If you know someone who is going to be out there for “a while,” we want to hear their story. Please, send them our way.
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/pace-of-chicago/2009/09/looking-for-a-slow-marathon-runner.html
Thank you
David
I just hope the temps are not over say 72.5F as it will be SO SO SO hot so that the folks who cant run a half in under three hours will almost die…then again, if it is under 68F then the hypothermia will set in rapidly.
Sorry but it seems to me that more than half of the folks who are at a mary any more are just fat ass’ trying to get a shirt and medal…looking to one day tell a story about the saga and suffering of their 11 minute pace “race”.
I just hope the temps are not over say 72.5F as it will be SO SO SO hot so that the folks who cant run a half in under three hours will almost die…then again, if it is under 68F then the hypothermia will set in rapidly.
Sorry but it seems to me that more than half of the folks who are at a mary any more are just fat ass’ trying to get a shirt and medal…looking to one day tell a story about the saga and suffering of their 11 minute pace “race”.
Wow, thanks for capturing so perfectly why I traveled twice to New Hampshire (from Northern Illinois) to do the Mooseman Half, but won’t drive 45 minutes to do Rockman. I’ve also done Musselman, Eagleman, and Spirit of Racine. I’m doing Steelhead next year and briefly thought about doing Rockman as well. Thankfully you posted, and I came to my senses.
Not everyone is fast. I wish I was. I keep training, keep working, but it’s not a quick process (and I’ve been doing this and IM for 5 years). Not all slow people are in it for the medal, t-shirt or to brag about it at work. I enjoy the training and “racing.” Even if the “racing” is just against myself.
+1. I’m so glad to learn that my laughably slow pace isn’t really racing. What a relief! 
Like mdraegernyc I’m am really relieved the 13 minute miles I “raced” for my double marathon isn’t really racing. Take lots of pressure off me for the 100k I’m doing at the end of Oct. Thanks!
I just hope the temps are not over say 72.5F as it will be SO SO SO hot so that the folks who cant run a half in under three hours will almost die…then again, if it is under 68F then the hypothermia will set in rapidly.
Sorry but it seems to me that more than half of the folks who are at a mary any more are just fat ass’ trying to get a shirt and medal…looking to one day tell a story about the saga and suffering of their 11 minute pace “race”.
Wow, thanks for capturing so perfectly why I traveled twice to New Hampshire (from Northern Illinois) to do the Mooseman Half, but won’t drive 45 minutes to do Rockman. I’ve also done Musselman, Eagleman, and Spirit of Racine. I’m doing Steelhead next year and briefly thought about doing Rockman as well. Thankfully you posted, and I came to my senses.
Not everyone is fast. I wish I was. I keep training, keep working, but it’s not a quick process (and I’ve been doing this and IM for 5 years). Not all slow people are in it for the medal, t-shirt or to brag about it at work. I enjoy the training and “racing.” Even if the “racing” is just against myself.
Don’t get so worked up. I believe R10C isn’t necessarily putting down the slow folks. The Chicago Marathon has a LOT of “one and done” marathoners. People who do the RW “run 3 days/week and finish a marathon plan.” The ones who don’t make athletics a lifestyle before anyone says “At least they got off the couch.” They’ll be right back on the couch as soon as they get their medal, working on making their asses look like 150lbs of chewed bubble gum. Hopefully, a couple really will turn things around. I’m guessing a majority of the people who complained when it was so hot fell into this category. They were forced to have to do it again to get a medal; sacrifice 3-4 days/wk for 12 whole weeks.
You’re cutting off the nose… I believe you have a pretty good event in your back yard. Kudos to you for working hard, and no need to put racing in quotes. Keep moving forward!
