When is a half marathon not a half marathon?
I came across the Marathon Investigation blog a few months back, I’m guessing via a Facebook link posted in one of the numerous online running groups I belong too. The intention of this particular blog (and I quote is);
MISSION: TO WORK WITH RUNNERS AND RACE OFFICIALS TO ANALYZE RACE RESULTS AND DETECT COURSE CUTTERS, BIB SWAPPERS AND OTHER QUESTIONABLE RESULTS
From what I can gather this particular blog was started because so many people cheat to gain entry into the Boston Marathon. Random right? Not only do people want to kill themselves by running a marathon but they’ll cheat to get in. I for one don’t even get why people want to run in the presence of a million other people but each to their own I guess. I’d read the posts, shake my head and think “why bother” then go about my day not giving it any further thought.
That was until I read the post about the Half Marathon event that was cancelled due to the weather. It was a Disney race (which are big business for Disney I might add) and even though the event was cancelled Disney handed out the medals to those who had signed up.
Which makes sense – what was Disney going to do with them?
Even though the official event was cancelled, some people decided to run the half marathon distance anyway – therefore earning their medal ..
After all 13.1 is 13.1 – right?
Well not according to Marathon Investigation ..
There were reports of people running on their own, in the park , and even on the interstates to complete the 13.1 miles. Good for them, I admire their motivation. (Except for the idiots that ran on the interstates). But they did not complete the 1/2 marathon or earn a medal. they had a nice training run. (Source)
WTF?
Where is it written that unless you do some kind of sanctioned event that you didn’t actually run a half marathon (of 13.1 miles) instead you went out for a “nice” training run of 13.1 miles?
I’m sorry but this guy is a dickhead.
In my experience it’s much harder to run the full distance unaided and all alone (in my case for hours) on a course that you’ve had to sit down and design yourself than when you turn up to an event and get swept along a course by hundreds of other runners passing conveniently placed aid stations along the way.
I don’t care what this guy or anyone else thinks, each and every time I run 13.1 miles, I’m calling it a half marathon!
Till next time
