Along with "metric records" and "metric Tesco" its that time of year for ErrorNoBrains to declare the London Marathon as metric!

So come on Error! Give us the usual guff!!


BTW - The other half couldn't enter this year cos of a certain wedding (no, not Charles's). It's actually quite difficult to be a runner, you can't just "turn up".

For some bizzare reason she "enjoys" running the 26.2 miles (26m 385yds).

Personally I'd stand by the side of the road and chomp on a MacDonalds Quarter Pounder, whilst toasting 50yrs of the restaraunt.

Flora? Bah!

So if a marathon is imperial why is it 26.2 miles?

I always assumed a marathon was 50km. Where does the distance come from?

Why did you think the marathon was 50km?

Have you researched? It's not like you to feed "nobrains" ;-)

FYI:

The Story Behind 26.2 miles
===========================

It was 1908 and London was hosting the Olympic Games. The organisers were faced with a dilemma. The Royal Box lay just 385 yards beyond the 26 mile finish line. So, not wishing to offend members of the Royal Family, the marathon distance was extended to 26 miles 385 yards to allow the finish line to fall infront of the Royal Box! Ever since this momentous change, the marathon has been run to precisely 26.2 miles.
------------------------------------------------------------------


I can hear the sound of calculators already!!!

Cue ErrorNoBrains (John): "Oooh ooh! but 385 yards is not 0.2 of a mile! I measured a marathon I found down the road and in imperialist obsolete language their precious marathon would actually be 26.21875 miles! So its actually 302 mm long!!!"

Andy - are you satisfied with that explanation before someone (ahem) posts a metric conversion of that from a website and claims it to be the "original"?

Clue:- Think "football pitches"

<<<Why did you think the marathon was 50km?>>>

Don't know. Just assumed that the 26 miles - being a rather odd figure - was translated from metric. Also all other athletics events are metric.

Now I know otherwise. Of course I accept that.

The legal length of the marathon and the distance that appears in the legal rule books is 42.195 km. Plain and Simple!

No problem, Andy.

Thanks for your belief of my honesty, and if you would like to see the link to the information don't hesitate to ask.

"""<<<Why did you think the marathon was 50km?>>>

Don't know. Just assumed that the 26 miles - being a rather odd figure - was translated from metric. Also all other athletics events are metric."""


When the modern olympics began in 1896, the marathon was an exact 40 km. The British changed in 1908 because they wanted the runners to pass the Queen's stand. so the marathon length was increaded by 2.195 km. To be authentic to the marathons in ancient Greece, the 40 km distance should be restored.

See:

http://www.seed.slb.com/en/scictr/watch/marathon/

"""It was 1908 and London was hosting the Olympic Games. The organisers were faced with a dilemma. The Royal Box lay just 385 yards beyond the 26 mile finish line. So, not wishing to offend members of the Royal Family, the marathon distance was extended to 26 miles 385 yards to allow the finish line to fall infront of the Royal Box! Ever since this momentous change, the marathon has been run to precisely 26.2 miles. """

The length of a marathon was not originally standardized, since all that was important was that all athletes competed on the same course. The exact length of an Olympic marathon varied depending on the route established for each venue. The first and third Olympic marathons were 40 km.

The 1908 Olympic marathon in London was originally set to start at Windsor Castle and end at Olympic Stadium, but the race organizers chose to have the runners finish in front of the Royal Box. This made the distance 42.195 km. Of the 6 Olympic games between 1900 and 1920, there were 6 different distances, including 2 new distances after the British games in 1908.

A fixed distance of 42.195 km was adopted in 1921 by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) as the official marathon distance.


http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/M/Ma/Marathon_(sport).htm

If you wish to know for sure if the marathon is 42.125 km or 26.2 miles, you can check the official rule books. Don't be too surprised when miles are never mentioned.

See:

http://www.parismarathon.com/marathon/2005/us/reglement.html


Art.2 : The marathon measures 42.195 km and respects the international rules for road races (I.A.A.F.) as well as the national requirements outlined in the road race charter (F.F.A.).


Note the words: RESPECTS THE INTERNATIONAL RULES

The London Town web site states its history as follows:

"It was 1908 and London was hosting the Olympic Games. The organisers were faced with a dilemma. The Royal Box lay just 385 yards beyond the 26 mile finish line. So, not wishing to offend members of the Royal Family, the marathon distance was extended to 26 miles 385 yards to allow the finish line to fall infront of the Royal Box! Ever since this momentous change, the marathon has been run to precisely 26.2 miles."

A slight problem with that "precisely 26.2 miles"

It works out at 26 mile 352 yd, a discrepancy of 33 yd (30 m)

Quite a noticeable distance I'd say.

