One of my friends ran a 4:26 marathon - was it wrong to tell him that was an awful time

There's no such thing as a bad marathon time. Finishing the race is an accomplishment regardless of time. A bunch of us from my running club just ran the Boston Marathon. Our times ranged from 3:27 (me) to over 5 hours. We all ran the same distance and we all worked hard to get the finishers medal.

Next time. Be a more supportive frirnd.

Brian X wrote:

There's no such thing as a bad marathon time. Finishing the race is an accomplishment regardless of time. A bunch of us from my running club just ran the Boston Marathon. Our times ranged from 3:27 (me) to over 5 hours. We all ran the same distance and we all worked hard to get the finishers medal.

Next time. Be a more supportive frirnd.

3:27?? Dude, that's a terrible time. There, I saved your friend from having to say it.

Brian X wrote:

There's no such thing as a bad marathon time. Finishing the race is an accomplishment regardless of time. A bunch of us from my running club just ran the Boston Marathon. Our times ranged from 3:27 (me) to over 5 hours. We all ran the same distance and we all worked hard to get the finishers medal.

Next time. Be a more supportive frirnd.

Over 5 hours is not running a marathon if you've walked half of it.

As for the ops friend would he come into work and brag about losing at tennis or golf

despite what everyone thinks here finishing a marathon is indeed an achievement. I started running at the age of 22 and finished my first marathon in 4:13. 3 years later I ran 15:57 for 5k. But ofc the time is awful for an experienced runner in his 20s, but for someone that picked up running it's OK I guess.

How dumb do you think he is? Unless he's bragging about the time being fast. Most people who are that slow are perfectly aware that they are slow. Being slow doesn't make you stupid, just less talented. Odds are pretty good he already has it figured out and doesn't need your ever so helpful advice.

Ask him how it played out before tearing down the time. Honestly my first marathon was 4:31 and I was in solid shape but I didn't do the right kind of training. Figured 3:00 was doable for my first time. My first half was 1:34 but my joints hadnt put in running miles enough, did too much cross training and my body fell apart. Cardio wise I was fine but my bones were bust.

Lots of things can happen in a marathon. Ask your friend about it.

brofest2015 wrote:

26 male, healthy. I like ribbing him. I was a very mediocre college runner but i find it infuriating when people celebrate not even mediocrity but terrible times.

And the whole argument road racing raises awareness for our sport didn't really hold a lot of weight here bc he didn't even know the olympics were this year.

What an arrogant prick! I guess you only run 5k marathons.

brofest2015 wrote:

26 male, healthy. I like ribbing him. I was a very mediocre college runner but i find it infuriating when people celebrate not even mediocrity but terrible times.

And the whole argument road racing raises awareness for our sport didn't really hold a lot of weight here bc he didn't even know the olympics were this year.

Serious answer, depends on what sort of friendship you have.

A couple of my really good friends I would happily say something alone the lines of... "did you stop for donuts and coffee half way round?" and they would take it as a joke, and probably come back with something about me being skinny and weak.

But other friends would just think I was being an ass.

A couple of my really good friends I would happily say something alone the lines of... "did you stop for donuts and coffee half way round?" and they would take it as a joke, and probably come back with something about me being skinny and weak.

But other friends would just think I was being an ass.

Skinny, weak and an ass is no way to go through life,son.

Brian X wrote:

There's no such thing as a bad marathon time. Finishing the race is an accomplishment regardless of time. A bunch of us from my running club just ran the Boston Marathon. Our times ranged from 3:27 (me) to over 5 hours. We all ran the same distance and we all worked hard to get the finishers medal.

Says the guy who is fastest on his club and just crushed all his hobby-jogger pals. Don't hide behind a mask of humility. Your club buddies can easily sense you being condescending/patronizing when you make such statements: they know you really look down on them as being grotesquely slow and believe yourself to be superior to them. Which you should.

Actually, I can do all those things...

nothing wrong with that, you're just a dick!

Did he look relaxed?

well yeah it is an awful time for a young healthy guy assuming he trained for it. But I hope you didn't rub it in too hard.

Gallownapper wrote:

TrackCoach wrote:

You were absolutely wrong, any body who has never been a competitive runner simply running 26 miles with out stopping is an accomplishment worth celebrating

I'm thinking that a time like that involved a good deal of stopping if not actual naps.

I don't know for sure, but I think 4:26 involves running, albeit, not very fast. I've coached club runners whose goal was sub-4, they bonked and ended up doing a 12 mpm shuffle the last couple of miles. That will put you at 4:26. I am never critical of anyone who put in the training and did the best they could. Btw, my first marathon was 3:23, that marathon was more difficult than my 2:47.

A friend posted on FB saying she and her hubby RAN a half... it was 3:15 .

Pretty sad

I am not so offended by slow runners, but I have a friend who worked with a late 20s/early 30s douche who proudly shows off his "3:47" tattooed calf.

Stop hating on people. Let them celebrate their accomplishment. The only competition you have to worry about is yourself.