New runner, training for 1/2 Marathon

beatlemaniac

posted: 1/8/2009 at 8:50 PM

Quote from Ben_1415 on 1/8/2009 at 12:55 PM:

I've heard that statistic quoted so often, I decided to look it up. At any rate, the 0.1% should refer to those who have run a marathon, not those who can/could.

Yep - that must have been what I meant. I am sure a high percentage of people in the world could do it if they had the time, the dedication, blah, blah, blah... I still feel that those who do accomplish it have done something very special and very admirable.

I need some goals for 2011...

TanyaS

Nice Ass!

posted: 1/9/2009 at 8:29 AM

Quote from beatlemaniac on 1/8/2009 at 8:50 PM:

I am sure a high percentage of people in the world could do it if they had the time, the dedication, blah, blah, blah....

For the much of the world, it has nothing to do with not having time and dedication and blah, blah, blah. And running a marathon is "admirable"? Why?

39,500 Miles Later

Ben_1415

Hey, nice marmot!

posted: 1/9/2009 at 8:49 AM

Quote from TanyaS on 1/9/2009 at 8:29 AM:

And running a marathon is "admirable"? Why?

Actually, I don't think it's "admirable" at all. I mean sure, if you set a goal of running some distance under some set time and achieve your goal, then good for you. Achieving a goal is certainly worth an "Attaboy", though I'll not admire you for your feat. Point of fact, I'll not admire anyone for running. Left foot, right foot, repeat quickly worthy of admiration? Come on, it's just running. Sure, Geb moves very quickly, but it's not like he's cured cancer.

Ben

"The world is my country, science is my religion."-- Christiaan Huygens

TanyaS

Nice Ass!

posted: 1/9/2009 at 9:03 AM

Yeah, I'd agree. I've been running marathons for years, and (with the exception of the handful of times I did them to raise $$), I've always felt slightly selfish and foolish spending the time training to go out and run around for 26.2 miles. An achievement? Sort of. Admirable? Not so much.

Quote from Ben_1415 on 1/9/2009 at 8:49 AM:

though I'll not admire you for your feat. .

Good call. Not pretty after all those miles.

39,500 Miles Later

Ben_1415

Hey, nice marmot!

posted: 1/9/2009 at 9:09 AM
modified: 1/9/2009 at 9:10 AM

I see what you did there. Clever. How's that workin' out for you?

Ben

"The world is my country, science is my religion."-- Christiaan Huygens

Jehu

posted: 1/9/2009 at 1:16 PM

Quote from Ben_1415 on 1/9/2009 at 8:49 AM:

Sure, Geb moves very quickly, but it's not like he's cured cancer.

I disagree... Geb has not contracted cancer since running sub-2:04. Therefore...

"Live every week like it's Shark Week." -Tracy Jordan

srlopez

No offense.

posted: 1/9/2009 at 1:34 PM
modified: 1/9/2009 at 2:00 PM

Man, this thread really has legs. This is me with my friend Annie.

Annie won 9 marathons in 2008 and came in third at the White River 50 miler. She's also a vet and a darned nice person (two other semi-random things that I think are cool about her). I'm glad to have her as a friend. I admire her, in part for the races she's run. I admire the dedication she's put in, the hard runs she's done when she hasn't wanted to, and the hard races she's gutted out. I find those things admire-able. I'm not gonna overthink that. Some people think running marathons (or 10ks or ultras) is cool. Some don't. One doesn't have to cure cancer to be admirable. And not everybody has to admire the same set of stuff. Is ok. Though I have a personal stake in seeing a cancer cure happen and would admire the shit out of that too, at a mega and meta-level. Edited to add: sorry for reposting this a few times... something has changed in ra recently and the links I cut-n-paste from tinypic don't quite work right anymore. It misses the closing a tag.

Ultima tastes like failure.

Dakota RR

Right on Hereford...

posted: 1/9/2009 at 1:36 PM

Quote from Ben_1415 on 1/9/2009 at 8:49 AM:

Come on, it's just running. Sure, Geb moves very quickly, but it's not like he's cured cancer.

