Time to Boycott Marathons

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quote]Big John wrote:

Keith Stone wrote:

Maybe you should get some real world experience before you spout off like a cream filled dildo that got stepped on.

That is just classic letsrun right there. Cream filled dildo. Nice![/quote]

Big John,

you expertise in the area of things "cream filled" is very scary.Please enlighten the world about your childhood horror the day someone stepped on your cream filled dildo. Remember, the only way to become whole and happy is to accept that you are not whole and happy - and are actually a whining piece of $hit!

There, now doesn't that feel better?

Dear Keep Stoned, Why don't you use your real name so we can boycott you. most on this site would at least boo your sorry attitude. If you keep trying you could at least be the Barry Bonds of marathons. Have a nice day at your little marathons with no prize money. I hope you win a gift certificate. Thanks

You dope.

first second third/Keep Stoned wrote:

It's hilarious that mental midgets are not only drawn to threads like this like fleas to a kennel, but that they are such easy marks and are so easily led around by their noses to keep replying to a pointless discussion. That's right, I don't really give a rip about this subject one way or another and I just had fun at your expense!

Have a nice day!

Wow, who would have thunk it? I was bored on a Monday and created a thread that got on the front page. I have finally reached elite status.

Even though I was a collegiate all-american I did not consider myself elite. I am sure there are more T&F and CC AA's than there are runners who have gotten linked on the front page.

I have created a monster and I wish that I could be paid $10/hour for every hour spent on this thread.

My point was that Marathons should not have separate walking divisions and recognize the walkers. LetsWalk.com is not far away in our Orwellian future. I have run enough races to personally witness plenty of clusterfecks.

Walking divisions and the charity divisions cheapen the marathon. Unfortunately many race directors see these offshoots of running as cash cows to capitalize upon (sorry if cow offends you, it is a figure of speech. If I had said cash penguin you would really be hacked off). Just why are the entry fees going up at rates that have surpassed the inflation of college tuition?

Call me a purist, but I don't like seeing road racing becoming a circus. For example - the couch potato running club. These clowns sole purpose is to dress in silly garb and get pub. A clueless local sportswriter interviews them and puts their picture in the paper. This just encourages them. I was in the second pack of a 10K a few years ago and witnessed a couple of these clowns cut across the street after the turn around and run up behind the Kenyans. A couple taters were holding up their ridiculous sceptors. On dude got too close and tripped one of the guys in the lead pack (thankfully he did not go down) in the hopes of getting on TV.

I started this thread because I know a few people who ran the Columbus Marathon and heard of the debacle with the "WALKING DIVISION". Do I want to exclude runners? Hell NO!! But I sure as hell believe that the creation of a walking division is downright silly.

And to my #1 fan, luv2run,

I realize that you have a big hard-on for me. Your adoration is flattering. You asked about a time and I gave you my time. I did so because I have seen enough of your posts to know that you like to spice things up with sarcasm and like to play devils advocate. I thought perhaps you would beat that to death and I'm glad to see you did not disappoint.

Would I exclude you from a race? No, because you are a runner. However, when I am lapping you in a 10K race on the track I would expect you to move right because you are SUPPOSED to do so in order that I can get by. Just like I do for the elites who lap me. The elites (this does not include me) do not need to wade through the walkers.

Get it?

I suppose I would approach this topic this way. I all for limiting entries or having races called fun runs or whatever.

Its just like if I or another competitive runner were doing a workout on a local track and jo-blow is walking in lane one. I recently asked one of these walkers why they choose to be in lane one and they said so they could know the exactly how far they were walking.

People say they want to have a sense of accomplishment or want to push themselves past their limits. Here\'s an idea, go out measure 26.2 miles on your own, run it(or walk), and record your time or just finish if thats your thing. Save your money and do it that way. Hey you could even find a couple of your buddies and have them run it also.

Most competitive runners, including myself get really annoyed when you pick up an addition of runnersworld(which i have not read in years) and read about the Penguin guy who once ran a marathon with his cell phone, stopped a few times, oh and at some point in the \"race\" he stopped and ordered pizza and beer to have along the way. Its that crap that annoys us.

The fact is, all this cash cow stuff, and who brings in the $ pros or penguins.....it comes down to TV deals, corporate visibility....next time you are running a marathon, or watching one, notice the signs, the banners, giant inflatables, air balloons, logos on race numbers, logos on space blankets, logos on the finish line, and above the finish line, and on the lead vehicle, and at the aid stations, on the noise makers, on the awards, etc, etc....all of the commercial advertising is what makes big $$$$$....300 million world wide viewers for NYC marathon, plus photos in the NY times, USA today, Sports illustrated...every photo in a major publication is full of corporate placements...the entire broadcast is full of well placed advertising....and that's the cash cow....we are just along for the ride...or run...As with ALL SPORTS....the money is made in advertising....our sport happens to call it "sponsorship"...the runners only have a small part in the equation...and the ones that do are the elites...b/c NY Times, USA today, NBC etc, don't care about the 5 hour marathoner...how much air time do they get? They care about world record attempts, because that boost ratings, and they can charge more for advertising....and that's the bottom line.

Cleveland Marathon...

Marathon Walkers

In order to complete in the walking division, you will be expected to walk the entire distance; completion of the course is on the honor system. The top 5 male and female finishers will receive an award.

If you win an award and did not walk the entire route, you will be expected to inform the race officials in order to move you into marathon running division.

WTF

I just cannot believe it wrote:

LetsWalk.com is not far away in our Orwellian future.

