A friend of mine said that the mara thong is just anothere long run.
Now this guy runs ultras like they were an after thought.
He is a real runner, not a pretender. He runs like it is his last day on earth.
He puts the rest of us to a shame.
I think of the mara thon as a pretty big acheivement in my running life. It is not every day that I just decide to go out and spend a few hours grinding out to a physical event that is hard on my body and a great goal, at the same time.
But for this slim dude, it is nothing at all. He runs ultras all of the time, not just a few to brag about it.
I hate it when he says that the mara thon is just another long run. For him, sure. But he is not thinking of me and my feeling about doing my first mara thon. I don't know what to say to this guy. He is fun to run with usually. But he is getting on my nerves. I am feeling a little edgey with the race so close so I will probably not say anything to him, but I will be doing some running with him in the next 2 weeks. I hope he shuts his trap about his abilities. It is making me feel like I should not even bother with the mara thon. I am from another country and going to school and working and I am not totally familiar with the customs of you people. I hope I do not offend this dude. I am sure that some of you have had encounter with similar dudes.

I think you have already decided what to do...
Just remember the quote by John "the Penguin" Bingham, "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start".
I wish you the best on marathon day!

Sounds like your friend is gifted. Good for him. You're a different person.

Some people are fast without trying. Others have to work at it.

I think it's a shame when people waste their potential. Don't measure yourself against others but base on what you're capable of.

It'll be way more rewarding to over achieve than to simply do well but know you could do better.


I personally don't have any customs so you can't really break them. Just be honest. It's called a marathon. It's not called the Portland Just-Another-Long-Run. You can't register at www.portlandjustanotherlongrun.org Have your friend be more conscience and aware that it doesn't come as naturally to others as it does to him.

If that doesn't go well then give him a message from Big Tony.
I would like to personally show him how long runs feel make me feel so he could better appreciate running a mile in our shoes.

I wouldn't worry about offending this dude. He's offending you so I think you need to remind him of his first marathon. Ask him how he felt. This might remind him that it was not always "just another long run".

And remember, it's more about how well you do, not how well others do. After all, you won't win the Portland Marathon. It's quite an accomplishment just to finish. (Of course, I'm also taking my own advice since this is my first marathon).

I agree with the posters above, screw him. It sounds like its time to find another running partner. If you want, I can beat him up for ya!!! LOL. You'll do great on Marathon day. You dont have to be an "ultra moronathoner" to be a champion on October 1st.