Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The Original Marathon Race Report

I came about an amusing race report by Pheidippides on the Complete Running Network that I wanted to pass along. See the Marathon Race Report from 490 BC.

This leads me to one of my running pet peeves. When you mention that you're running a marathon, some smart guy always mentions that the person, Pheidippides, who started the marathon, died at the end. They always seem to find themselves to be so clever and somehow better for being so smart as to not work so hard to run a marathon because of this superior knowledge. That, or you get people like Laura's manager who told her she wasn't a runner unless she could run faster than some random celebrities.

My guess is Pheidippides didn't stretch before or after (definitely not after), ingest any Clif Shots or take sodium tablets to balance his salt. He probably wasn't drinking Gatorade to keep his electrolytes up. My guess is that he also didn't carbo-load two nights before the run.

Just a guess....

6 comments:

Petraruns said...

I was sent an article recently that I keep meaning to blog about - from chinese medicine student about how TERRIBLE marathon running is and how they'd like to "properly" check out those people with 26.2 stickers on their cars. Honestly - all I can think is that they somehow feel threatened - why else get so worked up? Run a marathon or don't run one - no-one's making you...

Robert Barker said...

it was probably excessive chaffing that did him in.

ShirleyPerly said...

Very funny race report! I will mention it at the Bar on Saturday.

I get a lot of weird looks when I tell folks I'm running a marathon but no one yet has said anything to me about Phedippdes. I don't think they even know enough about running to know who he is.

Laura said...

I agree with Petra. If some people have the strength to do marathons, yay for them! We don't do them to prove that we're better than other people; we do them because we want to prove to ourselves that we can.

CewTwo said...

It was a dark time for those people. Pheddy didn't necessarily train for his bout. He had information to impart and the means was his two feet. The faster, the better! Sometimes people just have to rise to the occasion and to hades with the results! after all, patriots do what is asked of them.

Great articles! I read 'em all.

Thanks for sharing!

CewTwo said...

Just making a note to myself - Carbo-load for two nights prior to the marathon...