What does a modern marathoner have to prove? What does any sport participant have to prove? After a guy gets in a fight on the ice...he doesn't look too happy? Nose smashed, teeth busted...and there he is the next day back on the ice. Your body will wear out regardless of the exercise or non-exercise you choose...it's called mortality.

I'm curious: what message is it modern marathoners deliver, and to whom? As I commented before, my philosophy is if I never use my body, it will never wear out, so I'm not a potential marathoner. Running in marathons may amuse others, although when they finish it's not easy to determine from their expressions their degree of enjoyment.

A couple of years ago, at age 54 or so and in the best shape of my life after a few seasons of timber criusing,forest fire fighting and cross country ski-ing five times a week, I wanted to try a marathon.I have run 1/2 Marathon distances many times and thought it would be easy to ramp up my training. However after a few months I found that about 30 km seems to be my limit. After that amount I am usually in pain or so exhausted that I cannot go on. So I reasoned that it can't be doing me any good and I gave up on the idea. I have watched horribly overweight,and out of shape people straggle to the finish line at the Penticton Ironman races and wondered both how and why they did it.I have known people who trained for the ironman,completed it and then returned to their normal sedentary lifestyle.I just don't see the point. I exercise because I enjoy it. If I am not in some kind of shape then I can't enjoy those activities that make life worth living-hiking,ski-ing ETC. I feel sorry for all those who are driven by their egos to overacheive.

I agree with the comment above, particularly with reference to summer marathons. I don't know when that UK run was but I'm shocked that some marathons take place during unsafe temperatures and extreme heat (with the exception of races for elite runners who have trained for high temperatures with doctors, etc). Some runners I talked to who ran Ottawa this year told me of runners collapsing from heat exhaustion just within yards of the finish. Yet they were all more concerned about slower time than keeling over from heat stroke. Only one of the runners I spoke to said they would forego that race in future.

I think the greatest danger any runner faces is his or her own *ego*. For it's ego, not madness (as so many runners like to claim), that compels narcissist over achievers (successful in all other areas of their lives) to risk death for the sake of bragging rites. The more dangerous the conditions, the bigger the brag. It's that simple.

A great posting.

This is an issue that needed raising.

In the UK last year, 4 runners dies in one race. The inquest found that they were not fit enough to do what they were attempting.

There are too many commercial entities selling the myth that everyone can do the marathon. The marathon has nothing to do with fitness. It is miles beyond what fitness runners should be attempting.

Marathons should implement a qualification process wo weed out the pretenders and save them from themselves.