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An apocryphal quote, frequently misattributed to Mark Twain (of unknown origin), says, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”
But I love statistics. I love that numbers can almost point us to objective truth and reason and make neat the messiness of real life. Runners, particularly, love their numbers. And while there is much utility in examining statistics and averages to find patterns and trends (why else would we have an entire column dedicated to it?), there are limitations when trying to extrapolate a concise narrative from a narrow set of numbers. Averages, particularly, can be troublesome as they often obfuscate more nuanced stories lurking in the data.
Sometimes, this data can convey a sense of certainty that doesn’t exist in the real world. While following the data-driven advice in my previous column won’t guarantee a Boston Marathon…
