Alright, hive mind, help a brother out.
For purposes of setting a record, say, “most consecutive days to run a marathon distance,” “consecutive days” and “marathon distance” are easy to define, but “run” is a little less easy. (On second thought, time zones and date lines could introduce some edge cases around “consecutive days,” but I digress)
Is there anywhere that defines tolerance around the “run” part of “run a marathon distance?” Acceptable %/time/conditions to walk?
I’d think that if you covered the distance with your legs, it would count. Walk, run or crawl would count, as it is in the IM rulebook. If you’re trying to set a record for most consecutive days doing a marathon, then you’d have all day to cover the distance.
Now, if you want to quibble about doing it on a treadmill (fine for indoor record, but if you want to count it for an overall record that might be different) or on an elliptical (!), then that might be different.
I was thinking the question was leaning to “what is the minimum pace to be considered running?”
7:00 per mile? 9:00? 12:00? Whatever LetsRun says, LOL?
Disney and Philly cutoff times are 7hrs. So if you want to quibble, use that
Cutoff times for megathons are 6 hours…maybe 7…so you could use that. But GWR is the only outfit I can think of that verifies records of novelty events like this, so contacting them directly might be the safest thing to do.
If you’re trying to define what is a run vs what is a walk, look up the standard for the goofy speed walking, and if you’re doing the opposite of that I guess you’re running?
Or you just define your run with a race qualifier. Run at a minimum pace of 9min/km sorta thing.
Disney and Philly cutoff times are 7hrs. So if you want to quibble, use that
Another data point: Kona has a 10.5hr bike cuttoff and a 17hr finish cutoff…so a lower limit of 6.5hrs for the marathon.
It’s worth considering that a moderate walking pace (3mph) will get you through a marathon in ~8:45.
Disney and Philly cutoff times are 7hrs. So if you want to quibble, use that
Another data point: Kona has a 10.5hr bike cuttoff and a 17hr finish cutoff…so a lower limit of 6.5hrs for the marathon.
How is that a lower (or upper) limit for the marathon when you can easily run the marathon faster or slower than that at Kona?
I was thinking the question was leaning to “what is the minimum pace to be considered running?”
7:00 per mile? 9:00? 12:00? Whatever LetsRun says, LOL?
The difference between run and walk is the former has a flight phase. That starts to happen between 4.5-5 mph for most people IIRC. That is how I would define such a pace as running vs walking pace.
26.2 miles, not sure how allowable a couple steps of walking are.
But people who refer to 70.3s as “I did an IM” are just incorrect
The difference between run and walk is the former has a flight phase.
Trail running has a “flight phase” when you’re walking along or stutter-stepping and you trip over something & fall down LOL
If you’re trying to define what is a run vs what is a walk, look up the standard for the goofy speed walking, and if you’re doing the opposite of that I guess you’re running?
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So given the 50km walk world records are 3:32 for men and 3:52 for women, so if you’re not running a marathon in sub 3 as a man or 3:13 as a woman, you’re a walker?
Disney and Philly cutoff times are 7hrs. So if you want to quibble, use that
Another data point: Kona has a 10.5hr bike cuttoff and a 17hr finish cutoff…so a lower limit of 6.5hrs for the marathon.
How is that a lower (or upper) limit for the marathon when you can easily run the marathon faster or slower than that at Kona?
It’s the lower limit of the cutoff. Every competitor will be allotted at least 6.5hrs to complete the marathon.
As you can see from all the replies, it seems to be a personal thing. It is left to us to decide if so and so’s endurance consecutive day running adventure was in the legit arena or not. It really can’t be walking, there have been many ironman records set with folks walking every aid station. And most endurance runs have a fair bit of walking built into them, especially when they eat on the course. I think some just set up some arbitrary time like the 6 to 7 hours and run with that. Others might just say you got to get in 26.2 miles during the 24 hours, however you do it on your feet.
