I recently unsubscribed from Runner's World in a most dramatic fashion. I somehow had been deemed a "VIP," which meant they automatically renewed and billed my subscription without asking me if I wanted it. Said renewal went unnoticed and I got a note from a collection agency... for a $10 magazine!!! Other mags do this, namely Outside, and I find it brazen and obnoxious. I had been feeling like Runner's World was lacking in compelling content and wasn't planning to renew... then I got the notice. So I called and chewed out the customer service agent, letting them know what I thought of their VIP program.
I felt liberated. If you read the magazine long enough it feels like the same topics and advice keep coming around. How much can you say about a single sport after all? Then I noticed a couple stories on the cover of the November issue that intrigued me so I grabbed a copy at the airport. The story that caught my eye the most was "The Last Great Race," a piece about Bart Yasso's final race before retiring from the sport due to chronic Lyme disease. He could barely walk, but managed to conquer the 56 brutal miles of the Comrades Marathon. I also enjoyed the article about minimalist footwear, "Is Less More?" While you aren't likely to ever see me sporting a pair of Five Fingers, I am very intrigued by the notion of going back to basics. After tearing my plantar fascia and essentially starting over, I moved from overdone stability - Asics Kayano, to significantly less shoe - Brooks Ghost, and have been happy with the results. After this latest round of recovery I plan to do one short run each week in a super-light training shoe like the Nike Free. Baby steps.
I'm not racing out to renew my subscription just yet, but thought much of the November issue was worth reading. If you have a little time on your hands like I do, I recommend you have a look.
I have a subscription and like this month's magazine too. Some months the articles are blah, but sometimes I got a lot out of them!
ReplyDeleteI also really enjoyed the Yasso story. Very compelling. It really makes you wonder what we're all capable of given enough grit and determination!
ReplyDeleteI agree, both Runners World and Bicycling magazines are not that great, not a ton of useful training information, I guess that is what I expect for $10 a year
ReplyDeleteI found your blog on the 201Ironman club
i agree with you on the content of runner's world. the only things worth reading in there are the stories and race reviews, in my opinion. the article on yasso was a great one indeed - quite inspiring!
ReplyDeleteI agree too. How much can you write about running. But, I still subscribe. Why? Because I inevitably will end up buying two or three issues from the news stand over the course of year and at $5 a pop, the $10 annual subscription is a savings.
ReplyDeleteI must have missed the Yasso, I'll have to go back and look for it. Did it fuel your desire to do comrades in 2012?
I canceled my subscription in much the same way and now only occasionally pick it up. Sounds like I should pick it up this month!
ReplyDeleteI just got a postcard for auto renewal & thought huh? When did I sign up for that? And was the PF tear from the Kayanos? I run in those too!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way every now and then... A lot of topics are naturally on rotation (injury prevention, weight loss, running in the cold/ heat etc)... But the issues like this month come around and it seems all worth it. For now, I stick to my Runner's World subscription, but I didn't renew Triathlete.
ReplyDeletePut me in the "Me Too" category on letting my subscription to athletic magazines go. What I'm looking for are inspirational stories to keep me going. Funny enough, the blog world kind of fills that need for me (yours included). I get advice, inspirational stories, and funny antidotes. Who needs a magazine?
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