‘Runner-holics'

Press, 19 February 1983, Page 14

‘Runner-holics'

Sir, — I read with wicked delight an article entitled “Runner-holies linked with anorexics” ("The Press," February 16). Certainly running, particularly marathon-type running, becomes for some people an obsession. It also becomes an addiction, and one clearly that cannot be regarded casually. Unlike watching television, smoking, social drinking or sex, it must be regarded with both suspicion and trepidation. It has been said that the I.Q. level goes down a few points with each marathon contested. This must be true, for what other reason would one be willing voluntarily. to do it again? Sadly, running has taken over my life, I am her slave, and she rules my existence. Sometimes I am away from home two to three hours at a time. But compare my addiction with the countless hours spent drowned

in a sea of television or sacrilegiously those never-end-ing hours the executive spends “at the office" addicted to the socially accepted career. This person is never home, gone missing and probably dead ...

— Yours, etc., ALAN M. HALL. February 17. 1983.