Run Life's Course: My Guilty Dedication to Nike

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

My Guilty Dedication to Nike

Lets face it, Nike probably does not make the best athletic gear but they are the absolute in marketing brilliance in their industry and beyond. If you are a marathoner like me, Nike is not on the top list of shoes but their marketing campaigns make me feel like I need to buy a pair of their shoes or at least their workout gear. But why do I feel the guilt? It is because time again Nike has a forgiveness like no other when it comes to the so-called fallen athlete who has endorsed them in the past.

Tiger Woods, arguably the best golfer in the world, single-handedly brought excitement to the game of golf. He brought more money to the sport than any other competitor. It was the right endorsement choice for Nike because viewership for any tournament Tiger participated increased with even the young spectators. That Nike swoosh was familiar and Nike Golf was here to stay. And when he had an overexposed fidelity issue, Nike got it. It was a family issue and they stuck with him and that swoosh is still memorable today as he continues to be the best.

Both Kobe Bryant, my favorite active NBA player, and Michael Vick ( the quarterback that has been throwing and running like a wide receiver way before RG III , Cam Newton, and Colin Kaepernick) had their issues. Nike let the dust settle and these athletes came back stronger with rebuilt images and a much larger consistent fan base that thirsts for their skills.

Not only do I buy shoes, shirts, and paraphernalia, I have believed with Nike that everyone deserves a second chance. It reminds me of having true friends who stick by me through thick and thin. Now that's the best marketing any company can put together - forgiveness and dependability. I guess I am going to the Nike store today.

Marathon Results and Snippets

Too Many More To Add
05.15.11 - Pasadena (5:30:27) - The ultimate challenge is to run another marathon the day after a PR. But in the rain? It rained the first 11 miles. (I thought it did not rain in Southern California.) I should have returned to the car and driven back to the hotel. Here we go again with the half marathoners and the marathoners running together until mile 10. I was running but my legs couldn't sustain it after mile 10. I walked for 2.5 miles and ran every 3 minutes for the race during the hills. No electrolyte drinks for almost 5 mile stretches. No pretzels, salt, or other "push you through" food. Shout out to the neighborhood family that gave us Vanilla Wafers and Jolly Ranchers in a Ziploc bag. Nothing like running with a Vanilla Wafers bag but this was my "electrolyte". I had to stop at a local store to get a Mountain Dew to finish the race. The nerve of one of the race coordinators to ask where I got my Mountain Dew when they had no Gatorade on the course. Paramedics were plentiful and not Kaiser Permanente. Thank goodness. Overall not well organized.
05.14.11 - Palos Verdes (4:33:31 PR) - Community marathon it is but for a great charitable cause. You can register the morning of the race. The views of the Pacific Ocean are the only high point outside of the HILLS HILLS HILLS and more HILLS. A little drizzle during the marathon was bearable. Mental toughness is required as you past the finish line three times before it is actually your finish. Running back through the original starting line is no fun. It felt more like a long run around some neighborhoods rather than a marathon. Water stops has minimal water and even less electrolyte drinks. They use the old school chips. Less than 1 foot after crossing the finish line, you are expected to stop suddenly so they can collect the chips. A practice long run at best.
03.26.11 - National (4:46:05) - The marathon that couldn't end soon enough! Cheap bootleg expo across from RFK Stadium. 29 degrees at the start and 33 at the finish. The host hotel offered one shuttle to the start every hour. Half marathoners started the same time as the marathoners and there was NO split. The first mile marker we saw was at mile 10. The streets could not hold the number of runners with the parked cars. Get this! Half marathoners were being encouraged that they only had 100 feet to go to the finish as we had to a) run past their finish line, b) run around RFK stadium as they are going to their parked cars, and c) run back through the original starting line. THE WORST!!! I am not into crowd support but if you are, don't run this marathon. They did have water and electrolyte stops at every mile after mile 15. Lo and behold, there were mile markers too after mile 15. I can't forget the loop around the bucket at mile 22. There was a long stretch to the finish that had no "glory" that you were anywhere near the finish line - no signage, no cheers, no "you're almost there", no NOTHING! After experiencing the longest marathon ever, I had no way of getting back to the hotel. The police said "take a subway". REALLY? NOT! S I waited 20 minutes to hail the only taxi to go to the hotel. I had the taxi stop to pick up three other marathoners to take them to their cars. Disgusted!
03.20.11 - Georgia (4:54:49) - A great challenge for a flat course runner with 18 miles of hills and 6 miles of near flat terrain. Half marathoners started at the same time but split at mile 6. Plenty of room in the streets to handle the crowds. If you're into crowd support, don't be! I must have been delusional to think Atlanta was flat in all my business travel. The last hill ended around mile 25. The finish was the best. Within 20 feet of the medal was the photo area and the post-race food and two blocks to the hotel. Perfectly organized non-major marathon with volunteers exemplifying the best Southern Hospitality.

Run Life's Course

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

My Guilty Dedication to Nike

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