Can anyone run a marathon ? Non athletics opinions!

watercarrier

If you jog/ walk a marathon in 5 hours plus is it an achievement? How much cache will it get you at work water cooler? Also- what is "Ultra"?

daheff

finishing a marathon in itself is an achievement. The quicker you can do it, the better the achievement.
I dont think you would walk a marathon in 5 hours though.


Ultra is pretty much anything above a marathon distance. Its used loosely these days.


Water cooler cache?? Don't think you would get too much kudos/cool for doing a marathon...lots of people have done them.

However doing a long Ultra (think 50miles+) might get you some.

topper75

Anything longer than standard distance marathon is an 'ultra' by definition.

I would praise the 5-hour person as being headstrong, to an extent. But it is not in any way an athletic achievement for any average adult.

The Sidewards Man

A marathon used be an achievement one time op, not anymore.

watercarrier

Cool just looking for easiest way to office immortality

daheff wrote: »

finishing a marathon in itself is an achievement. The quicker you can do it, the better the achievement.
I dont think you would walk a marathon in 5 hours though.


Ultra is pretty much anything above a marathon distance. Its used loosely these days.

Water cooler cache?? Don't think you would get too much kudos/cool for doing a marathon...lots of people have done them.

However doing a long Ultra (think 50miles+) might get you some.

gimmick

The most important thing to know about marathon running is that you must tell everyone everything about the training, the diet, the gear and how wrecked you are at all times.

Aside from the feeling of smug garnered from the above running a marathon is completely pointless.

watercarrier

Following up- how fast a marathon would be an achievement now?

The Sidewards Man wrote: »

A marathon used be an achievement one time op, not anymore.

Dr. Mantis Toboggan

gimmick wrote: »

The most important thing to know about marathon running is that you must tell everyone everything about the training, the diet, the gear and how wrecked you are at all times.

Aside from the feeling of smug garnered from the above running a marathon is completely pointless.

+1000

mathie

watercarrier wrote: »

Cool just looking for easiest way to office immortality

watercarrier wrote: »

Following up- how fast a marathon would be an achievement now?

Doing things to impress others always ends well.

murpho999

gimmick wrote: »

The most important thing to know about marathon running is that you must tell everyone everything about the training, the diet, the gear and how wrecked you are at all times.

Aside from the feeling of smug garnered from the above running a marathon is completely pointless.

Your post comes across as more smug to me with added bitterness.

It's obvious that a person training for a marathon is dedicated to it so obliviously they become obsessed with it.

Everything in life is pointless in the end so it does not make it meaningless.

Sky King

gimmick wrote: »

The most important thing to know about marathon running is that you must tell everyone everything about the training, the diet, the gear and how wrecked you are at all times.

Aside from the feeling of smug garnered from the above running a marathon is completely pointless.

A marathon looks very good on a CV imo.

Better than 'I've 20,000 posts on boards' anyway.

BattleCorp

I'm nearly 20 stone so no, I doubt am fcuking certain that I can't run/walk/look at a marathon at the moment.

c_man

Sky King wrote: »

A marathon looks very good on a CV imo.

Better than 'I've 20,000 posts on boards' anyway.

Well if you did all those posts in one sitting... :pac:

watercarrier

BattleCorp wrote: »

I'm nearly 20 stone so no, I doubt am fcuking certain that I can't run/walk/look at a marathon at the moment.

You would be surprised! Few logs in Athletics forum I'd suggest !

gimmick

murpho999 wrote: »

Your post comes across as more smug to me with added bitterness.

It's obvious that a person training for a marathon is dedicated to it so obliviously they become obsessed with it.

Everything in life is pointless in the end so it does not make it meaningless.

You can train plenty and not let it become the only thing you talk about.

There are 2 types of runner. The one who doesn't shut their mouth about it and those who do it as a hobby and generally do not talk about it at all times.

Sky King wrote: »

A marathon looks very good on a CV imo.

Better than 'I've 20,000 posts on boards' anyway.

What type of idiot would put their boards.ie post count on a CV!?

KomradeBishop

I don't really see why it's viewed as an achievement anyway, as running a marathon is meant to be bad for your heart - hell, even the very term itself, originates from mythology where the runner collapses of a heart attack after the run.

valoren

Running a marathon is easy.

It's the training that is the pain in the hole.

I'd say anyone (aside of course from those who physically can't), can train for a marathon. It takes a huge amount of work and commitment, it's physically and mentally draining. To stick with the training from beginning to end is the achievement, much more so, imo, than just going out and trying to do a marathon next weekend.

jamesbere

valoren wrote: »

Running a marathon is easy.

It's the training that is the pain in the hole.

Easy my hole, I did my first one earlier in the year and it pissed rain and was blowing a gale for parts.

Still enjoyed it.

KomradeBishop

KomradeBishop wrote: »

I don't really see why it's viewed as an achievement anyway, as running a marathon is meant to be bad for your heart - hell, even the very term itself, originates from mythology where the runner collapses of a heart attack after the run.

