Time to Boycott Marathons

i'm curious: why do you, and all the other people on here who whine about 4:00+ (or whatever) "marathoners," care? is it some ego thing? some sort of elitist thing? an exclusivity thing? some other e word thing? i don't understand what difference it makes in your life - or anyone else's life - if there are people walking/crawling/waddling/pogo-sticking/jump-roping marathons.

Yeah, people keep talking about the genocide in Darfuf and they ignore the horror that is happening in our own country.

Have you ever considered that maybe your standard for outrage requires some recalibration?

And that horror is?

On a practical level, it takes away resources and supplies from the athletes actually competing in the event. The marathon is first and foremost a competition for highly-trained athletes testing their body's limits. Not a circus for walkers, jog-walkers, and other "weekend warriors."

Be carefule about biting the hand that feeds you.

Cross wrote:

On a practical level, it takes away resources and supplies from the athletes actually competing in the event.

that's ridiculous. what resources? what supplies?

no, it adds to the "resources and supplies" available to the real runners if anything. who the f*** would care about a more competitive race for 100-300 people who can actually race over 26 miles? who would spend all this sponsorship money on a roadrace that nobody went to or watched?

nobody.

grow up you douchebags. i really hope one day you realize how dumb you sound.

Considering that the major marathons have long lists of people who couldn't get in and would gladly take your place...sure, boycott all you want.

You have it backwards. Setting aside the argument that marathons should bar participants who choose to walk, the more competitors (walkers, jumpers, skippers, etc.) the more money that gets thrown into the pile FOR the elite athletes. It doesn't take an economist to see that the cost race directors NEED for each participant is far less than what is actually charged. Where does all this money go? It goes to insurance and permits, etc. but it also goes into inviting top athletes to perform and then handing out giant paychecks (bigger than ever paychecks) to athletes who do well. Of course this all occurs even before the race attracts a marquee sponsor like ING or LaSalle to throw even more money onto the pile.

It's no wonder every city is trying to grow a marathon, they're cash cows, and the cash is distributed justly to athletes that do well. If you don't believe me, go ask the 5:00 marathon walk/jogger if he is getting his money's worth when the crowds have left, the clean up crews are out, and the announcer sounds like he's going hoarse. Meanwhile the 2:30 runner reaps the rewards of the experience and is unaware of any other kind of marathon experience.

Think about it...La marathon has 25,000-30,000 runners. Maybe 20-30 are "athletes" and can truly race a marathon. Look at the trials, who cares about 100 runners? who cares about the top 10? All the press is about the "REAL" new york marathon on the 4th.

I think in reality it is the masses that make the elite race possible. and what resources are the masses using? Technically the elites are the ones that are in the minority and get the water and after race food first. Not fair? For them maybe...

How soon you forget about Chicago this year. Waddle-waddle-cook, waddle-waddle-parched, waddle-waddle-fried, waddle-waddle-heat-stroke, thud-teats-up-on-the-pavement-pushing-up-daisies.

[quote]chuck d wrote:

"i'm curious: why do you, and all the other people on here who whine about 4:00+ (or whatever) "marathoners," care? "

A: We as elite athletes care that the sport has been designed to cater to the unathletic mediocre and not the true athletes. Imagine a Monday night football game taking place not in a stadium with 80,000 fans but on the center field of hundreds of football fields with 80,000 'fans' playing their own football games and only occasional glancing over to watch the real athletes. Now imagine one of those touch-football players walked up to the winning MNF quaterback and said "I threw 7 touchdown's in my game, how many did you throw?" Yes, I think it does hurt the egos of competitive athletes when their only chance at competition comes alongside those of 4:00+ marathoners and people who walk 26.2 miles.

There is huge difference between the accomplishment of completing a marathon and the sport of racing a marathon. The difference is the same as pitching in the World Series and playing catch with your son. Elite athletes realize this and are insulted when non-competitive people try to play off their activities as sport. These people who walk marathons are no more 'runners' than I am a 'soccer player' because I'm on a Parks and Rec team. Any race director who includes a walking division in a marathon has a deep and fundamental lack of respect for the sport. (He is, after all, called the "RACE" director, not the director of happy-fun-time-activities-for-all)

The Masses wrote:

It's no wonder every city is trying to grow a marathon, they're cash cows, and the cash is distributed justly to athletes that do well.

and also brings in ridiculous amounts of revenue to both the city and businesses.

Oh, so you're a snob. Gotcha.

which is why the walkers get special tables for their special fluid bottles. and get airfare and accomodations for the event. and prize money. and appearance fees just for showing up. yup, they're totally catering to them.

no shit there's a huge difference between completing a marathon and running 2:10. i don't know any numbnut who doesn't recognize that. if you or anyone else become insecure because other people talk about how they finished a marathon - just like you did - i guess you do need a psychologist. grow up.

You are so full of it. Elite athletes have trials, Olympics, National and World Championships, Golden League, etc. to race and be "respected" as elite athletes. The standard city endorsed marathon is for runners a like.

Best of luck finding a winter cap to fit that boulder sized noggin you must have.

If you take away the walkers you'll take away about 1/3 to 1/2 of the proceeds in ANY race of ANY distance. That won't go over well with race directors or the charities involved.

Alan

I want someone to organize a nice marathon in a big city with a few thousand runners, good media coverage, where all the runners are almost (but not quite) as fast as I am. I would run that every year.

Ok your football analogy makes no sense. I'm sure peyton Manning know sthe difference between his 7 tds and some flag football guys. So your ego is hurt because you run wahatever fast time you do and someone says i walked it in 6 hours? Do you this Tergat and MEb are annoyed that they run sub 2:10 and your a lot slower then them? I'm sure there like we need to get those 3 hour guys out of the race.

Not all athletes are elite you play soccer your not a soccer player (I define that as being a professional in that area) so your not competetive when you play soccer?

It should be no ones concern first of all if they are walking they are last to the resources second who are you to say how they spend money. Are they boxing you in not letting you run? if no who cares