Yes, I agree. And one only need to look at the comment from Jack Fleming to confirm, "The sport of marathoning is reaching record levels from both a participation and speed standpoint." My model distribution - although not entirely accurate in an absolute sense - agrees in a relative sense when compared year over year. As far as "runners' psyche" that may be as much about knuckling down to more aggressive training as it is in motivation to shell out the money for a pair of super shoes and to find a faster (perhaps downhill) qualifier to race in.