Annoyed with non-running friend

Question
Nick,

I've been running for a couple of years and have a full and a couple of half marathons under my belt.  My next race, a half marathon, is in 4 weeks and I've been training very hard to beat 2 hours.  I have a friend who told me the other day that he has "decided to run it,too" even though he's had NO training.  I got really annoyed and told him that he needed to respect the distance that I've been working hard for months, and that he's also risking injury.  He joined my running group for a 10-mile run this morning, which he actually finished.  So, afterwards he said he was going to sign up for the full 26.2!  I told him he was crazy and feel like he's not respecting all of the thousands of runners who put in the time.  Plus, to me, you can't have the glory until you put in the work.  It feels like to me he is taking a short cut.  He's also a mere mortal, like me, not a super athlete.  Am I wrong to get so bent out of shape?  

Teresa

Answer
Teresa

A little bit. Running is a sport where people become passionate about it. I for one, you will find are one of its most passionate advocates. Running is half my life, besides, work sleeping, eating, etc. I've run into your friend's kind, a normal person, physically fit most likely and body is used to pushing itself to the limit sometimes. Now, because your friend ran 10 miles one day, does not mean he will run 26.2 that easy, i promise you that. If he has not done it before, he can expect a long race without the proper training to accompany the feat.

Try not to get too focused on him and just focus on you. You've done this before, you know the feat, you know that running a full marathon is much different from running a half, or even 10 miles. Everyone's body is different and some people are more built for endurance or athletic type of events, moreso than others. But remember, your friend needs to put the work in, and I think if you help refocus your mind to help him, rather than see him fail, you'll respect yourself, and he will you as well. Help him with a plan, maybe give him a training plan you worked with in the past, etc...anyone can say they can run a marathon. I hear it all the time, but actually doing it, completely other story. And if your friend is smart, he will listen to you, one who has done this before.

Be a good runner, and help him out. You'll benefit from it in the end, as will he.