Friday, October 5

People I admire

There are lots of these folks walking around downtown today...the ones who are here to run the marathon. Now, I really do admire these folks, and I've gotten to the point where I don't think they're nuts for doing it. I do still feel that humans are not necessarily meant to do this kind of thing because of the history (excerpt is from Wikipedia):
  • The name marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, who was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon. It is said that he ran the entire distance [26 miles 385 yards]without stopping, but moments after proclaiming his message to the city he collapsed dead from exhaustion.

As much as I admire those who have done marathons (Onkel Walter is one of them), I will never do one because the first person to do it died immediately thereafter.

10 comments:

Martha said...

I LOVE your rationale. I need to use it for my own. Really funny, and quite logical, really. :)

Finlands finest said...

I must agree with Martha--I now have a reason to say I shouldn't run a marathon!

Katrin said...

That is a great reason. I am glad if I can do 20 mins treadmill and 20 mins elliptical in one go! :)

Mamma Sarah said...

:-) That's why when Flying Pig comes around we are entering Alex into the diaper dash... :-D I'll be there handing out water to the runners!

wnk said...

While I appreciate the sentiment, and I realize your statement is at least partially in jest, your rationale is, pardon my french, crap.

The first person who ran the distance, which is in dispute, probably didn't train for it. The current marathon distance first appeared in the 1908 London Olympics and was determined by, what appears to be, royal whim.

Just about anyone can train for and complete a marathon these days. You can say you don't like running, or you simply don't want to, that's fine. But if you change your mind, I'd be more than happy to give you some pointers.

LisaMarie said...

Don't know who wnk is, but I can tell you, my father always taught me that you shouldn't run unless someone is chasing you.

And try running with boobs. It doesn't feel so good. Even in a sports bra.

Eva said...

wnk is Viki's Onkel Walter, and he is a Marathon runner. He has completed the grueling Chicago Marathon. We like him anyway.

Viki's mom

Martha said...

I used to say running a marathon was a goal of mine...I'm beginning to think it's very unrealistic (unless someone wants to give me some bute for my sore joints). I can't even make it to be able to do a relay (and I REALLY wanted to do the hood-to-coast relay). So I like Viki's rationale of not wanting to based on the first person to do it died. :) It gives me an "acceptable excuse". ;)
And Lisa's comment of running with boobs is VERY accurate. Just leads to premature sagging! And we all know we want, and boys want, us to be as perky as possible, as long as possible. :)

Karen said...

i wholeheartedly agree with everything Lisa says. Running is dumb. :)

Sarah said...

HAHAHAHA! Lisa is so right about the boob comment....I wear two sports bras when I work out.

My friend Courtney ran a marathon a couple of years ago, and my aunt and uncle in California have done several. You couldn't pay me enough money to even consider it.

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