A Marathon of Double Standards...

i just done my first marathan it took my 5 hours (over 5 days 1 hour a day)

Originally Posted by sarah

you are getting confused between libertarianism/authoritarianism (social) and left/right (economic)

this explains it quite well imho

I'm not getting confused. It just happens that those who'd describe themselves as the 'liberal' (as opposed to authoritarian) left are often far from liberal.

The two situations are quite different. If you are going to jump in a 300mph car and try to drive to the limit the probability of it going pear shaped is pretty high Your risk and please can I have a go but in all fairness many would say its irresponsible, they may also say that motorcycling is irresponsible too and for those who baulk at the idea of dicing with death their view may be quite valid. Hence the media attention with Hammond - hero of ours he may be.

However when you enter to do a marathon in the main I suspect the last thing you expect is to die. I've done a few half marathons and the only thoughts I had was the embaassment of not finishing or having to ask St Johns for some vaseline!! You might even wonder where you left your car but consider that you might die - I don't think so. Irresponsible - only in very extreme cases such as your 10 stone overweight and never trained in your life, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

It isn't really that hard to see why the media and most others for that matter will act differently to the two cited events.

If you were comparing a formula one car crash as tragic but a motGP crash as foolish then I could see your point. But your comparison, I'm afraid just doesn't work. IMVHO

Originally Posted by Ed

Running a marathon is not intrinsically dangerous, thousands do one every year, not just in England either. And many run longer distances still, 50km (a marathon is 42km) or even 100km. As long as you're fit, properly trained and hydrated, what's the problem? TBH I don't see your point.

Wow a first, i agree with Ed!!

back that 100% as long as you are properly trained a marathon is not a problem. Its not a stupid ideato run 26miles either. And lets face it it was not that hot really, i find 23ish deg C a comrertable temp to run in. Although i am wierd and prefer hot weather. i used to go running in Iraq in up to 40 Deg heat, always took lots of water in a hydration pack though. think i must have been a lizard in a previouse life.

Bottom line is as long as you are sensible and take on fluids. You are going to be fine. Although too many fluids can kill as well. the body cant get rid quickly enough so it starts storing it around the body and one of the first places it goes is around the brain, causing seriouse problems. If i remember rightly that is part of the reason why Leah betts died with E, overcompensated for the dehydration effects.

He might have had something wrong with him that that sort of exertion brough on?

Blah blah blah, marathons are great, it's nice to be fit, go for the burn: I get it.

However, there is a case for the safety junkies to say that all this running around lark puts unnecessary strain on our bodies, and we should all stop doing it. Just like having a bloody good laugh hooning around about on a bike or jet car or bicycle, with the fair chance of ending up in a big, broken, bloody pile is bad for us too.

And as for people being sensible, you can't account for everyone. Fun things have always been stopped because of the few people who aren't sensible and exceed their abilities (you'd probably call them W**kers Neio, or something else with expletives).

I don't see the difference between different types of (more) extreme activity. One man's marathon is another man's 48 hour drug-fuelled dance-athon. I am frustrated by the way we (are told to?) see some things as more acceptable.

I am young. I will get over it.

Originally Posted by Triumphumphumph

The two situations are quite different. If you are going to jump in a 300mph car and try to drive to the limit the probability of it going pear shaped is pretty high Your risk and please can I have a go but in all fairness many would say its irresponsible, they may also say that motorcycling is irresponsible too and for those who baulk at the idea of dicing with death their view may be quite valid. Hence the media attention with Hammond - hero of ours he may be.

However when you enter to do a marathon in the main I suspect the last thing you expect is to die. I've done a few half marathons and the only thoughts I had was the embaassment of not finishing or having to ask St Johns for some vaseline!! You might even wonder where you left your car but consider that you might die - I don't think so. Irresponsible - only in very extreme cases such as your 10 stone overweight and never trained in your life, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

It isn't really that hard to see why the media and most others for that matter will act differently to the two cited events.

If you were comparing a formula one car crash as tragic but a motGP crash as foolish then I could see your point. But your comparison, I'm afraid just doesn't work. IMVHO

I guess the bit I disagree with is just that as long as Hammond wasn't endangering other people, I don't think it was irresponsible.

Btw was 300mph actually the limit of the car? I was just thinking, it could have been well within it's limits, iirc it was a freak accident - tyre blowout - that caused the crash.

The guy dying was probably also a freak occurrence, as you say it isn't exactly that dangerous to run a marathon...?

Originally Posted by Bluesteel

Blah blah blah, marathons are great, it's nice to be fit, go for the burn: I get it.

However, there is a case for the safety junkies to say that all this running around lark puts unnecessary strain on our bodies, and we should all stop doing it. Just like having a bloody good laugh hooning around about on a bike or jet car or bicycle, with the fair chance of ending up in a big, broken, bloody pile is bad for us too.

And as for people being sensible, you can't account for everyone. Fun things have always been stopped because of the few people who aren't sensible and exceed their abilities (you'd probably call them W**kers Neio, or something else with expletives).

I don't see the difference between different types of (more) extreme activity. One man's marathon is another man's 48 hour drug-fuelled dance-athon. I am frustrated by the way we (are told to?) see some things as more acceptable.

I am young. I will get over it.

I agree.

Sadly it would seem that vast proportions of the population feel that they should be able to dictate how other people live their lives as if they were preaching some kind of universal moral truth, when it is in fact just their opinion

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

I agree.

Sadly it would seem that vast proportions of the population feel that they should be able to dictate how other people live their lives as if they were preaching some kind of universal moral truth, when it is in fact just their opinion

It is indeed opinion. but the thread was to consider the suggested double standard of the press. In this case (IMO) the cases cited are chalk and cheese. But in any event I can't imagine why there is any apparent upset here - really, did anyone actually expect a newspaper to print anything worthwhile, honest and objective?

[quote=Bluesteel;1169954]And as for people being sensible, you can't account for everyone. Fun things have always been stopped because of the few people who aren't sensible and exceed their abilities (you'd probably call them W**kers Neio, or something else with expletives).
[quote]

Thats a bit harsh mate I have never had anything against anyone having fun, people do what they want and should enjoy themselves. Yep some people exceed their limits .does not make tham a w**ker, just unfortunate if it goes wrong .

Bluesteel,

Did you want them to run a bit in the paper saying that the marathon should be called off because it is dangerous etc etc just so you could start a thread arguing against it, and how bad it is we are told to stop doing this or that?