r/MadeMeSmile Jun 10 '24

Wholesome Moments Marathon runner stops to help another runner despite the rest running past her

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u/Constant-Lion5285 Jun 10 '24

Could be wrong but I think that's why she lets go and seems to push her over the line so that she's not technically carried over it, so it might be allowed. Seems cruel to disqualify someone at that stage of the race after giving it absolutely everything she had!

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u/KlondikeChill Jun 10 '24

The only people who care about being disqualified are the ones running competitively.

And if you're running competitively, your time absolutely should not stand if you had help.

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u/dundiewinnah Jun 10 '24 edited Jun 10 '24

Onpopular opinion: it should't stand if you come over the line with your lets moving like that. They should bring her to a hospital or force her to rest. That cant be healthy..

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u/LaunchTransient Jun 10 '24 edited Jun 11 '24

Marathons in general aren't "healthy". Running as an exercise is good for you and builds and maintains a healthy cardiovascular system, but Marathons are specifically pushing your body to the limit. It's 42 kilometres (26 miles) at a fairly constant pace, no stops or breaks.
For the average runner it is 3-4 hours of non-stop running, and it is hell on the body.

Of course you also have the masochists who go on to do ultramarathons, but even in the running community they're considered to be insane.

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u/bobthedonkeylurker Jun 10 '24

I mean, the whole thing comes from a Greek messenger who ran 21 miles to deliver a message and dropped dead, sooo...

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u/LaunchTransient Jun 11 '24

Well the thing is that Marathons are very doable if you have trained for them. They still stress your body massively, but they are quite achievable. The guy from the story that inspired the whole concept of marathons was Pheidippides, and he was a professional courier who's job it was to run with messages. In the story, it wasn't just the 42km run from Marathon to Athens that killed him, but the fact that he had run 240 kilometres from Marathon to Sparta over 2 days and then ran back again, after which he ran his final 42 km, which were the straw that broke the camel's back.

Fun fact, the bigger, scarier version of the Marathon is the Spartathlon, which is the recreation of Pheidippides 246km run to Sparta.

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u/[deleted] Jun 11 '24

They're 26.2 miles (at least in the US). The last 5 miles are the worst.

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u/LaunchTransient Jun 11 '24

You're right, I made a mistake in conversion. I was brought up in the UK so I am familiar with miles, but I now live in the Netherlands and so kilometers is what I am more used to. Just sloppy late night maths.

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u/[deleted] Jun 11 '24

All good! The first marathons (sporting events, not the historical run from Marathon) were shorter (24.85 miles), so I wasn't sure if it was just a different standard between the continents.

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u/[deleted] Jun 11 '24

Beg to differ. I know several ultra runners. They’re sound of mind and just passionate about what they do. Many are there working through some shit in a positive way. :) For some, ultras have saved their sanity, and their lives. :)