The 26.2 Sticker

Have you seen these? I have. I might add with increasing frequency.
So my cards are on the table; I am not a fan of bumper stickers, license plate frames with custom messages, or personalized license plates.
This might have to do with my not being a fan of tattoos. I know this is a minority view within some demographics. So be it. There is no phrase, word, icon, or image so important that I want to make it a memorable part of my body (or car). Notepads and pictures work just fine for this purpose.
Wait, I take that back. In college, I had a “no bozos” sticker on my car. This was a picture of Bozo, the clown, with the international “no” sign over it. Maybe I think people with tattoos or stickers on their cars are bozos? It’s all interconnected. So very Kevin Bacon.
In college, I had a “no bozos” sticker on my car. This was a picture of Bozo, the clown with the international “no” sign over it. Maybe I think people with tattoos or stickers on their cars are bozos? It’s all interconnected. So very Kevin Bacon.
I digress.
Anyone who puts a sticker on their car is fair game for criticism. Inflict me with your image; I have a right to comment.
For those unaware, 26.2 is the length of a marathon. Some marathoners, whose number increased by 3%  last year, love these stickers. They are so proud of marathoning that they want to say to the world, “hey, look at me, I run marathons!” or, “Hey, fellow marathoners, I am one of you!” The underlying
The underlying sentiment is, “aren’t we cool – we did a marathon!”
Is that such a cool thing to do and broadcast?
Consider the following:

• • Training for a race typically requires 16 weeks and nearly 200 hours.
  • Health benefits are unclear, if not primarily damaging (overuse).
  • The inventor of the race, Pheidippides, died after running it!

The whole sticker thing strikes as yet more vanity. More “look at me!”
While running a marathon may be a tremendous personal achievement, it is a Pyrrhic victory for society. Why broadcast this, of all things?
If you broadcast something on your bumper sticker, why not something that is encouraging and could improve our society? A few ideas:

• • I give blood, plasma, and platelets every month.
  • I give my extra time to (name a charity or cause).
  • I buy less and save more.
  • I take responsibility for my happiness. Happy people = a happier world.
  • I seek balance.

Then again, I wouldn’t say I like bumper stickers.