Marathon versus ironman

[SnarlyMarly]

On another board it was HIM versus marathon...which I believe to be a no brainer. 

Even if you did neither, either, or both.  Curious what a running group thinks compared to a tri group

[offended by everything]

All things considered I think a full IM would be more difficult. The percentage of the general population capable of a marathon is likely > than that capable of a 140.6. There are ways to frame the question to make it closer mostly to do with intensity but I'll leave that for another poster. And you're still going to have to tackle the issue of the marathon at the end of the IM vs. "just a marathon".

[offended by everything]

Further reflection - I'm guessing that you believe a HIM is easier than a marathon which I find interesting. Does that conclusion imply the intensity you would run a marathon and therefore the toll that it would exact would be greater than the variety and bike segment of the HIM which you find less taxing?

The other thing that would factor into an individuals assessment is the swim which would stop many before they even got started.

[SnarlyMarly]

Further reflection - I'm guessing that you believe a HIM is easier than a marathon which I find interesting. Does that conclusion imply the intensity you would run a marathon and therefore the toll that it would exact would be greater than the variety and bike segment of the HIM which you find less taxing?

The other thing that would factor into an individuals assessment is the swim which would stop many before they even got started.

Yes, maybe I shouldn't have made that statement.

I kind of didn't want to weigh in..but darn no votes.

And I agree with all your assessments 100%... and yet,  wonder if we come to opposite conclusions...

[SnarlyMarly]

I'm just gonna recuse myself, here

No, not allowed.  I am interested in what you think.   


Which way do you think female triathletes are swaying?

[Arrojo]

A marathon is 26.2 miles of running. A full Ironman is that plus a shitload of bicycling and swimming, correct?  What am I missing?

[offended by everything]

Yes, maybe I shouldn't have made that statement.

I kind of didn't want to weigh in..but darn no votes.

And I agree with all your assessments 100%... and yet,  wonder if we come to opposite conclusions...

We don't disagree but I don't tri so my opinion needs to be discounted accordingly. My sister and BIL are active triathletes and would mirror your sentiments. Particularly as it relates to the bike segment which they and a Kona experienced colleague of mine both relate has a much less taxing impact vs the run.

[SnarlyMarly]

A marathon is 26.2 miles of running. A full Ironman is that plus a shitload of bicycling and swimming, correct?  What am I missing?

I just think the marathon is so much more intense.   

The consensus of the tri people ( woman's group) thought an open marathon is harder.   I lean that way.   One woman seemed upset and said that we must be just finishing ironmans if we think that way.   

I dunno.   Maybe a lot is mindset.  I never gave room for mind lapse or mistakes when I did marathons.  Ironman it's expected and my day is more about flexibility in my plans  or maybe, some of us just don't give it our all.

[Coyote Mas Loco]

BQ is JV level. Try sub 2:50, 2:40, 2:30, 2:20.

i.e., I would say a sub 15 5K (17 for women) is tougher to do than just finishing a marathon (or BQing) or dong a tri.

[Rochey]

BQ is JV level. Try sub 2:50, 2:40, 2:30, 2:20.

i.e., I would say a sub 15 5K (17 for women) is tougher to do than just finishing a marathon (or BQing) or dong a tri.

Huh.

IM hands down. I’m not brave enough to ever try one.

[Ice Cream]

I did 2 HIM in preparation for an IM.  I gave up on the idea of IM.  HIM was tougher than a marathon, in my experience.  Even the training for HIM takes much more time.

[Coyote Mas Loco]

Huh.

IM hands down. I’m not brave enough to ever try one.

The original question is loaded by not being qualified. At what level are you talking about? I suppose if you are talking about a relatively same level of performance then the IM is tougher because the effort is 3-4 times longer than a full marathon.

Takes talent and years of hard work to run a fast 5K. BQs are at the 65-70% age grade level. Just finishing an IM tri would be hard but it's doable if you have the time and resources to train for it. So my point is higher performance level is more difficult to achieve--therefore harder--than finishing event. OT marathon qualifier is >>>> more difficult than IM finish in 14 hours or a BQ.

[Fred]

Nothing is hard, other than overcoming the limitations of your talent level.

[Arrojo]

A marathon is a marathon. You do the best you can for 26.2 miles. An IM is obviously more difficult; I will never do it and have no desire to. Anyone can run a marathon.

[SnarlyMarly]

The original question is loaded by not being qualified. At what level are you talking about? I suppose if you are talking about a relatively same level of performance then the IM is tougher because the effort is 3-4 times longer than a full marathon.

Takes talent and years of hard work to run a fast 5K. BQs are at the 65-70% age grade level. Just finishing an IM tri would be hard but it's doable if you have the time and resources to train for it. So my point is higher performance level is more difficult to achieve--therefore harder--than finishing event. OT marathon qualifier is >>>> more difficult than IM finish in 14 hours or a BQ.

Well duh.  Colleen derueck is not doing 14 hours for her ironmans, more like 10-10:30, pretty sure she has a few OT under her belt.  Maybe I should just ask her.😜

[Fred]

Well duh.  Colleen derueck is not doing 14 hours for her ironmans, more like 10-10:30, pretty sure she has a few OT under her belt.  Maybe I should just ask her.😜

"In Hawaii,  she swam 2.4 miles in 1:09:33, biked 112 miles in 5:53:14 and ran the 26.2-mile marathon portion in 3:19:09—a pace of 7:37 per mile"

Seeing as you are asking runners, the 7:37 a mile is kind of slow compared to a female running 5:37 per mile. So Wilson's point stands.

[Fred]

And de Rueck's 1:08:39 would have been close to the women's half world record in 1989.
( 1:08:32 Ingrid Kristiansen  Norway March 19, 1989 New Bedford IAAF )

The effort to run 13.1 @ 5:14 a mile for a woman in 89 was the more difficult training and racing.

[Coyote Mas Loco]

what?

Did I instigate some controversy?

not over analyzing - but a bit of context does matter--otherwise it's all pretty much a wash.

[SnarlyMarly]

what?

Did I instigate some controversy?

not over analyzing - but a bit of context does matter--otherwise it's all pretty much a wash.

Eh.  I was trying to figure if runners thought HIM harder, because triathletes(much larger sample) thought marathon harder.

However, I think I figured something else out that kind of coincides with my tri friends that has to do more with men versus women rather than the two sports.   I will now follow RandMart's lead.  My second conclusion...RandMart is hella smart

[Richard21142]

Since I can't swim, a marathon at any level, for me, would be much easier.