Forums >General Running>Walking a race
Feeling the growl again
"If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does. There's your pep talk for today. Go Run." -- Slo_Hand
I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills
I started this post because I don’t agree with some of the comments I see here that try to discourage someone from entering a race (usually a marathon) or not starting a race (again usually a marathon) that they have already entered.
Pet peeve!!!! Not the walkers' fault at all in the HM unless they are in phalanx formation. I will never again run a race that does this (it is the race director's fault for creating this situation).
I agree on this one. I will not run a marathon that has a half at the same time. I’ve had one bad experience when running a 10k and having to run around 5k walkers. If 2 distances are run at the same time I will either choose the shorter or not enter at all.
E-mail: eric.fuller.mail@gmail.com -----------------------------
I’ve seen a lot of comments here relating to these large minimum mpw that should be run before entering a marathon. I reasoning is that you shouldn’t enter a race if you aren’t ready. I’m interested in hearing thoughts about those that enter races with the intention of walking. I never saw this 5-10 years ago. Maybe there were a few people that walked across the finish line but lately it seems that 1/4 - 1/3 of the race participants walk the entire race. I bothered me a little at first but unless they start in the front it does not affect my race and if anything makes my overall finish place look more impressive. Should walking entire races be discouraged or the more the merrier?
Vim
Runners run
There is PLENTY of room to grow in shorter races. While I want to be inclusive, I have seen FAR more people get burned by jumping to the marathon and quit altogether (returning to their former bad lifestyle) than I have seen drawn into the sport on a lasting basis. I actually would postulate that, on an individual level, we're doing more of a disservice by encourageing premature marathon running rather than participation in shorter races (that are a LOT more enjoyable and likely to create a positive experience).
A Saucy Wench
Many races put a cap on the field size and sell out quickly. In these cases I think it's just bad manners to sign up for a race where your intention is to take a leisurely stroll from the start to the finish. Races are supposed to be an athletic competition--the spirit of athletic competition is to do your best and to try and bring out the best in your competition. To compete, honestly and fairly. Showing up with no intention of challenging ones self is not competing honestly and fairly. This has nothing to do with how fast someone is, but rather how hard they are trying. But really I don't run a lot of races that are big enough to cap the field size so I don't care that much.
I have become Death, the destroyer of electronic gadgets
"When I got too tired to run anymore I just pretended I wasnt tired and kept running anyway" - dd, age 7
But for many WALKING a marathon IS challenging themselves. Sorry, I dont care how slowly you go, a marathon is tough. In someways I would say doing it slowly is harder.
Why is it sideways?
Why's it gotta be a man, hippie? Women can fight, too, you know. Elitist prick.
I actually worried about that, then decided to bite the bullet. Of course, the most arrogant and righteous position is the one I choose to occupy: the guy who's heard it all before.
Here we go. The battle is on! Elitist Pricks vs. Righteous Newbies.
The Greatest of All Time
MTA: nevermind. I typed too slow. Sigh.