The bellyachers quoted in the NY Times articles by no means represent most marathoners (and that includes the fastest runners). Marathon racers appreciate that, without the high number of participants that includes slower runners, localities would not be willing to close streets for the event, there would not be as many volunteers to staff hydration stops, and there just would not be the economic incentive for groups to sponsor so many marathons that you can, literally, find a race to run every week of the year.

What do I care if somebody else runs their race slower than I run mine? It doesn’t diminish my experience. 26.2 miles is a long way and it’s an accomplishment to finish it, whatever the pace.

Posted by Harry Landers on 23 October 02009 @ 9pm

The last jerk I MEAN the last not-slow marathoner quoted in the article is from Charlottesville.

Posted by Cecil on 23 October 02009 @ 11pm

I’ve said it about a zillion times before, and I’ll say it again: the Mythbusters guys have the best jobs on Earth. :)

Posted by Jeff Uphoff on 24 October 02009 @ 12am

Looks like *somebody*’s been Redditing. :-) Do you have an account there?

Posted by Tim McCormack on 24 October 02009 @ 1am

Maybe just leave your car out in the next hailstorm? No?

Posted by MB on 24 October 02009 @ 9am

The only problem with dimpled cars is water and winter.
Just imagine what would happen if water where allowed to freeze in those dimples and the weight it would add. Then as it melted the little ice cubes of death that would be lauched into the air, cracking other windsheilds.

(I just want them to test out my idea on TV)

Posted by Perlogik on 24 October 02009 @ 9am

Just wondering… is there a Charlottesville Marathon?

Posted by Meri on 24 October 02009 @ 9am

Looks like *somebody*’s been Redditing. :-) Do you have an account there?

I do like me some Reddit, although I think only one of these links (the one to Reddit) came from there. But I do always read some really great stuff there. Yup, I’m a Redditor, have been for a couple of years, IIRC.

Posted by Waldo Jaquith on 24 October 02009 @ 10am

There is a Charlottesville Marathon, Meri. It’s scheduled for April 17, 2010 (2 days before the Boston Marathon). It’s a challenging, but scenically beautiful course, including Ridge Road and Garth Road (think about those hills).

If you start training now, you could be ready. Or, you could just plant yourself near the finish line and cheer the runners as they come in. It’s lots of fun.

Posted by Harry Landers on 24 October 02009 @ 4pm

Ah, I came across ditaa on Reddit the same day you posted it. I suppose it was making its way around all the social link aggregators, though. (I’m /user/phyzome on Reddit, incidentally.)

Posted by Tim McCormack on 25 October 02009 @ 12am