marathons: WTF?

Ok is it just me or does a marathon seem like a totally unfathomable phenomenon?

I can understand jogging or running in order to stay fit, to de-stress, lose weight, etc. but in no physical fitness guide does it ever say that 26 miles is a neccessary distance to acheive those goals. To me, it seems that marathons border on sado-masochism. Why oh why would anyone want to put themselves through that?Its certainly not *fun*. Is it just to see if they can? Why don't they set their arm on fire to see if they can stand it for over 3 minutes? How about eating maggots? Just to say, "I can do it!" Is there a difference?

Consider this: Every year people DIE as a result of running a marathon. Just last week someone DIED during the Army 10. My friend saw him carted off! His last concious moment was something like this: 'Feeling faint! Must carry on! feet are bleeding! Miserable torture! Can't catch breath! Must....go...on....' then you're dead. And this is voluntary!

Ok, the *majority* of runners aren't dying. But it happens! And, out of the *survivors,* many are hospitalized! Out of those not dead or hospitalized, there are various other levels of torture and bodily harm occurring, including oozing blisters, heat rash, cramps, pulls, and BLEEDING NIPPLES! Yes, you heard me right, bleeding nipples are COMMON in marathons due to the constant rubbing, for 26 miles of torture, of your abrasive shirt against your tender, tender nipples. OH PLEASE SIGN ME UP!

The name marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, who was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon. It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the senate with the words "Masters! Victory is ours!" before collapsing and dying due to exhaustion. And after that, someone said, 'That was so cool! Lets all try to see how far we can run until our nipples bleed and we drop dead. That will be great fun!'

AND PEOPLE SIGNED UP!

wtf?