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

I would agree with your point to a degree except I was teaching an advanced exercise physiology class. So, these were kids who have taken exercise physiology, lab, biomechanics, etc. and most had some athletic experience or were college athletes at the time. I think the fact that they weren't impressed that Geb averaged 61-62 s a lap for over 12 laps a little wierd.

The best part is that she seems to be taking all of this fairly seriously. She knows the run is her weak area. So what does she do to make sure she is 100% prepared within her abilities? She screws up her breakfast after making a point of telling us this is something you should not do before a long run, huh? So she does not have enough will power to avoid a bacon breakfast the morning of a big race. That's promising.

OK, I'm about done beating this topic to death, but I had to insert this quote from one of the people that e-mailed this woman.

"I really enjoy all of your articles. Today’s on your Vancouver finish shows just how much of an endurance athlete you are.  You may have been disappointed in the finishing time but how many people can exert themselves for over six and a half hours?  I personally have finished over 50 marathons in the past 40 years, but there were also plenty of times that I dropped out.  You were able to forge ahead when other drop out.  I think the lesson learned isn’t how fast you are (body type and muscle genes take years and years of training to even partially overcome) but that you have the mental tenacity to keep going.  That one facet proves you are an Ironwoman. "

Geez, by that rationale we should be more impressed if someone runs a 75 second 400 m than a 45 second because it takes a lot of guts to sprint for that long.

Even worse and more depressing is that she is this big time runner, but bereft of the normal "good runner" attributes such as speed, endurance, physique, dedicated training, high lactate threshold, high VO2 max, good mechanics, efficient, healthy diet, being humble, dedicated, focused, well you get the idea, etc.

Denise - As I sit here at my desk, not looking forward to my training session tonight and especially not looking forward to the Tae Bo class I do not want to take before my training session, I just want to say thank you — and I will think of your diary when I need my inner strength tonight at Tae Bo and then at personal training. Your doing an awesome thing! I will continue to read on, and don’t let the naysayyers bother you. They are just envious they don’t have your ambition. The one good thing my gym has is a HUGE American flag. I just look at that and think if the troops can do it, I, at least, can do that.

— Trish, Milford, Conn.

wow.

yeahaaha wrote:

Denise - As I sit here at my desk, not looking forward to my training session tonight and especially not looking forward to the Tae Bo class I do not want to take before my training session, I just want to say thank you — and I will think of your diary when I need my inner strength tonight at Tae Bo and then at personal training. Your doing an awesome thing! I will continue to read on, and don’t let the naysayyers bother you. They are just envious they don’t have your ambition. The one good thing my gym has is a HUGE American flag. I just look at that and think if the troops can do it, I, at least, can do that.

— Trish, Milford, Conn.

wow.

HAHAHHAHAHAHA!!!! Yeah I wish I had all that ambition to run 16 miles/week and then run/suffer/crash/gallowalk a 6:39 marathon, yeah so ambitious!! HAHAHHAHAHAHAH!!

As I sat in the staff room while on a break from substitute teaching yesterday, I was conversing with a fellow sub over lunch. This woman seems well-intentioned, from what I can tell, she kinda just....sucks. Anyway, getting to the point, she asked me how much I run.

"When healthy, 70-80 miles a week, plus some mountain biking."

Her jaw drops.

"I can't jog a mile. Dont you breathe REALLY HARD? haw haw haw..." she was getting out of breath from the monumental exertion of conversation.

She went on to say how much smokers suck, new englanders suck (i'm in CT), southern folk suck just as much but for different reasons, teachers suck, kids suck, "special needs" kids suck (to the chagrin of other teachers in the room), and basically everyone but her sucks. The irony is that she embodies just about every sucky quality that any motivated, intelligent person should abhore.

As runners, we are justified in our reaction to the MSN Penguin story, and anything else that contributes to the laziness of our culture. Americans have no problem working 60 hours a week to buy a new SUV, but working towards anything NON-MATERIAL (such as running--or otherwise BETTERING YOURSELF) is viewed with contempt by many people. If you're a runner, and the Penguin story didn't offend you on some small level, then you've become complacent.

funkbunker wrote:

Americans have no problem working 60 hours a week to buy a new SUV, but working towards anything NON-MATERIAL (such as running--or otherwise BETTERING YOURSELF) is viewed with contempt by many people. If you're a runner, and the Penguin story didn't offend you on some small level, then you've become complacent.

I liked those last few lines.

The article bothers me, but my only real concern is that I worry about the people who are out there for 6 hours. These are the people who put their lives are in danger -- the ones who go out there, decide they will try to finish at any cost, and end up running HOURS more than they ever have before. But I suppose it isn't very common for people to die during marathons -- i googled it and found this:

In a study of the risk of death in marathons, Maron et al estimated that 1 death would occur in 50,000 marathon finishers, while Tunstall Pedoe reported 1 death in 88,000 for finishers of marathons and half marathons in Britain.

So a few Americans must die each year. Not so many, but still... People don't know what they're getting into. The woman who wrote the article misguessed her finishing time by an HOUR, despite the fact that she had already run a half. Although I suppose this was because she decided to stop running towards the end, which was probably a reasonable thing to do -- if she wasn't in shape for it, she shouldn't put herself in danger (I am assuming that she was at least trying to finish the distance without walking). Maybe she'll have more respect for the distance and train properly the next time she tries to run it.

I've been told that about one person per thousand ever DO a Marathon in their lifetime. Of those I estimate about 25% ever get serious. That to Me means that There are very few people who really Know the training and commitment that is required.This Makes this women 1 in a 1000 and being a journalist she can easily get away with Bullshitting those who do not know.Those who have basicly walked a Marathon do not want there "achievement"undermined. I believe by overplaying her effort she can make a lot of people feel good.In doing so she unknowingly undermines the effort of those of us that actually try to run the thing at a decent pace.You are right SHE BELONGS ON OPRAH.

Hang on:Wasn't it Oprah who did run one at a respectable time?

To put it in perspective. I was there when 85yr old Bob

Horman ran 2:05 for a half.I was also there when He ran 4:34

For a Marathon.Most 85 yr olds, who do not train, could not run up 20 stairs without having some serious problems.I am

in awe of the Man but you will NEVER see his story in the Newspapers.

Hey! How'd this get back to the top....

i just farted

She's back in training after her stellar performance in the marathon. Only three months away from Ironman.

Say what you want about her, she's working pretty damn hard.

Well at least her training has improved a bit from the last time I saw anything.

I predict under 24 hours.

Amazing.

Dissing a soccer mom who is pushing her personal limits and is getting press in soccer mom media. This isn't the same as getting a write up in running geeks magazine.

Or even mainstream athletics rags like SI or TSN.

She's driving a mini-van to her workouts. Her husband is microwaving tator tots and pizza rolls to feed the kids while she's gone for 4 hours on her bike.

Soccer mom interest = corporate interest. Corporate interest = Event Sponsorship. Event Sponsorship = Elite prize money and proper event management.

Soccer mom probably drove you to all of your local, regional, state and national championships. She probably paid your entry fees. She lets you do laundry at her house.

Get off her back.

I'd be very surprised if Bob or Ed has never been written up in mainstream (to the over 60 demographic) AAA or AARP type journals.

Context.

I give her credit for her accomplishment, her learning experience, and for her well-written story that got published.

hgf wrote:

I predict under 24 hours.

she had better be. there is a cutoff of 17 hours for the whole thing to finish.

per the canadian ironman website:

"What are the cut-off times? Swim: 2h20m, Swim/Bike: 10h30m, Swim/Bike/Run 17hrs"

her training is getting better, but it will still be tough for her. she might be able to do it though.