100k - now you know that is a whole other ball game, I dont thing most of us - myself included could do 100k at ANY pace 
I do however stick to the fact that unless you are PC, have serious medical/weightloss or in a more mature age group…11 minute miles for a person who is 25-40 and in any inkling of a decent shape 11 minute pace is not a “race”, it is a “participate” - there is nothing wrong with participating. Where it becomes laughable is when people will spend the few weeks after their “race” bragging about their BOP finish…then there are folks (many on this forum) who RACE, they put it all out there and RACE…but, you would never ever know it randomly in a coffee shop. It is a shame to me that USA has the slowest AVG Marathon and Iron distance times on the planet. If you look at the avg. AG at Roth, WA and other races (I dont know of any international marathons as that is now what I am in to) to name any off hand - but I do know (from reading an article in Running magazine) that the times are getting slower and slower - yet participants expect more and more and more. I could mention the IronMan “mile to mile run course buffet”…but that would make me elitest. 
I just hope the temps are not over say 72.5F as it will be SO SO SO hot so that the folks who cant run a half in under three hours will almost die…then again, if it is under 68F then the hypothermia will set in rapidly.
Sorry but it seems to me that more than half of the folks who are at a mary any more are just fat ass’ trying to get a shirt and medal…looking to one day tell a story about the saga and suffering of their 11 minute pace “race”.
You imagine the replies had the OP been on letsrun.com? Hell, they woulda found the OP’s mothers e-mail and sent her mean messages for birthing this person…but, thats their style.
And as for my race - I PREFER that the knoingly BOP folks NOT sign up. This year we paid over $450 in police services so that we could keep control of intersections on the bike course for one last cyclist who was on the course - a full 2 hours behind every other person who got off of the bike course. So, the options are…pull the cops…there is only one person left out right? Or, leave the cops and pay…or do what WTC, NAS and more and more folks are doing - TIME LIMITS. I guess that time limits are elitest too I bet cause they are just their to fulfil a personal life goal. I just dont get it how folks cant seem to take notice that people at the far BOP are getting a much higher ROI on their entry fee and cost a TON more to keep on the course (police, ambulance, voulenteers, electrical, and on and on…all waiting - for folks who could have TRIED to train).
I think that everyone should have to see an IM race at midnight…12:00:01 am and the lights go OUT, music off, shows over, stick it with a fork cause no matter where you are on the course…they are done.
You should post this on the Chicagoland’s TNT website if you are serious. You will not walk alone.
OK. I have to admit, I have no idea what a TNT web site is? Can you explain? Also to the rest of the people complaining about slow runners, what does it matter? If you are “that” fast, why does something behind you bother you so much?
Dude, lighten up! We are the most obese nation in the world. Most weatlhy and most obese. Obesity is a huge problem in the U.S… Be happy these people are getting off the couch and trying to even complete (or “participate in”) a marathon, IM, triathlon, whatever. That’s much better than sitting around and doing nothing. If they want to brag about it afterwards, who cares?
TNT= Team In Training.
Right. Duh! Great idea!
Thank you
David
I hope I don’t regret this but here it goes:
I am one of these slow people out there doing these things. 2 1/2 years ago I decided I needed to make a change in my life and had gastric bypass surgery. In that first year I lost 200 lbs and completed my first century. In August in started thinking I probably could complete a marathon and did the Detroit Marathon. I wasn’t fast by any means, I hoped to complete it in under 5 hours and I did so (4:58:xx).
After reading race reports and hearing from people who did triathlons I decided that I really wanted to try them. I had to have some plastic surgery as a result of the weight loss and was not able to start swimming until March. During the summer I completed 6 sprints and 2 HIM, Muskoka being one of those. At Steelhead I was 20/49 in the swim, 15/49 on the bike and 43/49 on the run. I have no problem identifying where I truly, truly suck in these things!
I’ll be one of the slower ones next year at CdA, I think 15:xx is doable.
I’ll be doing the Detroit Marathon again on October 19 and the NYC on November 1. I wish I’d be faster than I’m going to be, but I’m starting to think 4:40-4:50 is unfortunately where I’ll be in Detroit and NYC I’m proudly going to be participating in that one! I plan on bringing a camera and enjoying the entire experience. If I’m feeling incredible that can change but if not that’s my plan.
