Marathon Man

A runner who completed the New York Marathon eats an apple while crossing Broadway and 58th St.

Luckily, no one died running this year's New York Marathon. Nevertheless, running 26 miles is a dumb idea.

Comments

[dbp]

Eh, it is a pretty good way to see the city and not risk getting run-over by a car.

The view from the Narrows bridge was to die for and there is no regular pedestrian access. Brooklyn was consistantly very nice, looks like a good place to live. Queens was much like Brooklyn but not as nice. Manhattan--what can you say? Big crowds, wide roads, what's not to like? The Bronx; just a bunch of empty parking lots and industrial brick buildings, could have skipped that--there was a nice asian percussion group set-up in a parking lot and they were nice.

I know it is cool to walk around in your mylar toga, like the guy in your picture, but I like to put my sweat clothes on as soon as possible. Wouldn't want to catch a cold.

[langtree]

Just as I predicted.

I notice you did not want to make a wager.

[DaveinHackensack]

Nice photo.

[Christy]

he looks like balloon boy

[The Engineer]

Bah. NYC just isn't like it used to be. Look at those people. What a bunch of Gander Mountain posers. What is this, the Roosevelt Field mall?

Where are the crazy homeless people, roving gangs of "youths", and whatnot? I bet there isn't one person in that picture who's drunk or high.

What has the city come to?

[ironrailsironweights.wordpress.com]

"Where are the crazy homeless people, roving gangs of "youths", and whatnot? I bet there isn't one person in that picture who's drunk or high."

The woman to the right of the runner has a weird look on her face, maybe she's a bit crazy.

Or she might just be scowling at Siggy and the camera.

Peter

[Robert Hume]

Half Sigma, you've probably pointed this out already but the original Greek marathoner, Pheidippides, announced victory, collapsed, and died.

Also, recently, research has shown that heavy exercise leads to atrial fibrillation.

[JGP]

Actually, Pheidippides died after running TWO marathons consecutively. From the battle and back, IIRC.

[Wade Nichols]

"Luckily, no one died running this year's New York Marathon."

Gee, I'm sure your sorry your prediction didn't come true.

"Nevertheless, running 26 miles is a dumb idea."

C'mon, what's your fitness regimen? It's easy to sit comfortable at home in front of the computer with a diet Coke in hand and criticize others. Why not let us know what you do for fitness?

It's easy for pedantic dullards such as "Agnostic" and others to go around raving about Arthur De Vany, but at the end of the day, arguing which fitness and diet regimen is best is much like debating which religion is best. You all pretty much start out with your personal thesis (which typically conforms with your political beliefs), and then select the anecdotes which confirm your thesis. There is no "one size diet and exercise plan" for all.

As for the race:

Brooklyn - Bay Ridge crowds were great. Lots of cops and firemen cheering. Bed Stuy was even better - those pesky "NAMs" were out in force with turntables blaring old disco tunes ("Ain't No Stopping Us Now"), a gospel choir, a high school band playing the Rocky Theme.
Williamsburg - Those high IQ Orthodox Jews were the biggest sourpusses, and one of the most depressing points of the race. They either ignored runners, or simply stared at them. No cheering, no nothing.
Queensboro Bridge - Close to Williamsburg as the low point of the race. Almost dead silent, no one here to cheer.
Manhattan - First Avenue hits you the moment you come off the Queensboro Bridge. Quite loud up until the 100's.
Bronx - Barely a mile here, best part is the Taiko Japanese drummers just before entering Manhattan. Even had a few "Japanese" white guys in the group!
Harlem - I liked Bed Stuy crowd better than Harlem, but Harlem crowd is better than high IQ Jews in Williamsburg!

I missed qualifying for Boston by just under 4 minutes. I'll run another marathon next year, probably not New York. Sorry HS, I'm not going to die so you can gloat!

[Joe Williams]

I ran a bunch of marathons injury-free in the 90's: Boston, Chicago, LA, Columbus, Twin Cities, etc. I once ran three marathons in three months. And from first to last, I never finished in a time longer than 2:58. On the other hand, I never finished in under 2:45, no matter how hard I trained. Even my weight had nothing to do with my time. I ran my best time at 172 lbs, my worst at 164, and my median time at 158 lbs. Since I couldn't find any way to gain an edge, I quit.

At the end of my running career the only fun left for me was watching weasely ectomorphs in sweat-drenched tank tops collapse in tears during the last five miles while I was sprinting to pick up an extra 30 or so positions.

Who says sports builds character?