clinical presentation of marathon addiction syndrome
After becoming addicted to running marathons, the changes in one's physique are quite evident, as many comparison photos have shown. These are changes that can be seen at a glance.
However, you might not realize the subtle changes in your way of thinking brought about by marathon running. Sometimes, these changes happen so quietly that even you don't notice them.
Today, I'll list some clinical manifestations of severe marathon addiction syndrome, so that marathon enthusiasts can self-check and see if there's still hope for them.
1. Measuring distance in terms of 42 kilometers
Before running marathons, distances were measured using the standard decimal system: 100 kilometers to the destination, 50 kilometers, 20 kilometers, and so on. Now, it's more advanced. When talking about distances, your mind naturally converts them into marathon terms: two full marathons, one full marathon, or a half marathon.
2. Remembering dates by marathon race days
Previously, remembering dates was a hassle, and you might have felt like you had early signs of dementia. Now, it's different. Just replace any date with the marathon race day you participated in, and you'll remember it better than your spouse's birthday. For example, your child’s school registration day is the day of the Harbin Marathon, your wedding anniversary is the day of the Beijing Marathon. You might forget payday, but you can easily recall your personal best (PB) day.
3. Talking about pace instead of speed
Since learning the term 'pace' (minutes per kilometer, 5 minutes is a 500 pace, 4.5 minutes is a 430 pace), you no longer know what 'speed' means. When non-running friends ask about your running speed, you get confused and feel the urge to pull out a calculator. Even when riding in a car, you might want to check the car's pace using a GPS watch.
4. Squeezing paper cups
During a marathon, when hydrating, you grab a cup of water from the table while running without stopping. To prevent water from splashing into your nose, you usually squeeze the cup and drink from the side. After getting used to this, you feel the urge to squeeze any disposable cup you see, whether in the office or on the street.
5. Stepping on carpets
A crucial part of a marathon is stepping on timing mats to ensure the chip on your shoe registers your time. After getting used to this, you feel the urge to step on any carpet, doormat, or floor mat you see, just for peace of mind.
6. Assessing new roads for running
When visiting a new place and seeing a new road, others might admire the scenery. Marathon runners, however, assess whether the road is suitable for running: is it flat, are there many cars, how strong is the sunlight, is there a significant elevation change? If the road isn't suitable for running, no matter how beautiful it is, they consider it a waste.
7. Considering a city visited only if you've run there
Previously, you might have considered a city visited if you saw its landmarks, famous sights, or tasted its authentic food. After running marathons, you don't consider a city visited unless you've run a marathon there. When others praise places like West Lake or Central Street, you can nonchalantly say 'ran there,' which feels unbeatable.
8. Using running photos as profile pictures
Since taking up running, you no longer like photos of yourself doing anything else. All your social media profile pictures are now running photos, preferably from a famous marathon. Sometimes, when you open your contact list, it's filled with running or posing photos. If you accidentally send the wrong message, don't blame me; it's just too easy to get confused.
Lastly, a true story. One Sunday afternoon, while driving my child to school, we saw a car with the license plate PB325. My daughter shouted, 'His PB is three minutes faster than yours!'
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Article reprinted from the public account: Bucktooth Zhao