I've changed what I think when I hear someone has run 12 marathons and I'm worried I might be elitist

It’s not elitist. Running a 4 hour marathon isn’t impressive no matter how many times you do it, unless you’re 65+ or a double amputee or something. The weird thing is that so many people would be impressed.

I wouldn’t be impressed if they rolled their way through via a wheelchair

I feel the same way - but everyone has a different spirit of competitiveness.

I've "run" 15 myself and people always ask whether I'll do an ultra or an Ironman, etc. My answer is always the same. I'm still trying to "succeed" in the marathon.

It's a weird addiction.

Sure. I've never run a marathon just to finish, I guess if I did a could finish at least 6 of them in one year.

Since my focus is on performance I just run twice a year.

To me finishing a marathon is (like to OP) not a big feat. Mastering the distance is.

it's not something i really understand or identify with. I imagine its some kind of compulsion/addiction that is a bit healthier than drugs, drinking or extreme eating. and for some people, it gives them a purpose or identity. but no, it's not really impressive. its more quirky than anything.

I'm more impressed if someone has a 70% age grading across the mile, 5k, 10k, half and marathon.

IMO just entering lots of marathons doesn't make you a serious runner.

Well this is a new one. A 3:50 marathoner thumbing their nose at other marathoners. well OP you actually should be impressed with the person who’s completed 12 marathons. And no, your marathon should not be 40 minutes faster, because you’re not putting the work in. Maybe if you respected the person who’s running way more than you, you’d be better at the marathon. Like instead of starting threads on running message boards talking about how you’re not impressed with other marathon runners. Get it?

In my 30's and early 40's my goal when racing the marathon was to break 3:00 hours and requalify for Boston. I also wanted to race 50 before I turned 50. I was able to break 3 hrs 17 times out of 50 + marathons. It was a great addiction and great memories. And yes I just bragged about it. I also just got done reading the thread about thinking about death.

BREAKING: hobby jogger jealous of more accomplished hobby joggers.

Does just running a bunch at my pace or slower make them more accomplished?

I'll maybe think about going back to the marathon when I have accomplished what I want at shorter distances, and naturally gotten my mileage up to something that's a decent baseline for marathon training rather than trying to force marathon milage quickly in a training block.

70% age grading is the minimum for a real runner.

I need to go back and count since I took a several year break, but I think I’ve done 18 or so marathons. My first was in 2005, so an average of one per year.

My times range from 3:42 to 2:53. My best since returning to running is 3:09. In the back half of my 40s, I think I have another sub 3 in me.

I still respect the marathon, so it forces me to put in the training. Trying to break my 36min 10K best wouldn’t be enough motivation to train hard for some reason. Part of it is probably because people are impressed with a marathon whether it’s 2:53 or 3:42. Mainly though, I know it’s going to be really hard whether or not I am in good shape.

But 4 hours is actually considered pretty good with middle of the packers. I think older women can BQ with that time.

Breaking news, insecure runners are peanut butter and jelly that the layman are more impressed by running marathons than running fast. In other Breaking news, do what you want to do in running and not be insecure.

In the Uk recently running marathons has become a huge craze. I run 14:3x 5k and have a group of friends who don’t know much about running.

They were talking about how someone did a marathon in 4 hours who we know, then asked me if I think I could do a marathon in 4 hours. I think I died a little bit inside

no offense, but your tone connotes you are a 4hr+ multi-thonner

I think most experienced runners are not too worried about the number of marathons vs the performance in the marathon. It usually takes a few to figure the race out and feel like you have nailed it, and unlike other race distances, you cant just wait a month a do another quality race (OK most people can't.)