Sad comments on Chicago Marathon Facebook page

To be a "real man" wouldn't I need to do cross-fit and eat paleo? I actually like steeple, but I like it better watching others do it.

Close the door wrote:

To be a "real man" wouldn't I need to do cross-fit and eat paleo? I actually like steeple, but I like it better watching others do it.

Real man? If only someone around here had a good definition of a real man.

The Unwashed Marathon Masses wrote:

"First marathon! Never been the biggest fan of running! Anyone have any tips?!?" -Kaitlyn Krienheder

Wet towell wrote:

I can never understand why someone would run a marathon if they don't like running. Seriously. There are a million better ways to stay healthy. There is no good reason to run a marathon other than pure love of the sport.

Yeah, this is kind of crazy, like she doesn't know what she's in for. I think 10% of the back of the pack just do it as an impulsive idea, to be part of a spectacle. It's like going to Disneyland. They just want to experience it. Half of these people will come to respect the distance and training though, and half will just get through it and never do it again.

I had a newish friend who ran a 10k with me just for fun. She didn't finish but she posted it on to her facebook as if she had. Then she asked me a couple weeks later if I wanted to run a marathon with her and a friend. And I told her no way would I be ready in time and she wouldn't be either. She said she didn't need to win, just wanted to hang out.

That said, I think this represents a small minority of people--most people have real goals in mind, however slowish, and intend to test themselves. And I do like all the different levels of ability in a big city race, people dressed in costumes, etc. It adds to the mystique of the elites at the front.

finishing a marathon walking or running puts you well above average just saying

If only we'd had more guns. This whole tragedy could have been avoided.

And this is all Obama's fault.

Oh come on. That is no comparison to Rossi, who handily qualified for Chicago! Maybe he is a bit cocky. But wouldn't you be too if you achieved a 3:11 in the heat based on just 15 miles per week?

Gallowalkers wrote:

She wants to post and document everything all summer to Facebook and Insta of her "EPIC" accomplishment. Not too far off from the same mentality as Mike Rossi at Boston. It's all about them and saying look at me!!!! I'm amazing!!!

moguns wrote:

If only we'd had more guns. This whole tragedy could have been avoided...

Finally -- someone who gets it. This is another step in the campaign to undermine our 2nd Amendment rights. It's just like the bathroom policy at Target, which is doing the same thing. Tine to wake up, sheep!

Marathons are festivals of running. Mass participation events. The runner who grinds hard for a time under 3:10 (or so) is in the VAST minority of runners out there. They might be impressed by your non-elite times but they think you're a skinny as-hole for being a jerk about their being slow.

Stop being a jerk. If people want to sign up and walk, why do you care? Most road races have been this way for at least 20 years. If you don't like it find something else to whine about.

I'm prepping for an ultra and plan to do a couple of upcoming marathons as training runs and I'll be slow and will probably walk through the water stations. Mind your own business and let the rest of us enjoy the races.

nice

The fees have certainly increased. My hometown added a walkers division to their marathon this year. The early-registration fee was double of that when I ran my first one ten years ago. I didnt sign up (cant justify the cost) and enjoyed watching the walkers dying as I sat on my front porch at mile 20.5.

i think it's okay to say you've done/completed a marathon if you just walked it. i think it's even okay to say you've ran it even if you walked the last few miles due to fatigue. but, it is annoying if someone that walked 26.2 miles boasts that they have ran a marathon. there is no debating the fact that, that would just be a lie. but in the end, as other have pointed out. to some extent we need those people in our races in order to keep the sport alive. i also think many of these people are probably too ignorant about the sport to even see that what they're saying could perhaps be perceived as dishonest.