Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Marathoners: Do you find this annoying?

As I last posted, I ran the SF marathon on Sunday.  I had a blog post on it and also posted to facebook.  A friend of a family member who is a "friend" of mine on facebook (but otherwise do not know real well) posted the following either later that day or early the next day:


Not only did he post it, but then changed it as his main picture.  Maybe because I just ran a marathon, I found this annoying.

I would never compare running a marathon to an ironman.  Heck - the marathon is after you swim and biked a crazy distance.  I know that I could not come close right now to doing an ironman.

I think people should be very proud of their accomplishments, but I don't understand the need to say "Oh, you ran a marathon?  That's cute".  That just seems arrogant to me.  I hope I would not tell someone that just ran their first half "Oh, you ran a half?  That's cute" and then put a 26.2 sign up.

I do hope to do an ironman one day.  It is on my list along with doing an ultra.  It is not in my current plan because (i) have more than a full time job (more than 50 hours per week), (ii) I'm an adjunct professor (one class each semester) and (iii) I have a young daughter who I want to spend time with on my free time.  Thus, no time for the training.  A sign like this does light a fire in me and makes me want to do it . . . but I think I prefer a 50 mile run first.

Anyone else find this a bit irritating or annoying?  I do understand that some/most/all of us marathoners can be a bit irritating to people that do not run marathons.

Maybe, I need to do an ironman so that I can understand the need to post this after someone just ran a marathon.   If I ever end up doing an ironman, will I also now have disdain for marathon runners?

11 comments:

Angela said...

Yep, super obnoxious. How insecure (or just plain dickish) do you have to be to promote your accomplishments by belittling those of others?

Johann said...

That is childish and unnecessary. As an ultra runner who has done more than 100 ultras and more than 100 marathons I often get ironmen who seems to be jealous and want to let me and others know they do the ironman. I've run 100 milers and 6 day races and many more, but never feel I am better than anyone running a 5k or doing an ironman.

Yun said...

Sounds like a jerk to me.

Also makes me wonder if full marathon finishers have the right to sneer at mini-marathon finishers who call themselves marathoner...

Tim F said...

Yun, true re the mini-marathon. I thought about someone I knew who said he was a marathoner when he had only run a half marathon. I actually did not say anything to him re that. And, it was not like I was calling myself an ironman.

Nelly said...

That guy definitely sounds obnoxious or insecure or something. A marathon is a great accomplishment, I likely will never run beyond 26.2 miles, and that is fine with me. To each his own.

RoseRunner said...

Hahaha. What a very un-humble triathlete that person is. Puts a bad name to the sport, because triathletes already have a reputation to be....arrogant.

And it is insulting. I'm sure this person has facebook friends who have never run 5 miles, and would consider that a huge accomplishment, so shitting on 26.2 miles is just ridiculous.

So you want to do an ironman one day! wow. I don't know if I will ever get that urge. I think I will start with an ultra, if even....

IronRadJay said...

That's unfortunate and very dickish indeed. As a triathlete and repeat finisher Ironman I take issue with the statement that triathletes are arrogant. There are always bad apples but looking back on my early days of triathlon, I found the triathletes that I met to be very welcoming and encouraging. It is very commonplace to get a few positive and encouraging words on racecourse by an athlete passing you or being passed by you. I don't often get that during a marathon. I'm very proud of my accomplishments with Ironman but I choose to channel that pride into inspiring others rather than belittling their accomplishments. Now if you want to arrogance and snobbery try hanging out with road cyclists!

Soccer Hostage said...

Well, running facebook braggers drive me insane. Its almost like no one else is worthy unless they run..and if they do..then " well what's your time?". Look, social media is fun but it has become the " please.please..look at me! You from highschool 40 yrs ago, please..give me a like for....running".. its attention whoredom to feel the need to get a good job. I hare running as its boring to me. I've run mud runs but NEVER do I post " look what I did..here is my time..". Because I just don't need the good jobs. Already know I did a good job and that is all that matters .

Anonymous said...

Really? I think it's pretty funny. But then again, I don't take myself too seriously.

Anonymous said...

OK, I was thinking about getting a t-shirt that had that slogan on it and you all have shown me the light. At the same time, maybe we should all take ourselves a little less serious. I'd like to think the world will be douche bag free someday...but can't we all be once in awhile?

Cheers,
Jafo

Anonymous said...

OK, I was thinking about getting a t-shirt that had that slogan on it and you all have shown me the light. At the same time, maybe we should all take ourselves a little less serious. I'd like to think the world will be douche bag free someday...but can't we all be once in awhile?

Cheers,
Jafo