2) run it just to run it

3-4) same as 1 and 2 except replace "run" by "walk"

5) finish it just to be able to say "I did a marathon"

6) treat it as a long urban hike.

And to be blunt, all of the above are very different experiences, requiring very different committment and preparation.

*Racing* a marathon for time and place is worlds beyond just getting through one somehow. There is simply no comparison!!!

So, I wonder if there might be a new sub-catagory for RACING A MARATHON.

There was a time when saying "I am a marathoner" meant that that person actually raced it. Those times are long past whether we like it or not.

By the way, I've taken to racewalking and I've walked a couple of marathons (4:44 and 5:17; the latter at 6400-7000 feet elevation). Walking a marathon for time can be very, very challenging.

ollie

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To:	ollie
From: (your email)
Subject:	Re: North has a point....
Message:	-------------------- ollie's original posting: I am sorry that some of the rhetoric has gotten negative. But North does have a point. The way I see it, there are many ways to "participate" in a marathon, including: 1) run it for a time/place (i. e., treat it as a race) 2) run it just to run it 3-4) same as 1 and 2 except replace "run" by "walk" 5) finish it just to be able to say "I did a marathon" 6) treat it as a long urban hike. And to be blunt, all of the above are very different experiences, requiring very different committment and preparation. *Racing* a marathon for time and place is worlds beyond just getting through one somehow. There is simply no comparison!!! So, I wonder if there might be a new sub-catagory for RACING A MARATHON. There was a time when saying "I am a marathoner" meant that that person actually raced it. Those times are long past whether we like it or not. By the way, I've taken to racewalking and I've walked a couple of marathons (4:44 and 5:17; the latter at 6400-7000 feet elevation). Walking a marathon for time can be very, very challenging. ollie