What’s a “mini marathon,” anyway?
The reason I asked the question “What is worse – being called a jogger or hearing someone call a 5K a “marathon”?” in the 10QRQ is because I knew someone who would tell people they’d run a marathon. When in fact, it was a 5K. Only, they weren’t lying – they really didn’t get when races are called marathons. They didn’t know it was a specific distance.
And I suppose titles like this don’t help:
I saw this as part of an ad for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Cleveland race. “NEW 3.5 MILE MINI MARATHON ADDED.”
Hmm.
I don’t mind the random race distance – that’s fun! But the title gets me. Ha ha, it made me crazy last year to call the Allstate half by its official name – the Allstate Life Insurance 13.1 Marathon. Why couldn’t it be “Allstate Insurance Half Marathon”?
And it seemed weird to call the Ironman relay we did “Ironman 70.3 Kansas.” Instead of Half Ironman Kansas.
Hmm. So for someone who doesn’t seem to know much about words, why do I care?!
I don’t know. Maybe because I think it confuses people? And sometimes sounds… stupid? Ha ha ha. I suppose putting the race distance in the title does technically tell people how far the race is. There is no questioning there. And! The odd race name sure gets you to notice it! I mean, it worked for this Cleveland race, right? (only, it turned me off)
Does anyone else give a crap when they see the title “marathon” being used in a race distance that is not 26.2 miles?
Or should I just shut it? Ha ha.
Themocracy
It’s wrong and it pisses me off! A marathon is 26.2. Period. The only person I’ve ever known to call 5Ks marathons was a total one-upper, attention seeker. Using the Marathon name is a gross misrepresentation and not fair to those that have accomplished that distance. Deep breath. Rant over. Thanks for getting me all riled up at 11:00 PM! Lol! Luv ya!
Ha ha ha! Oops! I hope you weren’t up too late due to getting all riled up!
I think it’s silly to call anything but 26.2 miles a marathon. There’s a Dime Box Mini-Marathon nearby, and it’s 6.2 miles…why don’t they just call it a 10K?!
Ha ha ha! Such a good point… even in calling something a “mini” there is no consistency… 3.5, 10K, HM… The Dime Box name is cute!
I noticed a lot of people doing this too, and I thought it was kind of dumb, but I guess there are a lot of folks who think the word “marathon” is a synonym for any running race, and not a race with a specific distance. And I bet it will simply move into common usage after a while and people won’t think twice about it. Kind of like we all use the word Bandaid to mean an adhesive bandage, or Hoover (in the UK) to mean any kind of vacuum cleaner. Especially now that looks like race directors or marketing managers are jumping on that bandwagon.
No no no, Amy! I do NOT like the way you are headed with this thinking! Hee hee hee. Just kidding. I mean, literally doesn’t mean literally anymore, so who gives an eff if we actually use words correctly? LOL.
Talking about that… I try to say tissue instead of Kleenex!!!
If I watch a whole season of a TV series it’s called a marathon too (and I didn’t move at all). A few other things get called marathons too 😉
But a marathon to run would be 26.2 miles these days anything else is marketing (but that’s life, right?).
I think “a marathon” was originally just less than 25 miles for the ancient run from Athens to Marathon (or is it vice versa or both?) but it’s been extended a few times for various non-reasons.
We saw a “70.3” bumper sticker the other day at REI and could not figure out what it was for, couldn’t remember the exact number so Googling got us know where, so that makes sense now.
People get terminology wrong all the time. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people tell me they have 750GB of RAM or something like that (or advertisements). People calling USB flash drives all sorts of things (thumb, zip, memory stick) some of which actually mean different things. In those cases I’ve got to get them to actually give me the CORRECT name so I can actually fix/replace/order one. Heck, people still don’t know the difference between their computer and the screen (point at screen and call it computer with the unnamed box on the floor!) and this is a device some use for 8 hours a day every day!
Have you googled “what is the difference between running and jogging?” (that was something else that came up a few weeks ago).
Oh yeah! Marathon is not a word solely for running! And that doesn’t bother me!
OMG though, I just looked up dictionary.com’s definition for marathon… UGH. See #2. NOOOO!!! http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/marathon
Yes! It was less than 26.2 and extended in the early 1900s? (too lazy to look up) so that it went to a royal palace or some crap like that.
Ooo! I would love to hear the real terms for what I should call USB flash drives (exactly that?) and what the other things mean?