For me when I see these types of events folks put out there, I look at the times vs days spent, and make my own calculations as to its worthiness. Like when Rait ran 60 marathons in 60 days, all at low 3 hours, and that was at the end of a full, solo triathlon each day too!!! Just the running part of that was super impressive to me, let alone the 10 hour Ironmans he averaged those 60 days. Way more impressive than say someone doing 200 days of a marathon, but only averaging 6 hours or so.
But each person is wowed by different metrics, some the longevity of a thing, others by the pace achieved along with endurance…I was very impressed with the 7 marathons on t continents race and I think the guy averaged 2;45 or so, staring in the arctic and running on ice for the first one!!
Thanks all!
There are many obvious traps in defining how much walking counts that would immediately start fistfights, even in civilized company 
Of course, this isn’t a hypothetical question…
Someone is in the midst of a “most consecutive days to **run **a marathon” effort, not a “most consecutive days to complete a marathon distance” effort, and does an awful lot of walking, and a lot of them are 8/9+hr runs.
Does this personally offend me? No, not at all. Am I curious as to whether having some days where you’ve walked most of it would be ratified by Guinness or other record-keeping body…yes, yes I am.
Disney and Philly cutoff times are 7hrs. So if you want to quibble, use that
Another data point: Kona has a 10.5hr bike cuttoff and a 17hr finish cutoff…so a lower limit of 6.5hrs for the marathon.
How is that a lower (or upper) limit for the marathon when you can easily run the marathon faster or slower than that at Kona?
It’s the lower limit of the cutoff. Every competitor will be allotted at least 6.5hrs to complete the marathon.
Thanks, I now understand what you mean by lower limit, but the OP is asking for a defined upper limit.
I’m struggling to comprehend the relevance of the 6.5 hour data point from Kona, where even a journeyman competitor can finish within the cut-off with a 10 hour marathon. Isn’t that a no less relevant data point?
But GWR is the only outfit I can think of that verifies records of novelty events like this,.
This.
If someone wants to be recognised as among the best runners in the world, enter a race, prove yourself against others.
So many over-hyped “world records” and improbable achievements over the years, so often from those with little or no achievements before or since their monumental and too often poorly verified “records”.
The guise of charity can be a very effective shield from scrutiny and criticism.
Thanks all!
There are many obvious traps in defining how much walking counts that would immediately start fistfights, even in civilized company
Of course, this isn’t a hypothetical question…
Someone is in the midst of a “most consecutive days to **run **a marathon” effort, not a “most consecutive days to complete a marathon distance” effort, and does an awful lot of walking, and a lot of them are 8/9+hr runs.
Does this personally offend me? No, not at all. Am I curious as to whether having some days where you’ve walked most of it would be ratified by Guinness or other record-keeping body…yes, yes I am.
I was following someone on Strava doing just this - most consecutive days of ‘running’ a marathon and supposedly ratified by Guinness. They clearly had the fitness as there were some (occasional) fast (3’30"ish) times in there, but (for me) there were too many days of 9-10 hour marathons, with lots of walking and lots of breaks (45min/km). I have no issue with walking the odd km, but the regular long breaks made me give up following them. I do feel the 6-7 hour cutoff seems about right.
From Buttsfeed “Marathon Verbs, Ranked”
If you’re trying to define what is a run vs what is a walk, look up the standard for the goofy speed walking, and if you’re doing the opposite of that I guess you’re running?
.
So given the 50km walk world records are 3:32 for men and 3:52 for women, so if you’re not running a marathon in sub 3 as a man or 3:13 as a woman, you’re a walker?
It’s literally called walking. Fast walking. Race walking, speed walking. I’ve never cared for looking up the standard, but it’s defined as having at least one foot on the ground at all times. So yes, that’s a walker.
So to be running a marathon, it’s fair to say you need to spend at least 50% of your steps where both feet aren’t making contact with the ground at the same time.
It’s possible to do a slow run and a fast walk. If the standard is “what’s a walk vs a run” you need to define them.