten in that point.
This race isn’t the one food-themed occasion. The Nice American Bacon Race, present in numerous US cities, contains a “‘Bacon Bash’ after-party” (what else?) on the finish of the 5km course.
Hershey, PA, is understood for chocolate, however within the working annals, the difference prolonged to a marathon beneath water. The HydroWorx Underwater Marathon was held with runners on underwater treadmills.
Adaptation in working can also be seen in team-based occasions. Race lovers can watch the Windfall Hood & Portland to Coast Relays, as groups of 8-12 runners from all through the world make their collective approach to the Oregon coast each August.
Lastly, a race that should be ranked excessive in creativity is the Course des Cafés, a contest in Paris that celebrates the custom and delight in café service courting again to the 17th century (Treisman, 2024).
Roughly 200 individuals, largely restaurant waiters, have the purpose of strolling (not working) 1.2 miles as rapidly as attainable whereas preserving a tray with a croissant, a glass of water, and a cup of espresso intact. Sneakers have been permitted within the 2024 occasion, and an apron was required. Just one hand at a time might be used, and contributors’ trays have been judged on the end line. An empty glass, as an illustration, resulted in a one-minute penalty. Lots of them took 13-20 minutes to complete (Breeden, 2024).
Previous races had a extra formal gown apparel with gown sneakers being required. Some included the contributors carrying wine, not water, on their trays, and an extended route that was over 5 miles in size (Breeden, 2024).
The 2024 race, held simply months earlier than the summer time Olympic Video games in the identical metropolis, exemplifies the progressive twists in racing. One can solely marvel what Spyridon Louis would suppose.
References:
Breeden, A. (2024, March 24). Prepared, set, garçon! Paris waiters race as storied contest returns. The New York Instances. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/24/world/europe/paris-waiters-race.html
Galloway, L. (2013, March 7). Excessive-heel racing for a trigger. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/journey/article/20130304-high-heel-racing-for-a-cause
Klein, C. (2021, July 13). The Olympic marathon’s outlandish early historical past. Historical past. https://www.historical past.com/information/the-olympic-marathons-outlandish-early-history
Michalko, M. (2006). Thinkertoys: A handbook of creative-thinking methods. Ten Velocity Press.
Treisman, R. (2024, March 24). Hurry up and wait: Servers speed-walk via Paris, reviving a century-old race. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/03/25/1240667647/paris-waiters-race-tradition-cafe-olympics
