Marathon Shmarathon
Next time I hear someone complaining about how difficult jogging 26 miles was or how they ran, swam and biked their way to exhaustion, I’ll have one of two canned responses prepped and ready for them: A) “Wusschop” or B) “Pansy”*.
On the upside, Losing the A/B title and regaining tough-guy/gal cred is easy. All it takes is a 2010 flight to Wolverton, England and a day visit to South Perton Farm for the annual Tough Guy Challenge: “The safest most dangerous taste of physical and mental endurance pain in the world”.
A 2009 participant, obviously constructed from iron, brawn and burl lays it all out:
It’s [the Tough Guy Challenge] somewhere between 8-9 miles. The first 6 is a cross-country race, with a few obstacles. The bulk come in the last few miles. I’m from Omaha and ran it for the first time on Sunday, definitely the toughest thing I’ve ever done. The temps are normally in the 40s during this time of year. This year it started in low 30s with blowing wind and kept dropping, started snowing after wards, leading into England’s worst snowstorm in 20 years, go figure. The water obstacles are the worst, people were dropping like flies due to hypothermia. It’s mind over matter, just have to tell yourself to keep going. They had 10 ambulances making continuous trips to local hospitals. Definitely doing this race again next year.
And there it is. Proof positive: Marathons are for sissies.
*Unless, of course, the person is my Lady Friend. Then it’s total agreement.
Whatever, that looks easy.