MSNBC article about "running" a marathon...funny

actually its 15:13.74 pace

Read my post again. I have no problem with recreational runners, and I have actually told people on this board to take it easy on weekend warriors who have other priorities, etc.

My problem is the notion of extremism that pushes someone to do a marathon or a triathlon when they are clearly not properly prepared. These sports are about the process, I'm sure we will all agree, and articles like this shun training and planning in favour of some "Just Do It" sure-why-not-run-a-marathon-this-weekend attitude. That's the problem here.

Well said...

"Anyone that is reasonably healthy and wants to sacrafice a Sat. could walk 26.2 miles in 6-8 hrs."

Therein lies the problem. MOST of America is NOT reasonably healthy. So, for someone to complete a marathon PERIOD is of merit. Stories like this wouldn't fly in the 60s and 70s because people were fitter.

Alan

The problem is that any of you actually care about this.

No one else does. This is an MSNBC blog; I never even would have seen this except for Letsrun.com. Few people will see it, and no substantial changes will occur, except maybe a few fat people will be inspired to lose some weight. Better that than nothing at all.

As for public opinion, who the heck cares?

SO WHAT if Joe Schmoe thinks a 6:30 marathon is "impressive"?

WHO CARES? Answer: someone who has nothing more important to devote his energies to. Honestly, if this is the most provocative, rage-worthy thing in your life, you are quite blessed.

She ran an "ok" pace for the first half in 2:33 which is 11:40 pace, and based on the purdy system itself is equal to a 5:17 marathon, but then she really died "running" 4:06 for the next half which is a blazing 18:45 per mile.

That is clear proof she is way out of her element and not even close to the shape she needs to be in to be tackling these events.

I just read the full article. Well, that was about 45 minutes ago. Since then I've been laying on the floor dying laughing so hard my sides hurt. Then I went through a period of shock and denial of what I just read. I'm speechless.

you don't have to earn a slot to do an ironman. earning a slot only applies to kona. you can't go to kona without getting a slot in a qualifying race or winning the lottery.

the problem wrote:

The problem is that any of you actually care about this.

No one else does. This is an MSNBC blog; I never even would have seen this except for Letsrun.com. Few people will see it, and no substantial changes will occur, except maybe a few fat people will be inspired to lose some weight. Better that than nothing at all.

As for public opinion, who the heck cares?

SO WHAT if Joe Schmoe thinks a 6:30 marathon is "impressive"?

WHO CARES? Answer: someone who has nothing more important to devote his energies to. Honestly, if this is the most provocative, rage-worthy thing in your life, you are quite blessed.

Why do you care that they care? This is the place to rant about minutiea. Perhaps you are a black pot....

you can read some comments she has posted that were emailed to her at:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7820462/

while i have never run an ironman, like some of the others here, i seriously question whether she can complete it in the time allowed. even if she can take an hour off her the marathon time she should still have big problems. an open water swim followed by the bike and then the marathon will be very tough for her - most people actually.

unlike some, i do not think she is somehow doing damage to the sport of distance running an give her credit for completing the distance. the real issue is HOW MUCH CREDIT to give. i dont think it is that hard to walk a marathon, which appears to be basically what she did. i still give her some credit for the effort.

i do agree that she seems woefully undertrained for this challenge. in one of her earlier articles she mentions doing a 17 mile training run, which i assume was her longest run. under normal circmstances i would think if the goal is just to finish 17 might be enough. as someone who has done a marathon i would not reccomend that, but i would expect you should be able to finish with that.

i am actually kind of interested to see how this shakes out and if it becomes the train wreck it looks to be. so i guess i will keep reading.

You guys have this all wrong.

You want to encourage this woman and others like her to do TRIATHLONS.

She needs your support. ;-)

My softball team is 0-8 right now. I think the paper should cover us for a season and put the Yankees in a small story on page 12.

What people don't realize is that an Ironman is the ULTIMATE test of endurance. You can't get in one and waddle your way to a finish. Think of the "shape" she was in to walk that marathon. Think she could do that after swimming over 2 miles and biking over 100 miles? Hell, she could BARELY do it after raising a fork to her mouth at breakfast.

Good thing about the Ironman is that you cannot waddle your way to a finish. You're either in shape and finish it half dying anywy, you drown, or you walk your bike in and say the hell with this. Either way, I'll bet anyone anything on Earth that she will not come close to even finishing her Ironman. I'd be surprised if they don't have to pull her fat ass out of the water.

This kind of stuff really pisses me off. I could just smack that smirk off her face standing proudly displaying her medal. Did she look a little plump to any of you?

Instead of writing an article praising herself, she should be writing one telling people to stay away and avoid what she experienced until they are properly trained. People emailing her saying they cried at her experience and how it motivated them. It made me laugh my ass off. I'm only sad that she didn't pass out and wake up hearing train whistles and seeing the medical tent spinning.

Why in the hell do these people think they have to jump in a marathon as their first race? Marathons are no longer races; they are damn festivals.

And now she thinks she's going to jump in a finish an Ironman? Again, why do these damn people pick these events instead of working up to them?

Did you see her training? One hour bike ride???? For an Ironman??? 1000m swim drills for an Ironman?????? OMG, this is going to be sooooooooooooo funny. Some people are too damn stupid to learn anything.

you guys are missing the point - she ran slow cause she didn't want to poop herself.

I have done Ironman Canada twice. A surprising number of people walk every step of the marathon. Then they purchase tons of Ironman finisher logo merchandise to show off.

The best part is people keep saying no one cares what she is doiong and why should we care. Well we should care because look at all the CONGRATS people wrote her and told her what an amazing job she did and what an inspiration she is. She ran a 6:40 marathon and she is an inspiration. My god what is this world coming too.

I understand encouraging people to live a healthy lifestyle but lets be realistic and set goals that promote fitness not death.

IMC wrote:

I have done Ironman Canada twice. A surprising number of people walk every step of the marathon. Then they purchase tons of Ironman finisher logo merchandise to show off.

At least they got to the marathon and are able to walk it and still finish before the cutoff. This lazy plodder will be lucky to make it out of the water. With an hour bike ride for her training, I guarantee you she won't even make it to the point of even thinking of walking the marathon portion.

I'd like to laugh at her some more, but the more I think of this stupidity, I'm starting to feel sorry for her. Not only is she setting herself up for a colossal failure, but she's at great risk of seriously injuring herself.