Dear JoannaRuns,
I know someone who recently participated in a 24-hour walking relay event for charity. After the fact, he realized that he'd walked more than the distance of a marathon, so he bought a 26.2 sticker and put it on his car.
On one hand, he did cover the distance. On the other, he didn't train, didn't have a distance goal, and took many more hours than a marathon would allow before closing the course. Does this count?
Best,
Not a Canadian
I feel like slapping the ol' 26.2 on the car in this situation is a bit of a disrespect for the race. Finishing a marathon is about finishing a marathon, not about finishing some distance that happens to include a marathon. The marathon is about crossing that finish line, usually with a time goal, and a strategy. Or am I being too uptight here?
What's your take? Mondays in Love with the 26.2, or A Not-So-26.2 on Notice?
9 comments:
I was mildly offended at all the folks who walked the half during my marathon. They were in the way and it felt like I was dodging people out for a Sunday stroll. I walk 26.2 daily at Disney world when I visit. That doesn't make me a sticker sticking marathoner. I freaking ran one...sticker earned. right?
Hmmmm. I'm on the fence on this one, and I've completed two marathons, but I don't really feel much indignation here. In the most recent issue of Runners' World, I think there was an Ask Miles about how long you could justifiably keep your sticker up after having run a marathon. Getting uptight about a sticker just doesn't really seem worthwhile to me. Lots of bigger problems in the world.
first, let me acknowledge that i am legalist who probably wouldn't claim to have run a marathon unless i completed an organized/official marathon (without any stops, other than for water/potty breaks). and if i walked at all, i'd probably confess as much everytime the race came up in conversation. but it seems strange to care so much about someone else slapping the sticker on his/her car. and - as a non-runner (i was briefly a slow jogger, but it's been a long time) - the idea that legit runners would scoff at the sticker rather than being supportive of the effort & accomplishment doesnt exactly motivate me to become part of the running community. (speaking of disclaimers: i've never participated in a marathon at all - so maybe i'd feel differently if i'd poured so much time & effort into accomplishing that particular goal.)
Is that what those stickers mean? I thought it was a radio station.........
Hmmmm... I tend to agree with you, but I would probably also say 'to each their own'. If he wants the sticker, let him have it. Doesn't take away from the marathons that WE have run, ya know?
So on the fence with this one since I feel I did earn my sticker but then, him having a sticker doesn't take away the value of mine. So why not? Perhaps more people will learn what 26.2 stands for. :)
Thank you for taking my question to the running community at large. As a non-runner, I am sort of indignant about this on behalf of all those who legitimately complete a marathon. On the other hand, if you ask this person about the sticker, the full story is given and it is very clear that he's not actually claiming to be a marathoner. Maybe he just doesn't get it?
Not a fan of this but I can honestly say I know people who would do this and I might tear the sticker off their car if they did!
I have never seen such stickers. In my opinion a marathon is a marathon, with the training and the bib.
It begins at the start and finishes at the finish line......... and no in 24 hours or a bit less!!!!
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