Hopefully when I do the Disney marathon in January I can get my time down to 4:20 or better.
NOW, here’s the kickier:
I’m a high school teacher and as a result of people watching my journey and what I’m doing now there are 2 additional teachers running the half in Detroit. One of my students will also be joining me as he completes his first half (in his first year of running) and a second had to back out due to an injury. I have several students starting to talk about wanting to do triathlons next year.
The BEST part of it though is the kids who have always been sedentary are now starting to walk a little more than they used to.
I know I’m putting this out there to a group of people that I just look at with envy at the races I’m at. I wish I had your speed and I’m working to get there. My goal is to be at least MOP if not in the back of the FOP folks next year. If you look at me you wouldn’t know what I did to get to that start line or the people who are watching me and saying; ‘hey, maybe I can do that too’.
I guess I hope I don’t become as cynical as some are on these boards to the people who WON’T be making a podium unless they experience an incredibly weak field
Or, leave the cops and pay…or do what WTC, NAS and more and more folks are doing - TIME LIMITS. I guess that time limits are elitest too I bet cause they are just their to fulfil a personal life goal. I just dont get it how folks cant seem to take notice that people at the far BOP are getting a much higher ROI on their entry fee and cost a TON more to keep on the course (police, ambulance, voulenteers, electrical, and on and on…all waiting - for folks who could have TRIED to train).
I think that everyone should have to see an IM race at midnight…12:00:01 am and the lights go OUT, music off, shows over, stick it with a fork cause no matter where you are on the course…they are done.
I have no problems with time limits, cut-offs, etc. I agree that they need to be in place, for the safety of everyone involved. I also think that people who don’t take the race seriously and don’t train properly shouldn’t be out there. Each person needs to take responsibility for him/herself. And sadly, there ARE people who think they are “entitled” to finish a marathon, triathlon, whatever, no matter how it may impact race logistics, etc. I’m not defending the person who isn’t prepared to do the race OR doesn’t want to accept the consequences of not being prepared.
Regardless, imo, you show a lot of disdain for people who are not fast. Even though I can apparently be “excused” for being slow (I’m in the 45-49 age group), I’ve never been fast.
And this… Where it becomes laughable is when people will spend the few weeks after their “race” bragging about their BOP finish…then there are folks (many on this forum) who RACE, they put it all out there and RACE…but, you would never ever know it randomly in a coffee shop. I’m not sure we can lay the stereotype of the self-involved triathlete at the door of the BOPer, or at least ONLY at the door of the BOPer.
Sorry but it seems to me that more than half of the folks who are at a mary any more are just fat ass’ trying to get a shirt and medal…looking to one day tell a story about the saga and suffering of their 11 minute pace “race”.
That’s pretty harsh. I know a couple of ladies that run 6-7 hour marathons and I think they suffer more than I do when running. I don’t think I could handle being on my feet that long. There are plenty of people who want to check off the event on their life list, but these ladies have trained as hard as anyone I know and have completed probably 10 marathons each.
Ken
I PREFER that the knoingly BOP folks NOT sign up.
…or do what WTC, NAS and more and more folks are doing - TIME LIMITS.
If the BOPs don’t show up then I’ll be BOP and I don’t need that in my life!
Time Limits are completely reasonable as people know what they’ll be before the race starts and before they sign up. I know for Toronto marathons, after 6 hours people who haven’t finished are told to get on the sidewalk and obey traffic signals which is reasonable. I don’t know when they pull the timing system though.
Ken
At the end of the day…at least those slow people don’t look like a massive tool!
My point, ultimately, is that some people do this stuff simply to see if they can. I know that’s why I always push distances, to see how far I can go before I “break”. Some do that with speed, others do with distance.
We’ve gone around and around on this more times than I can count on this forum. I’ve never been able to get anyone to come up with the definitive pace/time that means someone “raced”. To me, if you are in pain and have nothing left when it is over, you raced.