The return of the Marlboro Man
Once upon a time, being seen with a cigarette hanging out of your mouth was THE image of cool. The smoke was a symbol of being a tough-guy, rugged, and dare I say, it was almost fashion accessory that every desirable human slung. Back in the days when you could light up inside, smoke happily when pregnant, puff on air-planes and even doctors would prescribe tobacco for your ‘health’…WOW! It was an era when we didn’t know better and seemingly part of everyday life for most people.
Thankfully, over time we learnt and discovered that smoking is NOT cool. It gives you cancer, will damage the lungs of those breathing in second hand smoke and will eventually kill you. This is bad. Thankfully, smoking is a habit and lifestyle ‘trend’ most steer clear of these days…well, at least I thought…until recently.
Health and fitness, particularly running is ultimately about extending lifespan. Yes, there are other benefits that attract people to the sport being the challenge, losing weight, the social aspect etc, but in the end, most reasons for the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other stem back to health. Simple. For some though, apparently not.
Over the last year or so, I have noticed a rather alarming trend appearing. Influences, people that have real eyes on them and impact others behaviors and even winners of some of the biggest races around the world, are finishing a race and lighting up a smoke. For other athletes, this is being done on a regular basis and displayed through their personal platforms and sometimes the brands that support them. The feeling I get seeing these images and the vibe the partakers seem to be portraying is an attempt to return smoking cigarettes to the era of ‘cool’ again.
Let me be blunt (not that kind of cigarette….that’s a whole different blog)…smoking tobacco, or anything else for that matter is NOT cool and it is a filthy habit. In this day and age, where people have so many followers, admirers and often times ‘sheep' in tow, by them engaging in this type of behavior is alarming. In my opinion, it’s down right irresponsible. Showing others that you can run for days on end, which lets face it probably isn’t the healthiest either, and then puff on a coffin nail sends a terrible message to anyone watching. It certainly isn’t a conversation I want to be having with a young person, thinking ‘if he can do it, why cant I?!’
Where and how has this reemerged? How is this even a conversation again? Do we never learn from our past mistakes? Is there no personal responsibility or care for those watching what we do, particularly at the upper echelon of our sport? What makes these people, who I am sure are excellent characters otherwise, think this is now OK?
Instead of a return to the past, lets continue to celebrate those who have rejected their former lives of drinking, smoking, partying and unhealthy lifestyles…this is a trend we want to see grow! THIS kind of transformation is one we should be celebrating constantly and encouraging those not yet ‘there’ to come along for the ride.
Although I have been straight edge my entire life, I can empathize why people would want to have a social drink. I do NOT condone it but I can empathize with the notion however will never personally partake. When it comes to lighting up though, I will NEVER understand. It is a pointless, disgusting and what I believe, socially inept behavior I thought we had all but rid from out world. Lets not be like a dog and return to our vomit of the past.
So, my plea…if you are doing this and trying to portray it as healthy or cool, STOP. Its not. If you want to destroy your health in private, go right ahead but don’t blast it all over social media for every eye watching to see. Lets make this unacceptable and call out those inhaling. Lets keep promoting the incredible, the inconceivable, and all the wonderful of human achievement…
It doesn’t need to come with a dart hanging out ones mouth…