So it's no good taking it as 26.2 mile. They should have used Steve's figure and said:

"precisely 26.21875 mile" in order for it to be correct to the nearest yard (1 yd = 0.00057 mile).

A bit sloppy that so I'm inclined to believe the 42.195 km (26.21876 mile)which is precise to a metre and easily seen to be so.

'''To be authentic to the marathons in ancient Greece, the 40 km distance should be restored.'''

See! I knew it! Ancient Greece was metric! Just like that evil British Empire to imperialize the ancient 40 km run!

Stan,

I'm going to get out my mallet and pounce you! How dare you expose my fraud! When I say a marathon is 26.200 000 000 000....miles, I mean it. Not one smiddgen more, nor one smiddgen less. Exactly! Don't go telling me that our beloved and sacred marathon is correct in metric and wrong in imperial. This is metrickery and you know it!

BWMA...Stop these metricksters, will you? They are insulting me! I have a right to give false information and not have it exposed. Metrickery I tell you...metrickery!

Now let me say it for the last time. The marathon IS NOT EXACTLY 42.195 km. It is exactly, precisly and legally 26.200 000 000 000 ...... miles. That's M-I-L-E-S, not key-low-me-jigg-ers, but MILES.

God, I need another 500 mL of the old Guinness.


Pssst. Don't tell anyone but since the British economy is starting to go sour I can't afford a trip to the pub anymore to get a true 568 mL pint. I have to drink bottled beer from Tesco in the 500 mL size. Since it is metric I can vouch it is stale, but you make sacrifices when you have too.

Always a sure sign of him failing! "HevetS" !

Poor old Paula having to stop for a "convenience break" 5 miles from the end though!!

Still - she smashed her record again so congrats on running the 26.2 miles so well.

Stan - what signs were put along the length of the marathon? Do you run marathons? I only ask because I have a sort of "involvement" with marathons (and half-marathons). Not as a runner you understand!!!

;-)

BTW - it *IS* "precisely 26.2 mile" when using 1 decimal place.

Which is what normal people would do.

Stan - what signs were put along the length of the marathon? Do you run marathons? I only ask because I have a sort of "involvement" with marathons (and half-marathons). Not as a runner you understand!!!



Stan--- Let me make myself clearer. I really don't give a hoot about marathons at all. But since I can claim them to be 26.2 miles instead of the correct 42.195 km and hear some radio announcer mumble out miles, I have an interest. With so few examples left of real imperial usage I have to grab onto whatever I can.

Notice Stan (and others too) you will not hear me even mention any other running sport. Why? Because they are all rounded metric and never is an imperial word spoken. A 100 m dash is never referred to by any other name. And when it is run, the words "one hundred metre dash" are spoken loud and clear for all to hear.

I like to think of a marathon as being imperial. I wish we could rename it the 26.2 mile dash or some similar name. This way even the metric users would have to say miles. But with the word marathon, the association with miles is up to the user such as myself. Those from metric countries and those who compare times between the marathon and other metric events will think of a marathon in metric terms. That really bother me. Also, I'd like to have the official length changed to an exact 26 miles and have it stated so in all of the world's rule books instead of the present metric definition of 42.195 km. Yuck!

Stan--- I'm hoping you do tell me all the signs along the route are in imperial only. Even though I fib when I say I'm pro-choice, I would rather there not be any metric signs at all. I don't want the metric runners to have a choice. If there are only imperial signs, then the metric runners are forced to learn imperial and maybe with time will prefer imperial over metric. Even if that makes me appear to be a hypocrite, I don't care. As long as I deny a metric user the choice to see and use metric, I have won a little victory for imperial.

(sorry to say, but you asked for it Stan).

Berenger - as a mildly pro-metric person (I hope I am correct in calling you that!!!) what do you make from the above post by ErrorNoBrains? Just out of interest.

I have my own viewpoint, ie from someone who's pro-choice (but prefers imperial), I just want to get the opinion of someone who is almost the same as me (ie pro-choice) but with a preference to metric.

BTW the missus will be running in next years London Marathon so I expect everyone here to support her!!! - Except "you know who" who'll be at home measuring vinyl records after yet another defeat at the hands of 'the imperialists'!! (That sound like a good name for a band!)

At this point may I may the comment that it annoys me to read in the UK press that Paula Radcliffe dropped out of the Olympics Marathon after 22 miles when everybody who watch watch the race on TV saw her making it to a huge sign with "36km" written on it. She stopped, restarted and then a short distance down the road withdrew from the race.

(In fairness to Paula, may I add that she was having stomach problems before the race started).