Wha?

It's named a marathon because the very first marathon was from a town called Marathon to Athens in Greece.

KomradeBishop

Deleted User wrote: »

Wha?

It's named a marathon because the very first marathon was from a town called Marathon to Athens in Greece.

Ya - where the runner collapses of a heart attack immediately after:

The name Marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon (in which he had just fought), which took place in August or September, 490 BC. It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming νενικήκαμεν (nenikekamen, "we have wοn"), before collapsing and dying.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon#Origin

kfallon

Don't see the point of it, must be mental torture to run for 26 miles. If you want to get fit or lose weight you could just stick to doing the 10km runs without running yourself into the ground.

Fair fúcks to those who do it but I would have zero interest in it.

Badly Drunk Boy

watercarrier wrote: »

Cool just looking for easiest way to office immortality

Do you have access to a shot-gun? Shoot yer boss!

Cabaal

watercarrier wrote: »

If you jog/ walk a marathon in 5 hours plus is it an achievement? How much cache will it get you at work water cooler? Also- what is "Ultra"?

Anyone can finish a marathon, doing it in a reasonable time of say 4hours or less is another thing. Doing it in such a time and not making bits of yourself for days or weeks after is another as well.

An Ultra is a distance of over 26.2miles technically speaking.
However many ultra runners don't consider a race an Ultra race unless its at least 30miles or 50miles.

I personally don't count anything as an ultra unless its atleast 31miles (50km),

jimgoose

KomradeBishop wrote: »

Ya - where the runner collapses of a heart attack immediately after...

There is no way in hell he'd have done that if he'd had access to a Yamaha Serrow 225.

watercarrier

So what is a good time? Like one that would impress people ?

BattleCorp

watercarrier wrote: »

You would be surprised! Few logs in Athletics forum I'd suggest !

Ah, thanks for the support. But I think if I could do it, everyone else would be surprised.

jamesbere

kfallon wrote: »

Don't see the point of it, must be mental torture to run for 26 miles. If you want to get fit or lose weight you could just stick to doing the 10km runs without running yourself into the ground.

Fair fúcks to those who do it but I would have zero interest in it.

I prefer 10k or 10 mile races myself but marathon is tough. I'm a bit mad anyway so was probably always going to do one.

I think if someone wants to do a marathon they should try and enjoy it. If you try running yourself into the ground you could injure yourself or put a lot of strain on your heart which is dangerous

Ant695

gimmick wrote: »

You can train plenty and not let it become the only thing you talk about.

There are 2 types of runner. The one who doesn't shut their mouth about it

Ray D'Arcy.

Cabaal

kfallon wrote: »

Don't see the point of it, must be mental torture to run for 26 miles. If you want to get fit or lose weight you could just stick to doing the 10km runs without running yourself into the ground.

Fair fúcks to those who do it but I would have zero interest in it.

In fairness thats ok, you don't have to have interest in it
Its mental torture for me to watch a football match by comparison,

If you think 26miles is torture then don't ever do an ultra, I did my first 100mile in May of this year, I can honestly saying that it was the most soul crushing and uplifting experience I've ever experienced while doing a race.

With a marathon you hit a wall, with an ultra you hit several of them and there's times where for 1-2hours you feel just awful and would do almost anything to stop. Then afterwards you feel great.

In my case I almost quit at around 50miles and then had about 20miles of feeling good and a soul crushing experience for the last 30 miles where I mostly had to walk. But I finished the bloody thing.

Anyone can run one. It just takes a lot of training. The training is crushingly boring though, mile after mile after mile pounded out on tarred roads. And there are no short cuts to getting into it, it's getting those 50, 60, 70 miles week after week, sticking to plans like Hal Higdons etc.

jamesbere

watercarrier wrote: »

So what is a good time? Like one that would impress people ?

You shouldn't be trying to impress people, doing a marathon itself is enough.

kfallon

Cabaal wrote: »

If you think 26miles is torture then don't ever do an ultra

Don't worry, I wasn't planning on it :pac:

watercarrier

watercarrier wrote: »

So what is a good time? Like one that would impress people ?

Are you a boy or a girl, are you fat or thin, are you young or old?

If you're a boy and you're not fat then aim for 3:30 - you should be grand to do that by January I'd say.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Has everyone here who has basically said running a marathon is no big deal actually ran one themselves? I'll bet not and I'd also be willing to bet that most of them couldn't run the length of themselves yet are very quick to dismiss an achievement such as a marathon.

I'm reasonably fit but a marathon is beyond my capabilities. It is most definitely something to be proud of and most definitely a great achievement.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Has everyone here who has basically said running a marathon is no big deal actually ran one themsekves? I'll bet not and I'd also be willing to bet that most of them couldn't run the length of themselves yet are very quick to dismiss an achievement such as a marathon.

I'm reasonably fit but a marathon is beyond my capabilities. It is most definitely something to be proud if and most definitely a great achievement.

