Personally, I'd never run a marathon. I just can't imagine anything more mind-numbing than running and running and running for hours on end at a steady pace. I can just about see the point in sprinting, but a marathon? No way. Still, it seems many would disagree with me - to be exact, 36391 people disagreed with me today alone. That's how many athletes started the London Marathon, a mix of professionals and amateurs.
Normally there's nothing that would convince me to go watch a marathon (I'd rather watch paint dry - seriously) but I was tempted by the people in fancy dress. I reckon these really do deserve to be cheered on, not just because they're amateurs who run for charity, but most importantly because they're willing to humiliate themselves in public. I mean, what man would ever run through London in a pink tutu or a Bob the Builder outfit out of choice? On a day like today, they deserved an extra cheer because of the weather conditions - it can't be fun running in a full bear/dog/camel/Scooby Doo costume in near-summer weather. I imagine those who opted for the Flintstones look must be very pleased indeed with their fortuitous outfit choices.
These are some of the pictures I took while cheering the runners on, all the while thinking smugly "rather them than me" but still admiring them for their determination and courage. Well done, guys and gals!
21 comments:
I'm with you Tinsie, running a marathon (or running for more than about 20 seconds) would just bore me. But I do admire the people who run it (and I mean run and not walk coz most people could walk 26 miles without training).
Could they? I'm sure I could walk about 10 miles at a push, but certainly no more than that!
I wonder if you can drop out of a marathon if you got bored senseless half way through? Hmmmmm
I guess all the people cheering you on would keep you more interested when you were actually running the thing. But all that training you'd have to do - up to 19 miles on one go the week before the marathon.
I can't run slowly enough to run far - I just want to sprint all the time (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it).
I bet I could walk more than 26 miles if I could read a book at the same time to keep my brain busy. Listening to music doesn't really do it for me. I reckon the people would just distract me. I'd want to stop and take pics of them.
That'd be a unique way of doing the marathon - reading a book and taking pics of everyone else. Of get a pair of glasses that connect to a video iPod and beam the images from 24 or BSG onto the lenses so you can run and watch shows at the same time? I bet you'd finish the race in no time at all.
Awwww now that sounds more like my kind of thing :-)
Right - so we'll be starting training for the marathon tomorrow then? Reckon if we start tomorrow we can aim for the sub-4 hour mark next year :)
Hahahaha very funny. 24's almost finished for this season and BSG starts again in January 2008. So let's not rush it ;-)
Well I haven't seen most of the 24 episodes, so you can re-watch them with me.
I'm not sensing much enthusiasm for this???
Hi, thanks for stopping by!
I couldn't agree more about running a marathon... 26 something miles? Yeah, thanks but no thanks.
Yep, I can't wait to see an Airbus A380 in person.
I can't even think about running let alone a marathon in costume!
I would like to run at a marathon,really...!!!!
But i do not know if i could manage it..!!!
xxx
Nice photos indeed!
I didn't have the chance to go, to tell the truth I' d find it a bit boring, but judging from your photos, it maybe worthed the bother.
Unfortunately I won't make it for Trafalgar tonight, so I' m hoping for a feedback from there two! :)
How exciting Tinsie and personally I dont and don't ever think I could manage to run a marathon but this London Marathon certainly adds colours & vibrancy to the streets of London :D
@ Daniel B. and Shadowfalcon, clearly I'm with you on that one :-)
@ Just... living: I imagine it's perfectly possible, with lots of training etc. Why don't you give it a try?
@ Griniaris: I was there :-) Look out for pics either tonight or tomorrow.
@ Shionge: It's exactly as you said - an event that adds colour and vibrancy to the streets of London.
Great photos!! I also would never run, I hate walking let alone run a marathon, but I can see they were really enjoying it!
That bloke in the Paddington Bear costume has my sincere sympathies...
Great pic, as always, girlfriend!
Thanks, ladies :-)
Marg, I can't decide if the giant nurse, Paddighton Bear or Chewbacca deserved more sympathy!
Tinsie--
I ran the Vegas Half marathon in December '06. Training was torture, every blasted minute, but the race itself was fun. There was enough going on to distract me from my pain. At the end of 13.1, though, I couldn't imagine forcing my legs to do it all over again.
Karen, what can I say? You're a better woman than I. Respect!
I would like to give it a try but o tell you the truth i had started working and i do not have so much time...
I have to find time i know...!!!!
xxx
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