Clearer than clear wrote:
Flagpole, a marathoner is someone who trains for and runs a marathon to the best of their ability, plain and simple. Jogging while talking, taking stupid selfies, taking walk breaks, etc...is not a marathoner nor is it the way it used to be. Argue all you want, you're not my gospel in any way, shape, or form. I understand Steve's point, you don't and are trying to dig deeper than necessary.
[quote]Flagpole wrote:
1) The definition of the word "marathoner" says nothing in it about training for and running a marathon to the best of your ability. Sorry. You are just wrong.
2) Jogging while talking? That disqualifies you as a marathoner? Well, just about every elite marathoner then has done that in a marathon. "Jogging" is subjective, but when you are running 26.2 miles, at any given point you aren't running as fast as you could be, and a lot of them talk to each other during a race.
3) Walking breaks? Well, I have already clearly said that you have to run the thing. Technically speaking though, the definition of "marathoner" just says participate in or compete in, but it is generally understood that a marathon involves running, not walking.
4) I don't pretend to be your gospel. I am simply the bringer of the truth, and that is the definition of the word. You don't want to accept the definition of that word for some reason...a wish for elitism can be the only reason.
5) Finally, Steve Jones didn't make a point, he stated a fallacy. He doesn't believe that someone who runs a marathon is a marathoner if they ran it in order to complete it rather than to run it as hard as they could. That's like saying you don't believe that many birds can fly. It's just simply not true by definition.