.....huge sign with 36 km shown on it! You mean the signs were metric and no miles were present?

Does this mean the marathon is a true metric sport and not imperial as Steve wants us to believe? And there is the possibility that millions on TV saw this sign too and now know the London Marathon is measured to an exact 42.195 km?


YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

" She stopped, restarted and then a short distance down the road withdrew from the race. (In fairness to Paula, may I add that she was having stomach problems before the race started)."

Erm - are we talking about the same race?
She required what is commonly known as "a pee".
So that is what she did, in front of millions of viewers!

I wonder how close my other-half will get to her by the 20th mile. I suspect quite far back, but you won't find me telling her that!

;-)

sorry martin, I just realised, you were not talking about the london marathon on Sunday (your quote "Radcliffe dropped out of the Olympics Marathon after 22 miles ")

I guess that leaves a certain someone with a very red face!!!


LOL!
ROTFL!

and, erm....

"YESSSSSSSSSSS"

Thanks for making my day there, martin, against old numbnut!

(Glorious)

Quick someone give him his mallet! He's about to explode!!!!

erm

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS"

Oh, am I loving 'today'!!!!

Indeed I am.

Steve

"Berenger - as a mildly pro-metric person (I hope I am correct in calling you that!!!) what do you make from the above post by ErrorNoBrains? Just out of interest."

My Saturday night last weekend made sure I had no interest in anything happening in London on Sunday morning!!!!!

From memory, a marathon is 26 miles 385 yards.

I didn't see it, but did Paula mistake litres for pints in her pre-run fluid intake though?

Yes, a little embarassing.

The TV cameras thought she was crashing out again so they closed in on her to film her downfall.

VERY shortly after they zoomed away and stopped focussing in on her!!

One wonders how long that takes to get on to "certain" sites on the internet ;-)

P.S. I don't know if you noticed "Erins" marvellous faux pas?


P.S.(2) Forgive me for milking this one but you must admit it *IS* rather fantastic, regardless of what "side" one is on!

Erm....

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSS"

LOL!

PREPARE THE MALLETS!!!!

"""The TV cameras thought she was crashing out again so they closed in on her to film her downfall.

VERY shortly after they zoomed away and stopped focussing in on her!!"""



Then they focused on the sign showing 36 km.


YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!

LOL!

Are you totally thick or what?

Just incase you are:

Martin was referring to the marathon in the Greece Olympics.

The London marathon is not in greece and is not part of the olympics.

(you do know that don't you? Most children know where London is! ;-) )

The signs along the london marathon are in miles only.

Those who run the London marathon (which is very difficult to enter, btw folks) will know that. (Similar to a Tesco shopper knowing what the inside of a Tesco looks like, know what I mean?)

Do you get why I'm milking your totally embarrassing mistake now?

As in

(ahem)

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!". (That's mocking you btw, none of the adults here would do the "YESSSS" thing at all, but especially not before proof reading what you are commenting on!!!)

You probably won't get close to knowing how much I am enjoying watching you dig that hole another 20ft deeper.

:-D

:-D

<<"It was 1908 and London was hosting the Olympic Games. The organisers were faced with a dilemma. The Royal Box lay just 385 yards beyond the 26 mile finish line. So, not wishing to offend members of the Royal Family, the marathon distance was extended to 26 miles 385 yards to allow the finish line to fall infront of the Royal Box! Ever since this momentous change, the marathon has been run to precisely 26.2 miles.">>

A little work simplifying the vulgar fraction 385/1760 shows that the odd 385 yards is precisely 7/32 mile, so there might be more to this story than we are being told.

I mainly updated this to point out in Chicage, a marathon is 27.2 miles (by accident). Seems they changed the course recently and screwed up the measurements. It was not figured out until after the race, although it was immediately noted the times were awful. The runners were NOT amused.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0506030169jun03,1,868023.column?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

<<All 529 runners who finished Chicago's Lakeshore Marathon set a personal record for the distance.

The problem was the race--27.2 miles--was a full mile longer than a traditional marathon. But participants didn't know about the mistake until the event was over Monday.

This gaffe, along with other organizational disasters, including missing mile markers and unstaffed aid stations, unleashed a firestorm of criticism from Chicago's running community over Illinois' only spring marathon. Some runners are so livid they are urging the city to stop issuing permits for the Lakeshore Marathon until it's under new management.

On Thursday, after nearly a week of mounting fury on Web sites among many of the marathon's entrants, race founder and organizer Mark Cihlar issued an apology on www.marathonguide.com.

"[Last-minute changes] caused us to miscalculate and we foolishly added an extra mile--how terrible!" he wrote in the memo to Lakeshore participants.
>>