Why do people run marathons?

It's a lot faster than walking them.

To burn off all the cocaine energy, obviously.

Only two replies, and this thread is already making me laugh.

My older brother was in a very bad car accident when we were younger. He was in a coma for a month. One of his legs is shorter than the other, and he has a metal plate in his head. They're very important to him, to prove he's not disabled. I don't enjoy attending them, but I do it because he likes having me there with him. I attended some walking marathon with him (only about 3 miles) and hated it. Even my brother admits that most marathoners are assholes.

To have the chance to lose control of awkward bodily functions in public. Everyone knows that.

Marathons are like the terminal degree for basic ass running. It’s the “thing” that you need to accomplish. I think marathons are popular because there’s been an explosion in the popularity of running in general. That’s likely due to social media, and the proliferation of fitness apps, fitness fashion, and training guides.

It can be a decently low effort sport, once you learn how to run (breathing, ignoring minor body stuff, having the right gear, etc). You don’t even need to try to be fast. Plus you can do it when you’re old or fat. That gives it mass appeal. I like it because I can sort of be a part of a group without actually engaging with people. Because I hate people, especially runners.

The only benefit I see is that you can eat and drink whatever the hell you want. You could eat a whole pizza every day and still be as thin as a rail.

People who haven't run them are usually impressed to hear that you have. They sound impossibly difficult even though they are not.

It's become a harmless cult. I have friends who got into running who have made the training/race cycle the focus of their non-working life. I find it so boring to hear them yap on and on about it, but it's healthier than many other addictions. I prefer DL's marathon threads on old movies.

I had a colleague in her 60s who runs marathons. Wakes at 4 a.m. to run before going to work. For lunch, she has a bag of protein powder that she mixes with water. She's in great shape. But, is it worth it?

I've also read that aerobic exercises like running/jogging when done a lot tend to have the bad side effect of burning fat off the face so some people look really old and wrinkly.

Bucket-list item. I admit I've run three -- spaced out about five years apart. I'm done with them though -- I'm not paying to put my body through that punishment again.

I completely agree OP. There has to be something better to do with your time. And it’s a lot of time. Plus the damage to your body. The only explanation to me is the drug like high becomes an addiction.

Bragging rights, ego fulfillment mostly. Some people do it to prove to themselves that they can overcome big obstacles. But mostly it’s bragging rights.

If you run 26 miles through your town to do it, awesome. If you travel to NYC or to Boston to run those marathons and brag that you’ve run the NYC and Boston marathons, you’re an asshole.

Runners have terrible bodies, and long-term unpleasant injuries. Based on the kind of body/look you end up with, I’ll take yoga or swimming.

But I’m always impressed with people who can finish a marathon.

Running, like everything, should be done in sane moderation. People who are addicted to long distance running go from running is healthy and good for you...to you are actually damaging your body by overdoing it with the running.

There are studies out there that show that, there is too much of a good thing, but they don't want to hear it.

I did the 0.0 marathon this year and loved it!!

I did the Downton marathon on my local PBS station. I made it all the way to Season 3, episode 5 before developing gestational diabetes. I ended up giving the $10,000 but then I got a note from my doctor.

Nice mug though.

Get back to me after you've tried a whirlybird marathon.

Hold the brickbats until I've finished...

...I've run 15 marathons in over 30 years. I love the training, the excuse (yes, I know I'm privileged) to take hours out of my life to be outside (often in beautiful places I otherwise wouldn't visit) to push my body hard. There's an adrenaline/endorphin rush you don't get any other way I know, something that kicks in when you run over about 15 or so miles. I've made some of the best friends I'll ever have by training together -- if you're running with someone for 2 or 3 hours, and no one can descend into their smart phones, you get to know people quite well. And I LOVE to eat -- I was a fat, lazy kid, and at some point I took up running as a stress release -- and when I'm training I can eat just about anything I want, and a lot of it. I do my best thinking when I run. Combined with some strength training, I get laid a lot more (and by hotter guys) than I otherwise would -- especially now that I'm 50+. In many ways, the marathon itself is a an excuse, although I've had some thrilling experiences actually running races (e.g. bursting into tears after running in silence across the 59th St Bridge in NYC and facing a million people lining First Avenue). I'm sensible and face no major injuries. I don't recommend it to everyone, I don't brag about it, I may never do another one, but I wouldn't have missed the training for anything.

Can't believe how dumb Americans are. This thread is the exact reason you guys are obese.

R21 There are other, healthier ways to not be obese than marathon running.

People have crazy hobbies that you and I would hate. It's fine.

[R4] that is a beautiful thing do, attending these runs, marathons &c...

The usual curse of the western world: toxic competitiveness and the myth of meritocracy. To win a marathon is like everything else: you have to be gifted and know the right people. But to finish a marathon is something anyone can do with an insane level of commitment and will. And that's what makes it powerful. Our values are the spoils go the workers and strivers. Our reality is that it goes to the most corrupt and selfish. Marathons support the myth and keep middle class people too busy to organize politically.

