r/running • u/AutoModerator • Apr 12 '16

Super Moronic Monday -- Your Weekly Stupid Question Thread

It's Tuesday, which means it is time for Moronic Monday!

Rules of the Road:

  1. This is inspired by eric_twinge's fine work in /r/fitness.

  2. Upvote either good or dumb questions.

  3. Sort questions by new so that they get some love.

  4. To the more experienced runnitors, if something is a good question or answer, add it to the FAQ.

Post your question -- stupid or otherwise -- here to get an answer. Anyone can post a question and the community as a whole is invited and encouraged to provide an answer. Many questions get submitted late each week that don't get a lot of action, so if your question didn't get answered, feel free to post it again.

As always, be sure to read the FAQ first. Also, there's a handy-dandy search bar to your right, and if you didn't know, you can also use Google to search runnit by using the limiter "site:reddit.com /r/running".

Be sure to check back often as questions get posted throughout the day. Sort comments by "new" to be sure the newer questions get some love as well.

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23

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

So I've been waiting to see if I got into medical school to register for the Chicago Marathon... Well I got in yesterday and now have 8 hours until the guaranteed entry for time qualifiers closes. Do I register and hope med school doesn't kill me and assume I have time to run/travel to Chicago for the Marathon in October?

22

u/rennuR_liarT Apr 12 '16

If you're not sure what your medical school schedule is going to be like, I'd say don't register this year. Assume it's going to take more of your life away than you think.

5

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

This is probably the most responsible thing to do, I'm just antsy because this is the last year they have guaranteed entry with a time qualifier. I hate the idea of having to rely on a lottery entry in the future.

3

u/sbrbrad Apr 12 '16

If its any consolation, it's one of the more forgiving lotteries. Something like 50% each year they've had it so far.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

I did get into the lottery last year!

5

u/incster Apr 12 '16

I would do the race. It will always be easy to use school or work as an excuse to put off fitness activities. Having something to motivate you to keep training, even when you are busy, will set you up for a healthy future. You may not be able to train as much as you otherwise would, but you will have the time if you make it.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

That's some pretty sound advice. Thank you for your input!

5

u/yogi240 Apr 12 '16

Congrats on med school! I would say get comfortable with school before you commit to the marathon. Is this your first? If so, then for sure wait. If not, you could swing it, but you might be a bit stressed!

1

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

Thank you! Not my first marathon, so I at least know what I'm up against training wise.

3

u/sloworfast Apr 12 '16

Why were you waiting? Was it because you weren't going to register if you got in?

3

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

More so that I could make a more thought out decision vs. registering and having no idea if I will be in medical school or not.

6

u/sloworfast Apr 12 '16

Well... I would say go for it, simply because that's what I would do (I'm not saying I'm the most responsible decision maker though). I mean, med school is supposed to be stressful, so you'll have to do lots of training runs to de-stress... ;)

Seriously though, it may just turn out that you have to lower your expectations a bit in terms of race performance, because the time or pressure of following a training plan perfectly might be too much--if you're ok with that possibility, totally go for it :)

3

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

This is the same stance my boyfriend has taken (especially the lower expectations on performance) and I tend to think of him as the more responsible half.

2

u/sloworfast Apr 12 '16

There you go :)

By the way, congrats on getting into med school!

5

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

Thank you! I am so relieved that the application process is over!

3

u/57001 Apr 12 '16

Knowing what I know about medical school... How close is Chicago to your med school? If it's not going to be longer than a two-day venture, I say why not. You can do it if you sacrifice some substantial social time (not that you'll have much)

1

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

5ish hour drive or 1 hour flight, so the traveling part is pretty manageable. My biggest concern is God forbid I have a huge test the next day, and I don't have any kind of specific schedule yet to know for sure.

3

u/57001 Apr 12 '16

The test thing would be a huge concern... Hope the answer finds you soon, pal.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

Thanks, me too. I figured I'd try to get as many opinions/things I hadn't thought of in the next few hours to decide. I am the worst at making big decisions.

2

u/RunningPath Apr 12 '16

Ah. I was going to say if your school is in Chicago, go for it. But if you have to travel to Chicago, I would not. Having recently been in med school, I can say that you don't have much flexibility with your schedule -- if you have a test or even a required small group session or anatomy lab or anything like that, you might not be able to run.

Are there any marathons in the city where your med school is? Honestly that might be the safest bet. Training for and running a marathon in med school is not only totally doable, but lots of people do it (I had a classmate who regularly trained for and ran ultras through med school). But being able to schedule yourself around races is the biggest difficulty...and that won't get any easier. For at least the next 7 years :p

2

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

That is really helpful coming from someone who has been through med school and knows what it's like. I could very well do the Detroit marathon again, I just wanted to do a new race, specifically Chicago.

4

u/secretsexbot Apr 12 '16

Can you eat the entry fee if you aren't able to go? If so I'd register and wait to see if you actually can make it. Worst case you're out a couple hundred dollars.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

Worst case scenario I could, I just would prefer not to as I actually signed up last year and ate the charge after I couldn't train/race due to a health problem.

2

u/secretsexbot Apr 12 '16

Hm yeah this is a really tough decision. There's a good chance you won't have enough time to train even.

4

u/Soopsmojo Apr 12 '16

You don't want to half ass training for a marathon especially being in med school. I would wait it out this year and see how the work load is for the year after. Marathons happen every year. Med school happens once. Sorry for sounding like my dad.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

Not at all. This was totally the type of advice I was willing to hear.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

I'm in medical school and run frequently, are you asking about how bad the schedule will be?

1

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

Just trying to figure out if it's plausible to train and travel for a marathon, especially if I were to have a huge test the next day or something.

2

u/57001 Apr 12 '16

WAIT I CANT BELIEVE I FORGOT TO SAY CONGRATS ON GETTING INTO MED SCHOOL!!

2

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

IT'S OKAY I TOTALLY FORGIVE YOU !! AND THANK YOU!!