I have to disagree with your sentiment. The intrinsic value of athletic achievement is quite significant on several levels, in my opinion. First and foremost, there is the value of demonstrating that the "impossible" is actually not.

redleaf

posted: 1/9/2009 at 2:09 PM

Quote from TanyaS on 1/8/2009 at 11:18 AM:

How will you know what the limitations are until you push them? I'll bet you could be fast.

But why do I, or anyone else for that matter, have to be fast?

First or last...it's the same finish line

Ben_1415

Hey, nice marmot!

posted: 1/9/2009 at 2:15 PM

I'll concede the point to sr. I was only speaking for myself, yet I do admit that actions deemed "admirable" will vary greatly from person to person. Unless of course we were to discuss what the criteria should be of an "admirable" action, but that would be beyond the scope of this thread I think. *snicker*

Ben

"The world is my country, science is my religion."-- Christiaan Huygens

TanyaS

Nice Ass!

posted: 1/9/2009 at 2:55 PM

Quote from redleaf on 1/9/2009 at 2:09 PM:

But why do I, or anyone else for that matter, have to be fast?

No one has to be fast. If someone is dead set against speed, for whatever their reasons might be, that's fine. But many people (particularly women) decide, "I'm slow. I'll never be fast," well in advance of even knowing what their bodies can do.

39,500 Miles Later

redleaf

posted: 1/9/2009 at 4:24 PM

Quote from TanyaS on 1/9/2009 at 2:55 PM:

No one has to be fast. If someone is dead set against speed, for whatever their reasons might be, that's fine. But many people (particularly women) decide, "I'm slow. I'll never be fast," well in advance of even knowing what their bodies can do.

Hm. But why does faster = better? That's the definite sentiment I'm getting from the comments above. I don't know how fast I can go. I'm really new at all of this. I find that I like the actual ACT of running though and so like that my learn to run thing is set by time with the time increasing gradually. Running on my own and running in a race are different though. I like the atmosphere of the races I have done - without feeling competitive against anyone but myself. I would like to do more but don't want to limit myself to 5ks - if anything, they're over too quickly!

First or last...it's the same finish line

DrewEOB

Riot: Act VIII - Reboot

posted: 1/9/2009 at 4:41 PM

Quote from redleaf on 1/9/2009 at 4:24 PM:

Hm. But why does faster = better? That's the definite sentiment I'm getting from the comments above.

In the world of racing, faster is better.

Quote from redleaf on 1/9/2009 at 4:24 PM:

Running on my own and running in a race are different though.

Yes.

Quote from redleaf on 1/9/2009 at 4:24 PM:

I like the atmosphere of the races I have done - without feeling competitive against anyone but myself.

Even if you're only competing with yourself, that's still competition in my book. And thus, faster is better. But, faster people aren't necessarily better people.

Lank

posted: 1/9/2009 at 4:42 PM
modified: 1/9/2009 at 4:44 PM

Quote from redleaf on 1/9/2009 at 4:24 PM:

Hm. But why does faster = better? That's the definite sentiment I'm getting from the comments above. I don't know how fast I can go. I'm really new at all of this. I find that I like the actual ACT of running though and so like that my learn to run thing is set by time with the time increasing gradually. Running on my own and running in a race are different though. I like the atmosphere of the races I have done - without feeling competitive against anyone but myself. I would like to do more but don't want to limit myself to 5ks - if anything, they're over too quickly!

Faster = better because it's a race. If you aren't using time to judge performance, what other barometer are you using when you are competitive with yourself? MTA - Or what Drew said. He's faster on the reply and thus he's a better human being than me and is probably nicer to strangers and dances like there's no one around more often.

"Good-looking people have no spine. Their art never lasts. They get the girls, but we're smarter." - Lester Bangs

Jeff

posted: 1/9/2009 at 4:43 PM
modified: 1/9/2009 at 4:44 PM

Deleted because even I recognize overkill. Sometimes.

In the fight between you and the world, back the world. --Kafka

The Logic of Long Distance

New runner, training for 1/2 Marathon (Read 2088 times)