Recently I had a chance to have dinner with some girlfriends that I hadn't seen in a very long time. I went to college with all of them, One of them I have constant contact with (I'll call her "A"), one of them I am facebook friends with, and the others I hadn't seen since college. One friend that I hadn't seen since college asks what I have been up to lately. My facebook friend politely chimes in "I see your running stuff on facebook, you just ran a marathon!". I kind of smiled because it was nice to know that she reads my stuff! The college friend than says " O yea, Sally (a mutual friend of all of ours that was not at dinner with us) runs marathons ALL THE TIME". I know Sally, so I politely reply, "O yea, Sally is a runner. She does a lot of 5K's" Only a Marathoner would then want to explain the difference between a marathon and a 5K, but I didn't say anything more. After the college friend insisted that they were ALL Marathons, my other friend "A" (the one I have constant contact with) set her straight about the 5K's. I just sat and smiled and didn't need to say another word.
It warmed my heart to know that all the constant and random talks about my races that I have with my friend "A" (who is a non runner) were not just words. She was really listening!
Is it our duty as runners to let non runners know that the words "Race" and "Marathon" are not interchangeable?
Have you ever felt the need to correct someone when they've mistakenly called one of your races a"Marathon"? Or do you just smile and go along with them?
Hilarious! I hear comments like this too...but I do make my own comment like, "I don't really run that much" or "I don't run marathons all the time"...enjoy the fact that they're bragging about you amongst themselves!
ReplyDeleteYea, I just smile and nod!
DeleteThat is too funny! As a marathoner now, I would probably feel the need to clarify the difference. I mean, it's a pretty big one - 23 miles difference actually ; )
ReplyDeleteIt kind of drives me crazy when someone tells me they ran a marathon and then it turns out if was a 5k! I mean good for them for getting out there and racing but they aren't the same thing at all! But I don't say anything when this happens, it just feels weird.
ReplyDeleteIt's just nice to see other people out there running, regardless of distance!
DeleteIt is definitely something that irks me. I haven't run a marathon distance yet, so I don't like when people say I run marathons...it's simply factually incorrect! But I know everyone isn't a runner so I don't really nitpick about it too much.
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely a huge difference, lol! While I haven't run a marathon, my husband has run two, and I know well how much of a difference there is, and have no problem correcting somebody.
ReplyDeleteMy MIL tells people I run marathons (in front of me). As a runner, I feel the need to correct that HUGE discrepancy. I respect the different between a half and a full! But she looks so upset when I do that, I just let it ride.
ReplyDeleteThat's definitely a funny story! I'm glad your friend had been listening and clarified the difference :) I've definitely noticed that people who don't run kind of just see all races as the same. My mom has a habit of saying marathons and I feel like I have to correct her since I've only done halves.
ReplyDeleteFunny story! I saw on FB last weekend that a friend of mine walked a 5K with a bunch of her friends...in the pictures, one woman kept saying how this was her "first 5K marathon" - I chuckled at that, but didn't correct her because she was (rightly so) very proud of her achievement. If she keeps doing them, she'll figure it out.
ReplyDeleteThat is too funny! I have heard people say the "5K Marathon" too! It's almost an oxymoron isn't it?
DeleteI had a friend send me a text yesterday (day of Boston Marathon) wishing my good luck on my race because they didn't know the difference. I had to correct them and say "thanks but my 5k was Saturday". I wouldn't feel right taking credit for a Marathon I didn't run. :)
ReplyDeleteA year and a half ago I was visiting with extended family in VA, and my aunt, who lives locally, offered to go to her local rec center with me so I could get in free with her as a guest, so I could get some training miles in. So, she knew I had started running, and she told me during that weekend that she knew SO MANY PEOPLE who were running marathons, and I was really surprised, since I don't know that many (full) marathoners myself, and I actually run. Then I realized she meant 5K's, and I think I just looked at her, nonplussed for a moment, before making a polite reply about how popular running is these days. I decided it was not worth the discussion. :)
ReplyDeleteI had one person ask me when my marathon was, and I knew they were talking about my HALF marathon, so I politely said, My HALF marathon (with emphasis on half) is in May.
ReplyDeletePeople that are not runners are just clueless
I like the " How far was THAT Marathon?" question that runners sometimes get!
ReplyDeleteToo funny! It's amazing how nonrunners really don't understand the magnitude and difference between these distances. Similarly, I beat myself up a lot over my race times, but my nonrunning friends/family have no concept of what is a "good" time versus anything else. All they care about is that I finished. =D
ReplyDeleteOn that note, it actually irks me when races brand their 5K distances as "mini-marathons" or similar. Seriously?!?!? Way to add to the confusion for those who aren't in the know!
OMG, YES! I had forgotten about all those "Mini Marathons". From now on, every race I run that is not 26.2 I am going to call a "Mini Marathon"...lol
DeleteI had the same thing happen at a dinner with college friends. "I see you run marathons all the time now!" I just replied, "Oh nooooo. Just halves!" and they moved on. I agree with the other commenters that I'd probably let it slide if someone told me they / a friend were running "5K marathons." ;) I'd hate to correct someone and be the reason they stop running!
