From the Hilarious to the Ridiculous

Misconceptions of long-distance runners are numerous among the non-running crowd.  Here is but a sample of some of the things I’ve heard:

Running like that is not good for your knees, typically said by the overweight frump eating McDonald’s and drinking a 72 ounce soda.

50 miles?  No way!  I don’t even like to drive 50 miles!

How long is this marathon?

The body is not meant to run for hours like that, typically said by the overweight frump still eating McDonald’s and drinking a 72 ounce soda.

You need to eat more. (PS: I AM ALWAYS EATING!!!)

How many times have you shit yourself?  Why do people think we shit ourselves?  Good grief.  I don’t know anyone who has ever done this, so I am baffled by the infatuation with this fabrication.

Is Forrest Gump your favorite movie?  typically asked by the overweight frump eating McDonald’s, drinking a 72 ounce soda, now hooked up to life support.

And after telling my grandma I’d just run a marathon, she asked, “Well, did you win?” 

She sounded disappointed when I told her I had not.