"Runners. Yeah, we're different." -AdidasAn Adidas campaign 10 years ago featured great magazine ads with runners doing weird stuff that anyone who runs would recognize but non-runners can't quite relate to. For example, guys putting vaseline on thighs & nipples for chafing, squatting behind trees in a long trail run, stretching while waiting in lines, etc. Different as in "odd."
It seems we now have some runners that are different as in "robotic." A technology company in Japan is hosting the world's first marathon for robots! In the article I read only 5 robots had entered the event, but, hey, you've got to start somewhere.
The race kicks off today, February 24th, and it's open only to androids with two legs. The robots will make 422 laps around a 100 meter indoor track to cover 26 miles! This reminds me of when Paige ran a 5K on the indoor Rotary Track in a New York City Invitational and set the Los Gatos High School record (which she may still hold). The rotary track was small and I think Paige had to race around 25 laps which boggles the minds of 100 yard dash sprinters.
Race organizers expect the Robot Marathon to last 4 days which will put the robots at the finish line on February 27th, the day their human counterparts run in the Toyko Marathon. It's a relief to my ego to know that while I may be slow at least I can beat robots!
I'm so excited to get wind of this Robot Marathon. A few robots from the Knudsen collection might want to sign up for next year and start training! And may the best "Robot" win!