ReplyDeleteOh my! Too funny but yes, irritating too. The weirdest comment I got when I ran NYCM was "Now that's like the Boston Marathon except shorter, right?" Whaa?
ReplyDeleteIt bugs me a little because I've had a lot of people say to me "Good luck with your marathon!" when I'm doing a 10k. I don't want other people to get the wrong idea and think I'm actually ready for a marathon yet lol.
ReplyDeleteI just had a similar thing happen at the beauty salon... someone said, "I saw you ran a marathon last weekend" because of FB pages. It was a 5k. There was a room full of people & I just didn't have the energy to explain. I don't think any of them cared anyways. They were just all about highlights & blowouts.
ReplyDeleteI'm just glad someone thought I COULD run a marathon - haha :)
this post is so true! I have started correcting people by just explaining the difference. People are just trying to be supportive but you have to respect the distance. and i agree with the above posts-calling races mini-marathons IS NOT HELPING the situation haha
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the meme on BlogLovin', I didn't really know what you meant. But you're absolutely right that Marathon and Race are not interchangeable. Totally different lengths. I don't typically correct people on running stuff (because I can't run for more than a minute right now), but it is good to see that the information is out there, getting passed around, teaching.
ReplyDeleteI've got most of my friends trained on the difference but it is kind of annoying when just any running event is referred to as a marathon. I can't seem to stop myself from correcting most people. Lol
ReplyDeleteI don't think the two are interchangeable. While I acknowledge that any distance can be a HUGE accomplishment and a challenge to seasoned and non-seasoned runners, there is in my mind a big difference between running a 5k and 26.2 miles. But I think to those who don't run, its all the same thing to them, so if I was close to the person, I would clarify, otherwise I'd let it go.
ReplyDeleteFunny:)
ReplyDeleteI had someone a few weeks ago say, hey you helped organize that marathon last fall. At first I thought he mistook me from someone else and then I realized he meant the 5k lol.
Depending on my mood I do correct people. Also depending on the person. If they are someone I may never see again I will jusr keep my mouth shut and smile. But if they are bragging themselves or if the moment is right heck ya I correct them lol
I do correct people because I'm not in the marathon club, but I only correct the distance. A lot of my friends don't run so I'm not one to talk about my running. That's why I have my blog and the blogging community :)
ReplyDeleteIf I can gently find a way to distinguish between marathon or another distance I will but for the most part I let it go. How great that your non-runner friend knows all of the awesome stuff you are getting up to!
ReplyDeleteThis made me laugh! I get so frustrated when people call a race a marathon. Especially now that I've ran a marathon and earned that title.
ReplyDeleteAny time someone mentions that I run marathons, I instantly make sure to correct them! It's so funny how few people actually understand the difference... Thanks for linking up with us today! :)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. So funny. I love comments like, "How long is this marathon?" I think people who don't run are just clueless, but yes, I always correct them. Glad that your friend took the time to learn about running when you talked to her about it!
ReplyDeleteGotta admit that would kind of drive me nuts.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't even pay attention anymore. To a non-runner, three miles, six miles, thirteen, twenty-six...it all sounds like a crazy commitment. My mom tells everyone in her Christmas letter every year how many "marathons" I ran. I know she knows the difference because I'll be talking to her about planning this or that race and she'll say, "You're only doing the half, right?"
ReplyDeleteHa! Most of the time I don't bother correcting. Depends on if I'm feeling cranky or not. ;o)
ReplyDeleteIt depends. If they are just making a comment in passing - a waitress in a restaurant or my child's teacher in a quick comment - I'll let it pass because it doesn't matter. If it's someone I see more often, I might clarify.
ReplyDeleteI think it is funny that so many people don't know the difference between a 5K and a marathon, wasn't it an SAT question? who knows? I am flattered that they took the time to comment and they think I am a runner, I'm good with it!
ReplyDeleteAn excellent question! It drives me nutty I have to admit but playing devil's advocate as I usually do: Didn't most of us called them all marathons before we started running? That's what they used to call them all regardless of the distance here where I'm from. Whether it was the local Turkey Trot or a big race, any long distance race was wrongly called a marathon. It's hard to change something so ingrained in people's heads. Also, when we start our running journeys, a mile is just as hard as marathon. For me it was. So in a weird way, they are kind of right.
ReplyDeleteHaving said all that, I can't help but politely throw in during the conversation with non-running friends, that a marathon is in fact, 26.2 miles. It's an important distinction. Especially for those who have trained their way to achieving it.
Hahaha, this happens all the time. After awhile, I just stopped correcting people. I just smile and nod. ;)
ReplyDeleteHa, this is a great post! I feel in general non-runners have a lot of misconceptions about running and races, including thinking all races are marathons. If it's a close friend I might correct him/her but if it's someone I don't see that often, I usually just smile and nod. Sometimes you have to be a runner to understand :)
ReplyDeletei do correct people. but nicely :)
ReplyDelete