"ORWELLIAN FURURE"??

Hahahahahahaha. You're serious, right?

Either you're barely literate, or a moron, or both...

why don't you all take part in the marathons in japan ??

their entry requirements is sub-3 or sub-2h45'

Fukuoka has a entry requirement of 2h45' and cut-off gate at that pace.

too many recreational runners are really a piss-off ... even Boston is losing appeal if you have to queue 20 minutes to make a pee because charity runners are there

We're you thinking the LAST part meant if you didn't finish the race? I read it as if you actually RAN at any time during the event, you were required to tell the race officials so you could be removed from the walking division (i.e. running is cheating if you registered as a walker). I don't think anybody who walked a majority and ran a little bit would have an impact in the overall and age group "running" winners, so I see no problem in placing them back in the running division. Now that would be a chump... register for the walking division, then jog a large portion of the event so you can win a walker's medal. Cutting the course would also be a joke, but then runner's have been known to do the same. Every group has their own set of dipsh**ts.

cleveland rocks wrote:

Cleveland Marathon...

Marathon Walkers

In order to complete in the walking division, you will be expected to walk the entire distance; completion of the course is on the honor system. The top 5 male and female finishers will receive an award.

If you win an award and did not walk the entire route, you will be expected to inform the race officials in order to move you into marathon running division.

WTF

I can see your point, I really do. I absolutely believe you should behave while you are on the course. However, I don't think it is fair to ascribe the boorish behavior of a few "taters" to the entire walking/jogging crowd. Certain people are just going to do dumb things. Wasn't it during the NY marathon a few years back that one of the sub-elite male runners ran at the heels of the women's leader for several miles, doing everything he could to annoy her so he could get his 15 minutes on national TV (I remember her turning around and giving him a few choice words - is that why women got their own start)? I certainly wouldn't assume that all 2:30 runners are going to do something like that. You can't always plan for stupid, but you must address it when it happens (throw them off the course, etc.). Nonetheless, I don't think you should toss out a whole group of people because of the behavior of a few.

I've been in both small and large races that have had both runners and walkers, and if there is good planning, there is plenty of room for both to participate. Truly, the people I find who get in my way during a marathon (or other races) are fellow runners who make dead stops in the middle of the water stations to take a drink - I've had my fair share of collisions that way (I think you should grab your drink, run past the table, then stop/walk to take your drink - I suppose that's another topic).

I guess as I get older (I'm 41), I realize more and more that I might be one bad injury away from becoming a walker myself. There may come a time where that's the only way I can complete a race. If that's the case, I would hope the division is still available... you know what I mean? Seriously, if I was walking in the same race you were running, and I abided by all the rules of the road and didn't get in anyone's way, walked it at a brisk pace, and dressed somewhat normally (as opposed to dressing up like a vegetable!), would it still bother you? I hope not.

My opinion, if you behave yourself, walk or run the race.

Runner Mom wrote:

There may come a time where that's the only way I can complete a race. If that's the case, I would hope the division is still available... you know what I mean?

Actually, no.

What is the attraction in walking a race?

I just cannot believe it wrote: The elites (this does not include me) do not need to wade through the walkers.

On those point we agree, elites (or anyone for that matter) shouldn't wade through people.

There's ways around that without banning slow people. Let's face it, the guys that dress up like vegatibles and try to run with the lead pack (like the running elvis' at B2B) aren't going to be affected by a slow people ban anyway. Those guys aren't really couch potatoes.

Years ago a friend of mine from LA had this idea he would get on TV by getting to the front and running with the lead pack at the LA marathon. He wasn't a slouch and though he could hang for a mile or two, just long enough to do the HI MOM thing then slow down. The guys up front spotted his ruse from the get go, boxed him and took him for a ride through 3K, tossing him out the back like a used condom. Never made TV and was too tired to try to hang with the first woman when she blew by. He never tried again.

In any case bad course logistics are a problem even in small races, but they are componded by herds. Races should work towards better seeding, crowd control and crowd management. It's just as much of a problem when 45 minute 10K runners push their way to the front of the sub-40 corral. Some math and some planning can avoid that, more race directors should avail themselves of it. It the main reason I don't support early starts on a shared course, too easy to get people 5-6 abreast performing a moving roadblock.

I've been asked the very same thing about running 26.2 miles. I believe it is called "to each his own."

Im 46 wrote:

Runner Mom wrote:

There may come a time where that's the only way I can complete a race. If that's the case, I would hope the division is still available... you know what I mean?

Actually, no.

What is the attraction in walking a race?

Keith Stone wrote:

There's ways around that without banning slow people. Let's face it, the guys that dress up like vegatibles

"vegetables"

and try to run with the lead pack (like the running elvis' at B2B)

"Elvises"

they are componded by herds.

"compounded"

:

[quote]Runner Mom wrote:

I believe it is called "to each his own."

Have you ever stopped and considered, that your zealotry for walkers turns people off as much as the elitist attitudes you are so defensive about?

turn right wrote:

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.

Thread should have ended right there.

Agreed.

I want to add that all marathons should now have a qualifying time of a 20K, half marathon, etc... the equivalent of a 6 to 6.5 hour marathon (a fast walk).

That would eliminate the training programs that promise 18 weeks to a marathon. By making someone qualify, the races are going a long way toward making the sport a lifetime endeavor rather than a mediocre event. I am not trying to be an elitist because I want to see the masses off their asses but think that race directors need to look beyond the dollar signs of large numbers and early sold out marathons to what the sport is all about.

If you want to go for a walk, go find a nice national park.