133 replies to this topic

[JustinS007]

...whatever you want them to be.

[NKOTB]

...harder than two half marathons

[sammo72]

...are 42.195kms of self discovery and 7 days of reflection.
or
...are what DOMS call foreplay.

Edited by sammo72, 04 April 2012 - 08:53 PM.

[slowbonKeR]

a challenge in the morning,
a trial at midday;
a journey in the afternoon, to help you find your way;
a philosophy by evening,
a meditation through the night;
the only place acceptable for blokes to run in tights

[sfGnome]

...a physical challenge that is mostly in the mind.

[undercover brother]

an excuse to listen to the ipod.

[Colin]

195m more than the meaning of life.

Edited by Colin, 04 April 2012 - 09:35 PM.

[stealthkm]

a chance to enjoy pain while surrounded by others enjoying the same pain.

[Whippet gal]

... worth every step.

[Huff]

swfguy, on 04 April 2012 - 08:13 AM, said:

Hi there,
I am writing a book about marathons and would like to get some quick responses from anyone who has completed a marathon, (or not.)

Finish this sentence.


Marathons are...


Your response can be one word, a sentence or whatever you feel is appropriate.
Thanks in advance,
R

All it needs to finish it is a !

Marathons are!

Edited by Huff, 05 April 2012 - 04:18 AM.

[Colin]

an accountability test, no place to hide.

[halfwaydown]

Davo, on 04 April 2012 - 05:51 PM, said:

A great way to admire the backside of females in front of you without being labelled a pervert.

Pervert!

[dJunk]

...optional

[Phoenix]

...a springboard to self confidence

[Safari]

...a great excuse to close the roads to traffic and enjoy the city at 14km/ hr...

[rohan]

Colin, on 05 April 2012 - 08:41 AM, said:

an accountability test, no place to hide.

the race of truth?

(apologies to le tour commentary around TT time)

[jockster]

something every runner should try at least once...

[Jimmy4990]

a great reason to only work half a day today

[FitzCameron]

a 32km warmup followed by a really tough 10km effort

[alisonjc]

all about the BLING

[denjah]

Something you do because you can.

[Stem]

...a distance dream.

[Injured2010]

cappy, on 04 April 2012 - 03:58 PM, said:

......What Snickers used to be called (in the UK anyhow)

I was going to post that but thought I better check :-)

[Uncle Dave]

..the meaning of life.

(At least in Dave's guide to the galaxy   )

[slowmo]

...an anagram of "trash moan"

(also "Aha Mr Snot" but that doesn't seem quite as motivational)

slowmo

Edited by slowmo, 06 April 2012 - 07:41 PM.

[SMC42K]

Madness, sheer madness! It only took me just a tad over 30 years and doing several dozen to come to this conclusion.

[bear]

the gateway to ultras

[sfGnome]

As close as you can get to insanity without tipping over the edge (42.196km being the official edge).

[Unlikelyrunner]

Often overpriced

[philk]

awesome, then addictive, then you discover they are available on trails....

[Jimmy4990]

bear, on 06 April 2012 - 07:52 PM, said:

the gateway to ultras

I have never ran an ultra so I am no expert but I have run 2 marathons. This very limited experiance tells me that I would never try to run an ultra fast. Not Even a 50k (42.5 for that matter). The marathon is very defined wheras ultra's seem to come in all shape and sizes. I see them as different but I don't see one being superior to the other. To claim "bigger" or "better" is very childish. This thread has runners trying to claim "macho" status, one way or another. I am assuming it is just a bit of fun.

[richardegg]

the dictionary meaning of the word 'masochism'

[backofthepack]

an excuse for travel.  


It can be hard to justify a longish trip for a 10 km - but for a marathon or ultra - not a problem!

[Perseus]

never mastered.

[rachinaus]

...a particularly hard way of learning things about yourself.

[Shankate]

Marathons are.... The final chapter of an Ironman triathlon!

(I shall answer this again sensibly after Port Macquarie Ironman, when my temporary all-consuming ironman brain is no longer complicating my running thought processes).

[KML]

Something that makes complete sense to you and no sense at all to your family...

[mutk]

Marathons are - Not a pissing contest.

Some in this thread are trying to make it so ...

[walker1st]

Marathons are : combined happenings of :

- serious running race lasting up to 2:12 M, 2:25 F respectively
- mass participation events where you can buy very overpriced finishers certificate and event Tshirt

[slowmo]

...ideally, just another distance to be run as best I can.

Yes, it is an iconic event which draws from legend and is replete with stories of great achievements - all of which I love reading about. But on an entirely personal level, I find that thinking of an upcoming marathon in those terms only leads to anxiety and lessens the chance that I'll have a satisfying race. Another way of putting it is that I view the marathon differently depending on whether I am a spectator or a participant. As a spectator, I revel in the magnitude and mystique of the event. As a participant I want instead to focus on each moment of my own running as I would in any other event.

That's just me - I realise that for others the opposite is true.

slowmo

[Jimmy4990]

A sure fire way of predicting when you will catch a cold

[BIGKEV]

Life.....the rest is details!

[Quinkin]

......a thought left discarded that is growing into a dream. I will run a marathon

Edited by Quinkin, 20 April 2012 - 08:36 PM.

[PinkDrinkingPony]

A run that will make walking downstairs tough for a day or two

[THE KEG]

about 5k - within the accuracy of a Gamin.

[KentlynTiger]

Maybe I'm breaking the rules here having another go , but last weekend I was down in Canberra to watch the Marathon, and have a Sprint in the 10k.

Marathons are; great to watch unfold (as they do) and are really inspirational. I watched it on foot and on bicycle.

BTW; last Sunday was 33years since I ran my first marathon @ Canberra. 25 since my last and I can never say never.

[McKnickers]

To be respected!

[shortstuff]

... something I fear I may want to do (marathon virgin)

[antracing]

not too bad up to the 36 km mark, then you find out how good you are at fooling your mind for the next 4 km, whilst seeing in graphic detail how good the training was.  The final bit after 40 km is travelled with a lot more confidence as anyone can crawl this last bit if needs be.  And walking for the next three or four days is optional , right ?

[rohan]

mutk, on 08 April 2012 - 10:26 AM, said:

Marathons are - Not a pissing contest.

Are/Aren't - it's up to you.