should there be a universal time limit for marathons? (Page 2)

I like the way they do the Sarasota Marathon.   They tell everyone that the blocked-off roads open back to traffic after 5-1/2 hours and if you're still on the course then just move to the sidewalks.

Mark

How do they handle the finish line/timing/awarding of finisher's medals?

There are sidewalks along the entire course.  The final three miles run through some quiet residential neighborhoods and finishes up on the park-like grounds of the Ringling Museum on the Sarasota Bay waterfront.  Lots of space for officials, food, medical, entertainment, etc.

Mark

Who's "we"?

To me, it's up to the participant to find the race that suits them best, rather than the race director's obligation to accommodate every possible person.

I'm not going to go into your situation exactly, but for blind or handicapped runners, they can pick a race with a time limit they can meet. Also, I would think the Special Olympics has a marathon and I'm sure most races out there accomodate those with disabilities--if they meet the requirements.

Races with limits are races with limits. Fit, healthy people cannot participate in races because they cannot meet a deadline, so its not discriminating against those with disabilities. 

Now, just because someone is blind does not mean they are slow and connot meet the time limits either. Here is a great article:
http://www.usoc.org/paralympics/news_46496.htm

I am willing to bet that even someone with a 35-40 VO2 max can run under 5:00 for a marathon. I don't consider myself athletically gifted either. Look at someone like Joel who has a 70+ V02 - I am not even close to that yet our HIM times are still pretty close. It's about 'how bad do you want it' and 'how much are you willing to sacrifice to get there' - that's the great thing about endurance sports. How hard you want to work is a personal choice and I am not saying one is better than the other, but I am not going to buy into the 'gifted/not gifted' argument. I wrecked my toe at age 15, and the Dr told me that I wouldn't be able to run on it and that he wanted to replace it with a plastic joint. My first thought was "i'll show you" - I left his office and RAN to the bus stop with a cast on my foot that day. I had to prove that I could run,  to me, not him. I still have the same toe.  I may not be able to bend it 90 degrees but it works for me.

bingo

Also as more races crop up with longer cut off times, it will reach a point where the races with shorter cut offs will be considered more 'elite' then the longer cut offs.  Very similar to how Boston is considered a more elite race then smaller local races because of it's qualifying time restrictions. 

So the question that remains is, can you call someone a marathoner that did it in 12 hours or 14 hours?  Where is that time limit.  I say anyone can call themselves whatever the hell they want.  The metric shouldn't be "i did a marathon" it should be "I ran a 3:30 marathon".

Word.

Ok, since Mike addressed you Spokes I will too. You have been cycling for years, but not running.

If you followed a plan, trained right, you could run a sub 5 hour marathon. I don't buy the 'gifted' stuff either. Yes there are athletically gifted people, but even the Kenyans train hard and for years to get as fast as they are. You just started running, and just started running to race. Give it time. Less than a whole season isn't enough time.

Like many of us have said here, plenty of people can go from a couch to a sub 5 (or 4!) hour marathon if they work hard enough and follow a good plan. Get good advice or a coach and you'll continue to improve. THEN enter any race you want.

Not everyone has the physical ability or athletic talent to even complete an IM, no matter how hard they might train or how dedicated they may be.  Some of the most inspiring, motivated and dedicated triathletes I have met are the BOPers who struggle even to finish a sprint race.  We all have our own unique talents and limitations.  I guess I'd rather see us encourage the acheivement of our maximum individual potential rather than being measured against some arbitrary standard, that for many will be elitist.

Mark

Spokes is into it for the chicks.