MarathonGuide.com Logo - Marathon Directory, Marathons, Marathon Results, News and More Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor Contact Us
Tell a Friend

Site Map
May 24, 2013
 Running Community

 Bulletin Boards
Bulletin Boards -> Anything Else -> Charity Running Programs - What Do You Think

Message Category: Anything Else
Topic: Charity Running Programs - What Do You Think
Reply:
From:
Date:
 		respect and marathons
kevin dolan
11/25/05 11:20:11 AM ET

I have been reading these posts for the past few days and can't believe the childish venom which some people post and think is humorous. I have run 6 marathons, 4BQ's, 6 ultras 50k and 50 miles. I also coach a charity team. The people I coached this past year completed marathons in 3:20- 7hours. Everyone I coached finished legally in the allotted time the race director posted.Most of my people were first time marathoners and some of my people did MCM. NO ONE who replied the the posts condones cheating or shortcutting the course. The only people hurt by the cheating in my mind is the people who cheated and won't have the true satisfaction of having completed a marathon. From the Official reports of the the MCM, 95%of the people who cheated were NOT charity runners. I have road raced since high school and have 30 years of racing behind me. The ONLY race I have ever been to that has had the corrals enforced was Boston. People line up in the wrong corrall at every race. People overestimate their fitness all the time. I have also seen poor etiquette at water stations , even at Boston where "everyone is a runner" , people make 90 degree turns to get to the first water table,when the table go on for 50 yards and are on both sides of the roads. Last time I checked there are 250 marathons listed on marathonguide. Only a few of them close out every year. The charities do bring a large number of people into running. So some start out as walkers. Some may only do 1 marathon and no more. I know plenty of non charity runners who are 1 and done. So many people write on this site as if they own or invented running. If you are fast, the slow charity people will be behind you. If they set up a tent and celabrate their achievement, it is not making a mockery of the marathon. Most of the people I see at marathons wearing customes,frog suits dressing like it is marti gras are not charity runners. If you are going to bash charities for high expenses, why don't you research what they are? Team in Training expenses are below 25%.People have hidden behind the anonimity of the screen name to accuse and insult people and groups. If you were using those tactics to refer to someone who was black, jewish, irish , italian, would everyone still think it was funny or acceptable? The point is people were caught cheating. Some were charities, most were not. The responsible charities will address it and are horrified that their programs are tainted by this. They know the integrity of their program is at risk. The group out of Canada doesn't seem to care that they cheated from their press release. We are all out trying to get fitter, some are out trying to make a differance at the same time. These are not incompatible goals. Running in memory of someone who has Leukemia or another cancer or a stroke is no differant that running in memory of a soldier, sailor or marine who was KIA. I saw a large number of people wearing those names and pictures at MCM. Seeing that reminds me that we have many ways of honoring the memory of someone we love or knew. We sometimes show it by lighting a candle , wearing their name or picture on our shirt or running a marathon in their memory.

Post a reply on the Bulletin Board | Send email reply to kevin dolan

Message thread:

Back to Bulletin Boards Main Page   


 

 Bookmark and Share
 Some Ads










Like MarathonGuide.com on Facebook

Follow @MarathonGdotcom on Twitter
Home | Marathon Info & Results | News/Articles | Products | Community | Training | Member Stuff | Race Directors
Bulletin Boards | Favorite Runs | Links | Fundraising

All material Copyright ©2000-2013 Web Marketing Associates (WMA). All rights Reserved.
Please Contact Us for more information.

WMA makes no representations as to the accuracy of information on this site or its suitability for any use. | privacy policy | refund policy