discuss... here or on-topic, it matters not.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
robp
Pyromaniac
|
|
|
Joined: 26 Jul 2002
Posts: 16242
Location: Waiting in line at the beer store...
|
| Back to top
|
|
 Posted: 09/26/06 - 14:54 Post subject: discuss... here or on-topic, it matters not.
|
|
|
|
|
andydp
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 23 Sep 2003
Posts: 8122
Location: Upstate NY near Albany
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 14:59 Post subject:
Typical running elitist. I have seen the same reaction in almost any endeavor. The "old timer" vs the "new guy".
Believe me, some of the "elite runners" I have encoutered acted like there was a $ 2 Mill endorsement at the finish line and I was going to ruin it for them. At the Quebec City Marathon my wife commented on how much of a spirit of camaraderie there was in the entire crowd. I did meet a couple who were not pleased with themselves but I don't think they blamed the "slowpokes".
If I may say so, aren't there corrals for the elite runners ? Why should this guy care what the people in back are doing ?
I'm sorry I won't be able to complete a sub 3:00 Marathon for him.
I notice except for a couple of commentaries, the vast majority of people at Slate.com have strongly disagreed with the author.
Last edited by andydp on 09/26/06 - 15:36; edited 2 times in total
|
|
|
|
|
airehead
Oompa Loofah
|
|
|
Joined: 12 Nov 2002
Posts: 18788
Location: Between here and eternity...
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 15:08 Post subject:
I see it from so many sides. (typical fence sitter.  )
I understand disgust at taking something pure and ruining it: ie: costumes. There are specific places where that's ok. The Gary Larson Far Side Run and the Bay to Breakers. NYCM?? I should hope not.
I also understand taking something serious and trying to add levity.
I applaud anyone who can run/walk a marathon. I don't think "anyone" can do it. And besides, even if "everyone" can do it, not everyone is. It takes a certain amount of discipline.
I think we should be happy that the sport is getting attention, but then again, there goes the purity of the sport.
I know that most of us have thought his thoughts at some aspect of our life--whether it be running or any other interest we may have.
|
|
|
|
|
Molly600
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 4803
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 15:23 Post subject:
I think this guy sounds like a whiney jack@$$. Get over yourself.
Who cares what the slowpokes behind him are doing? Why does he care? At least even the slowest of runners/walkers are out there doing it instead of sitting on the couch. What's so horrible about that???
Maybe he should just zip it and go do some sprints so he can win one if he thinks he's so great.
/I'm just in a mood today. Can you tell??
|
|
|
|
|
j1miller
Puppy Love!
|
|
|
Joined: 07 Jul 2002
Posts: 15447
Location: Lost on trail.
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 15:37 Post subject:
I'm slow.
shoot me. I don't deserve to live.
|
|
|
|
|
robp
Pyromaniac
|
|
|
Joined: 26 Jul 2002
Posts: 16242
Location: Waiting in line at the beer store...
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 15:50 Post subject:
I can see his point in a way but mostly I think he's being an ass. If races wanted to appeal only to dedicated hard-core fast runners then they would have very tough qualifying parameters.
My only beef with newbies is them lining up at the start in the wrong place - mostly an issue in 5k's and other shorter races. Common sense should tell a person that if they are participating in their 1st, 2nd or 3rd 5k that starting in the top 10% of runners is a bad idea...
|
|
|
|
|
GaRebelRunner
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 26 Sep 2003
Posts: 1097
Location: Tucker, GA
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 16:01 Post subject:
I use Galloway in my marathons. Get over it.
|
|
|
|
|
MechEngDropout
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 27 Jun 2003
Posts: 10474
Location: Off the grid
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 16:02 Post subject:
| airehead wrote: | I see it from so many sides. (typical fence sitter. )
I understand disgust at taking something pure and ruining it: ie: costumes. There are specific places where that's ok. The Gary Larson Far Side Run and the Bay to Breakers. NYCM?? I should hope not.
I applaud anyone who can run/walk a marathon. I don't think "anyone" can do it. And besides, even if "everyone" can do it, not everyone is. It takes a certain amount of discipline.
|
I don't think anyone can do it. I think 95% of people can. But like he said, how many people can run it? It is a purity thing, and it's one I relate to all too well.
Let me use this example: I have very little respect for a degree in mechanical engineering from Louisiana State University. Not because engineering is easy, but because it is given to so many people who don't really deserve it. "Oh, well apparently they do if they got it. They worked for 4 years doing hours of homework a day to get there." But participation doesn't warrant the reward. There are people out there that put in their time with running and get to the point where they can jog a marathon, but they never quite make the leap to running. In college, they get by because of curves and heavily weighted group projects. There's no developed skill.
| Quote: | | Today, the great majority of marathon runners set out simply to finish. That sets the bar so low that everyone comes out a winner. |
Absolutely correct. We're so caught up with including everyone and having everyone a winner that it's "inappropriate" to have things that not everyone can do. If someone "runs" a 5 or 6 hour marathon, I don't think they've won anything. They've done something mediocre, but most people, themselves included, treat it as some amazing feat. It's not.
