Marathon vs. NFL Playoff Game

you've been training the last 4 months for a marathon.  Getting up in the cold and dark and logging ridiculous miles, all for the goal of rockin' 26.2.... and you'd even think of missing it?

If you're not joking, I'm gonna' have you banned from this forum.  

That's a tough one.  When will you get another chance to see the Texans in a post-season game?  I could be years.  There's a bunch of marathons each year.

okay... I'm going to be the black sheep here...

Which wold be the more unique experience for you?  Is this your first marathon? Then you HAVE To go that way. 
If you're a HUGE Texan fan and cried when the Oilers were moved to Tenn and then name changed and cried just as much out of excitement when the Texans were established, you go to Baltimore.

Of course I'm such a cheap@$$, I'd also have to consider how much money I'd loose by going to Baltimore (entry fee, tickets, hotel, etc)

If it were me and it was do I run a marathon (locally) or have the opportunity to go see the Saints play (per all expenses paid)... Yeah, I'd probably bail and head down south (but then again, the way they're playing now... *sigh*    )

AND FINALLY the last thing to lead me to sway BACK to the race... isn't trying to get into THAT marathon DIFFICULT!!!  As difficult as the Texans winning... but really??

hmmm.... don't think I helped did I?  SORRY!!!

What's the old saying? "Would you rather be an athlete or an athletic supporter?"

Will the outcome of the game be any different if you are there or not?

Run your marathon

Personally, and I've been known to travel far and wide to watch "my team", I'd rather finish what I started and run the marathon accomplishing something for myself. Think about - gawd forbid - if they lose... your team will have lost AND you didn't run the race you trained so hard for. 

Unless it was the world championship game and I got free tickets, hotel, and flight... marathon.

Marathon, for sure.

Speaking as a Texans fan, I say run the Marathon.

If you were talking about the SuperBowl, I'd have a different answer. 

Id go to the game.

Ive been to a few playoff games and a superbowl.  Great memories.  Maybe you could go to the game and find another marathon to run in.

Don't observe life, live it!

Unless you are on the Texans' roster, run the marathon.

I would go to the game. Not too many times in life (for most of us) that we can go to an NFL game, let alone a divisional playoff. There are marathons every other weekend in most places. If you are trained there is no reason you can't do a different marathon a few weeks later.

I'd say go to the game.  As someone said before me, you can run while you're in Baltimore, and you can find another marathon to put that training to use. 

How long will it take the Texans to get to the divisional round again?  Who knows?  When can you run a marathon?  Anytime you'd like.  When can you run the Houston marathon?  Next year.

This is a fitness board, so you should expect the response to be to run but I say Nay, Nay.  Supporting your team is still living and the experience and memories will be different than that of a marathon but not less important.

Is the flight/game tix free?  I'm cheap so that would figure into my decision.  However if money is no object, I'd go to the game.  But, I run 2-3 marathons a year so missing one would be no big deal to me, and as others have said, you could most likely find another marathon to run soon so your fitness doesn't go to waste.

you guys are just about split on game vs. marathon opinions! i am going to do the marathon. houston is the marathon that first inspired me to start distance running in the first place. it goes through my neighborhood, and i've been watching every january since i was little.

baltimore would be fun, but if they lost in poor fashion, i'd be pretty upset i missed the marathon to watch a blow out. i also learned that if they wind up beating the ravens and playing the following weekend, i'd likely have the opportunity to go to that game, too. 

thanks for ya'lls opinions!

GO TEXANS!