No but they're all going to run them in January, in less than 3 hours.

Inventive User Name

Coming from a runner's perspective, Completing a marathon is no achievement, anyone can do it. It's the time that's relevant. If I'm looking at marathon results I don't pay any attention to anything over 3 hours flat (for an 18-35 year old man).

jimgoose

Inventive User Name wrote: »

Coming from a runner's perspective, Completing a marathon is no achievement, anyone can do it. It's the time that's relevant. If I'm looking at marathon results I don't pay any attention to anything over 3 hours flat (for an 18-35 year old man).

My money is usually on the fella with the Kawasaki GTR, even if he is carrying a big lummox with an oversized camera on the pillion. :pac:

jamesbere

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Has everyone here who has basically said running a marathon is no big deal actually ran one themsekves? I'll bet not and I'd also be willing to bet that most of them couldn't run the length of themselves yet are very quick to dismiss an achievement such as a marathon.

I'm reasonably fit but a marathon is beyond my capabilities. It is most definitely something to be proud if and most definitely a great achievement.

If someone says it's no big deal and have run one their probably attempting to show off and I'd highly suggest no one takes advice off a person like that. It takes up a lot of training and time plus physio trips.

If you have good fitness levels then slowly up your long distance training, you might surprised what you can do.

Inventive User Name

Inventive User Name wrote: »

Coming from a runner's perspective, Completing a marathon is no achievement, anyone can do it. It's the time that's relevant. If I'm looking at marathon results I don't pay any attention to anything over 3 hours flat (for an 18-35 year old man).

I love fast runners, I think it's deadly to watch how they move and run.

What's your marathon PB?

kfallon

Deleted User wrote: »

No but they're all going to run them in January, in less than 3 hours.

I will in me gee run one, it's never gonna happen, no interest in it!

jamesbere

Inventive User Name wrote: »

Coming from a runner's perspective, Completing a marathon is no achievement, anyone can do it. It's the time that's relevant. If I'm looking at marathon results I don't pay any attention to anything over 3 hours flat (for an 18-35 year old man).

That's nonsense to say it's no achievement, what about people who have battled life threatening conditions and comeback to complete one

LCD

BattleCorp wrote: »

I'm nearly 20 stone so no, I doubt am fcuking certain that I can't run/walk/look at a marathon at the moment.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/21/from-sumo-wrestling-to-running-400-pound-man-completes-l-a-marathon/

400pounds is just over 28.5stone

kfallon

kfallon wrote: »

I will in me gee run one, it's never gonna happen, no interest in it!

You never said it was easy though.

Torture I think you said :P

You can pass!

Inventive User Name

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I love fast runners, I think it's deadly to watch how they move and run.

What's your marathon PB?

I do 5kms, don't have any interest in doing marathons for the next 5 years or so, enjoy the intensity of 5kms more, just my preference, could change in future. 5km pb is 16:49, but i reckon I was in high 16:30 shape before I tore my calf 3 months ago, messed up my whole season.

Inventive User Name

Inventive User Name wrote: »

I do 5kms, don't have any interest in doing marathons for the next 5 years or so, enjoy the intensity of 5kms more, just my preference, could change in future. 5km pb is 16:49, but i reckon I was in high 16:30 shape before I tore my calf 3 months ago, messed up my whole season.

Class.

They're good 5km times - not the best of course - my running coach's PB is 14:21 which is nice but there are better out there.

I look forward to hearing how you do in your first marathon. Come back in five years and tell me it wasn't an achievement.

watercarrier

Inventive User Name wrote: »

I do 5kms, don't have any interest in doing marathons for the next 5 years or so, enjoy the intensity of 5kms more, just my preference, could change in future. 5km pb is 16:49, but i reckon I was in high 16:30 shape before I tore my calf 3 months ago, messed up my whole season.

So you aren't particularly fast but yet down acheivements of others? Btw being in 16:30 shape ain't a thing- you either run th time or not

Inventive User Name

jamesbere wrote: »

That's nonsense to say it's no achievement, what about people who have battled life threatening conditions and comeback to complete one

Of course that's an achievement, but what percentage of people like that completed the Dublin marathon this year for example? <1%? The point still stands.

kfallon

Deleted User wrote: »

You never said it was easy though.

Torture I think you said :P

You can pass!

Mental torture....this is exaclty what would happen if I tried it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEnMo78zE74

Give me a game of 5 a side up the Astropark any night over a long run!

meeeeh

I would say it's an achievement. It certainly requires dedication even if you walk. Not everything has to be insanely competitive. Besides it also depends what other obligations one has.

Inventive User Name

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Class.

They're good 5km times - not the best of course - my running coach's PB is 14:21 which is nice but there are better out there.

I look forward to hearing how you do in your first marathon. Come back in five years and tell me it wasn't an achievement.

Personally, I wouldn't consider it an achievement if I couldn't do it in at least 2:55:00