After growing up as a fat lazy kid, I ran my first marathon at 46. I had been biking a lot, and when winter hit with the snow, biking became impossible. I started running around the local park as all of the walks were clear. At first, I could run fifty feet and stop. By October, I finished my first marathon, finishing in the top third overall. Losing weight doesn't necessarily happen, as I have pics of me sporting a nice gut even after running 60+ miles a week for a whole training season. I had fun running, but running combined with a previous back injury kind of got me out of running for the last couple of years. I will probably go out there again, but only on 5K or 10K races now that I'm up in my 60s. It was fun to do, and a good way to learn a city. Whenever I was visiting a city, I always looked for a running store to see if they sponsored a local run. Great way to learn more about a city.

[quote]Can't believe how dumb Americans are.

And yet it's your favorite theme.

R21 Ok Mama Cass

More power to ‘em. I wouldn’t run if the devil himself were chasing me. But I’d walk 26 miles.

Some people's bodies just aren't made for running, including mine. No, I'm not fat. I used to feel guilty for never having gotten into running. A few years ago, a close friend of mine finished a marathon. Friend told me it caused plantar fasciitis (the training & the the marathon). That solidified my position that I don't need to run.

However, if you like it and it makes you happy, I understand.

No cabs, as usual.

My boss is a narcissist who has taken up marathon running in his middle age. I always know the best way to change the conversation is to bring up his marathon schedule

I haven't read most of the posts on this thread, however a few years back as a last ditch effort to save my marriage I began accompanying my ex on his runs. He had been running for years and had competed in numerous 10ks and a couple of marathons as well. I suspected he was having a fling with a woman in his running group, though he would eventually marry a different woman after I left him when he divorced me and married her. Anyways, I began to run with him and his 'group'...sort of...I could never keep up with them and they would just leave me after about five minutes and I'd wind up walking home. Anyways, my husband had entered a local 5k and I decided to enter it too. He told me not to since I never got further than two or three blocks before stopping/they left me in the dust and I would walk home. But I decided that I would show him and his running friends! So I ran the 5k...sort of...it was the most excruciating hour and a half of my life, but I refused to give up, even after the officials told me to stop because they needed to reopen the course for street traffic. Even after I inevitably 'hit the wall' and had to stop and take twenty minute 'donut break' (LOL!) at the Double Ds! Even after I shit myself as I got close to the finish (though I've been told that's pretty common for people at the end of a race)! I finished the race and it proved to me that I could do whatever I set my mind too (and so can you!). The bittersweet ending is that my husband and his 'friends' had all left the race long before I finished but still it was a personal victory for me. So I say go for it, OP!

R33, you had me until "hour and a half" for a 5k.

Oh my god, OP. How fucking old are you?

It’s common for people to shit themselves after running 5k?

Exactly, R15.

I remember visiting my sister from time to time when she lived in New Orleans. In early mornings we would take her Cockapoo to walk the Museum of Art grounds, then to the Fairgrounds so she could bark at the horses. Every single day we would see this ancient dessicated wraith of a humanoid running City Park. Even when it was a raw rainy 23° in January. There was no joy in his countenance, and he had that faraway look of people who're about to cross over. He was all crabbed over, knees taped to the gods. Gave me the motherfucking creeps. But I'm sure his resting heart rate was a-MAZING😐

He looked EXACTLY like Famine from Supernatural. Except Famine was far more animated.

R37, we used to see a woman out running. She had terrible form and a really awkward gait. We had an uncharitable nickname for her. Stringy body and like you said, joyless countenance.

Apparently there is some sort of payoff. To each their own.

I’ve run the NYC Marathon twice (at age 41 & 42) and had a blast. It’s like there is a big party in NYC and only people that run the marathon get to see it all. Choirs singing and bands playing, people from all different backgrounds cheering you on, giving you high fives, it’s fun. I had no prior running experience. I entered the lottery and won. I paid for the virtual training program they offer. They email you what to do each day and you report your progress. I’m fat and didn’t lose weight and it wasn’t “insane” dedication. Just a fun goal. I first took a running class that trains you to go from being able to walk 20 minutes to being able to run 30 minutes (about 3 miles). Then I started the program. Basically, you run 3-5 miles twice during the week and then on the weekend, you do a “long run” which starts at about 4 miles and goes up each weekend til you’re running 20 miles. Then you pare back the next 3 weeks and run the marathon. Because I had run weekend races as part of my training and volunteered at a race, I qualified for the marathon again the following year so I did it again. The second time was harder than the first cuz I went a little too fast. I would recommend it to everyone. I may enter the lottery again next year in fact.

I have shit to do and can't get across the goddamned roads. I'm happy that you're accomplishing your running goals, just don't step on everyone else's goals to do it.

I hate running. It's so boring.

However, I can take a dance class for 2 hours and have a blast.

Runners don't necessarily bother me. Crossfitters on the other hand, are insufferably annoying. They're worse than MLMers trying to push their shit on you.

An arbitrary distance from Greek times, but designed for young people. It's too punishing to call this healthy - particularly for a body over 35.

Sprinters and mid-distance runners always seem to be in better shape and look healthier. The body just isn't supposed to be doing long distances like that.

They are not healthy...

Running gives you gaunt Anthony Wiener poz face.