I don't care if 8 million people walk a marathon behind me. That's their business. It really doesn't affect me actually racing - that's not the point. Sure, it'd be upsetting to not be able to run NYC because 45000 joggers made it and you didn't, even though you ran a 2:56 last spring. But the real issue is how we handle it. When someone comes up to me and brags about their degree, and how hard they worked to get by with a 2.4 GPA, it disgusts me. It makes me want to drop out. Wait a minute...
|
|
|
|
|
JACKED UP
PRESIDENT
|
|
|
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 21238
Location: www.johnnydu.com
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 16:08 Post subject:
What a d!ckhead.  I bet Gramma can beat his ass at bridge too.
|
|
|
|
|
j1miller
Puppy Love!
|
|
|
Joined: 07 Jul 2002
Posts: 15447
Location: Lost on trail.
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 16:09 Post subject:
I do understand where the dude is coming from, but using that same realm of thought, there is only one winner and everyone else is just wasting their time.
|
|
|
|
|
MechEngDropout
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 27 Jun 2003
Posts: 10474
Location: Off the grid
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 16:10 Post subject:
| j1miller wrote: | | I do understand where the dude is coming from, but using that same realm of thought, there is only one winner and everyone else is just wasting their time. |
If there's only one person running there is no winner.
|
|
|
|
|
j1miller
Puppy Love!
|
|
|
Joined: 07 Jul 2002
Posts: 15447
Location: Lost on trail.
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 16:13 Post subject:
| MechEngDropout wrote: | | j1miller wrote: | | I do understand where the dude is coming from, but using that same realm of thought, there is only one winner and everyone else is just wasting their time. |
If there's only one person running there is no winner. |
I guess if the rest of the people are ok with losing... no harm no foul. Just don't try to pass yourself off as faster than you actually are...
I just think it's great that so many people are trying to run. Jogging, running.... who cares. They're trying to be better than what they are and that's a good thing.
|
|
|
|
|
GaRebelRunner
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 26 Sep 2003
Posts: 1097
Location: Tucker, GA
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 16:16 Post subject:
| MechEngDropout wrote: | If someone "runs" a 5 or 6 hour marathon, I don't think they've won anything. They've done something mediocre, but most people, themselves included, treat it as some amazing feat. It's not.
|
And you're entitled to your opinion. But as long as they trained properly and successfully completed their goal, I'll agree with them they accomplished an amazing feat.
If you come down to it, the only people who should ever be in a race are those who can actually win it. All others might as well run 5 or 6 hours. Just like the back of the pack, they did not win, which is the only true reason to have a race. Each participant should submit an application with verification of race they have recently won in order to compete.
Nothing prevents those who don't think slower runners/walkers belong on the course from starting their own race, with their own volunteers and sponsors.
|
|
|
|
|
MechEngDropout
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 27 Jun 2003
Posts: 10474
Location: Off the grid
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 16:19 Post subject:
| j1miller wrote: | | MechEngDropout wrote: | | j1miller wrote: | | I do understand where the dude is coming from, but using that same realm of thought, there is only one winner and everyone else is just wasting their time. |
If there's only one person running there is no winner. |
I guess if the rest of the people are ok with losing... no harm no foul. Just don't try to pass yourself off as faster than you actually are...
I just think it's great that so many people are trying to run. Jogging, running.... who cares. They're trying to be better than what they are and that's a good thing. |
Absolutely. But they shouldn't flaunt it as a huge accomplishment. A 6 hour marathon is equivalent a kid drawing with crayons. Sure, it's productive and beneficial, but it's no Rembrandt.
|
|
|
|
|
j1miller
Puppy Love!
|
|
|
Joined: 07 Jul 2002
Posts: 15447
Location: Lost on trail.
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 09/26/06 - 16:24 Post subject:
| MechEngDropout wrote: | | j1miller wrote: | | MechEngDropout wrote: | | j1miller wrote: | | I do understand where the dude is coming from, but using that same realm of thought, there is only one winner and everyone else is just wasting their time. |
If there's only one person running there is no winner. |
I guess if the rest of the people are ok with losing... no harm no foul. Just don't try to pass yourself off as faster than you actually are...
I just think it's great that so many people are trying to run. Jogging, running.... who cares. They're trying to be better than what they are and that's a good thing. |
Absolutely. But they shouldn't flaunt it as a huge accomplishment. A 6 hour marathon is equivalent a kid drawing with crayons. Sure, it's productive and beneficial, but it's no Rembrandt. |
Depending on life circumstances, a 5 hour marathon may be a huge accomplishment to many people.
|
|
|
|
| |
All times are GMT - 4 Hours
|
|
|
