Ironman Louisville Volunteer Report...LONG!

Champion

10471

Dallas, TX

Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville Volunteer Report...LONG!

lsulitmd - 2008-09-16 4:21 PM

As with any race, you're gonna have those few people that "do" the race to say they did it. That goes for people who want to claim they've "run" a 5K, 10K, half marathon, etc. We all have done those races and see those overweight people laughing and smiling while they walk their 6-7 hours and then turn around and "claim" to have run a marathon. Annoying? Yes, but we all know the difference right?

For the record, this 5'4", 123 pound girl "ran" the marathon in Kentucky in 6:50. Yes, I walked the entire thing... and only because both of achilles tendons started to hurt on the bike.

If you walk or run 26.2 miles... you have done 26.2 miles.

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2

Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville Volunteer Report...LONG!

K...for the record...that statement was aimed at people that are solely doing running events....walking them and stating that they "ran" the event. That to me is annoying. Walking the marathon in an ironman is common even if you trained your butt off.

So if you run a 6:50 marathon in an ironman...that happens. It's not always voluntary no matter how hard you train.

BUT....my point is that those people doing solely 5K, 10K, half marathon and walk it instead of leaving it out there sort of disrespects the race. It's hard to disrespect an ironman because you have to clear the distance within a defined period of time. You can fake your way through a marathon but you can't fake your way through an ironman.

Champion

10471

Dallas, TX

Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville Volunteer Report...LONG!

lsulitmd - 2008-09-16 10:52 PM

K...for the record...that statement was aimed at people that are solely doing running events....walking them and stating that they "ran" the event. That to me is annoying. Walking the marathon in an ironman is common even if you trained your butt off.

So if you run a 6:50 marathon in an ironman...that happens. It's not always voluntary no matter how hard you train.

BUT....my point is that those people doing solely 5K, 10K, half marathon and walk it instead of leaving it out there sort of disrespects the race. It's hard to disrespect an ironman because you have to clear the distance within a defined period of time. You can fake your way through a marathon but you can't fake your way through an ironman.

Well, then you wouldn't like me. I'm into speed walking. I'm even considering doing a marathon next year and walking the entire way.

Mind you, for me, walking slow is a 14 minute mile. My typicaly per minute mile is a 12:30. I can walk a 11 minute mile, when I'm really working it, but I can only do that for short spurts. And if I'm working perfect form, I can walk a 9:30 minute mile. Again, for short spurts. I kind want to work on it though so I can do it more than just short spurts.

Hey, you know what, when I walk, I even log it as RUNNING on my LOG. Then again, some of my walking is as fast as some people's running.

Yes, I tell people I am slow and that I'm not a runner, and that I walk... but typically because sometimes I'll do a walk/run combo (5 minutes walking, 2 minutes running- so mostly walking), I say I ran something.

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Expert

1014

Virginia

Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville Volunteer Report...LONG!

lsulitmd - 2008-09-16 11:52 PM

K...for the record...that statement was aimed at people that are solely doing running events....walking them and stating that they "ran" the event. That to me is annoying. Walking the marathon in an ironman is common even if you trained your butt off.

So if you run a 6:50 marathon in an ironman...that happens. It's not always voluntary no matter how hard you train.

BUT....my point is that those people doing solely 5K, 10K, half marathon and walk it instead of leaving it out there sort of disrespects the race. It's hard to disrespect an ironman because you have to clear the distance within a defined period of time. You can fake your way through a marathon but you can't fake your way through an ironman.

geez, i'm not an ironman, but it's great to know that i'm "offending" a race if i walk during part of it. everyone wants to get on people for being overweight and telling them to start exercising, but then we wonder why people don't? it's because of attitudes like that. you don't know the story behind why someone is walking so i think you should really stop being judgmental. what if that person sat on their couch for years and this is the first time they were doing anything? what if that person had a medical condition that prevented them from running? what if that person had bad knees or ankles or joints and couldn't do more than walk? recovering from an injury? since you don't know what someone's reason, motivation, or story is, who are you to judge them for walking? it sucks people think like this. i know you're not the only one, but it's still a shame.

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