Ha ha ha. I have NOT googled that. What should I be looking for? It’s hard for me to read it, since I think “jogging” should not be a word. I kid, I kid…
But #3 had “requiring exceptional endurance” for anything using the word marathon (still not sure if watching a season of Doctor Who requires “endurance”).
With the google search, pretty much no one knows or wants to touch it (in all the hits on the first page). But again as with many things, we have multiple words for same things or minor differences (even when we don’t know the differences). Other than it’s casual running there isn’t much of a difference in the results.
I looked jogging/running up when I started the 5k program since I wasn’t sure if I was actually running or jogging, but there appears to be not much difference. Someone gave a speed difference, but I’m not sure how you could go much slower and actually still be getting both feet off the ground (and even if you could, with a little practice you’d be going faster even if you didn’t want to).
It’s interesting that the other definitions of the word don’t bother you it’s just the mileage attached to it. The word’s original origins are specifically tied to running, but if it’s diluted and applied to TV watching it’s okay, but when used for running, don’t dilute the distance…
I think “USB flash drives” or “flash drives” (even thumb drives) are probably the most accurate (since they don’t conflict with other things) but I don’t want to start anything 🙂
Yeah, I am a hyprocrite in that the other uses of “marathon” don’t bother me. I will definitely own up to that!
Why did you want to know if you were jogging vs running? What did you think the difference might be? I call anything having one foot of the ground running… if the feet stay on the ground, walking. I think pace is… too harsh. There are so many people running (“running”) at different paces, and to be called a jogger can be discouraging to them. People should just be commended for being active at all.
LOL! You aren’t going to start anything re: flash drives because I know NOTHING about them!
Yes, that sort of the thing irks me too. It’s great to get more people in involved, more events and all that but why keep the ‘marathon’ name confusion thing going!
There is a historical reason to the name “marathon”, and I think that it’s one thing to say “This race felt like a marathon to me” vs. a 5K is a marathon. The latter is just WRONG.
As for 70.3 – The Ironman corporation has trademarked that distance (isn’t that ridiculous?!), and calls all of the half-iron distance races “Name + 70.3”. And they are the only company that can use the name Ironman – other races that are 140.6 have to say that they are an “iron-distance” event. I’m kind of embarrassed that I know this much about these names…
Oh yeah! And I have done shorter races that I think were harder than a marathon (snow shoe 5K, anyone?)!
Don’t be embarrassed! I just learned a lot from that paragraph and appreciate your knowledge!!!
It’s always irked me – wtf is a mini marathon? BUT at the same time I try to recognize that not everyone cares about terminology like the people who KNOW it because they DO it.
But it still gets under my skin, haha!
LOL! Yeah, exactly. Not everyone cares, and it’s not hurting anyone, so why the eff does it bother us so much? LOL. Is the marathon SOOOOO sacred???!?!?! heh
Does it bother you because it’s factual incorrect or because calling a 5K a marathon takes away from your marathoning accomishments? I remember someone wished me good luck on my upcoming marathon when I was really running a 5K. I just laughed and politely corrected the person and explained the actual marathon distance. I don’t expect everyone to know the correct terminology. I was just happy they acknowledged my upcoming race! What they call a race doesn’t bother me. I’m running the McKinney Mini (1/2 and 5K) and I think the name is catchy.
It bothers me because it is factually incorrect. And it doesn’t seem that confusing, to me. I guess it’s REALLY crazy when it’s another runner who doesn’t get it. I mean, someone who isn’t obsessed with it like the rest of us? I guess, why would they know? But another runner?
Marathoning accomplishments. Ha ha ha.
The alliteration in that title is cute! And also, they are not calling it a mini marathon. They are calling it the McKinney Mini Half Marthon. Or wait, are they calling the 5K a mini half marathon?! Nah, it seems on their site they are not.
That’s taking it a little far to call 3.5 miles a mini marathon. I’m ok with marathon and half marathon. After that I think the word marathon should be left out. A 5k is a 5k, not a 5k marathon. I agree with one of the other comments. It seems like its becoming more common. As there are more races out there designed to get non runners involved (which I think is great) the term marathon is probably going to be tacked on. It probably sounds better to some.
A guy I know (who doesn’t run or even work out) told me he ran a marathon once when he was younger. I am close enough with him that I asked if he seriously ran 26.2 miles or if it was another distance and he just called it a marathon. I think it was actually a 10k. Ha!
There is a newish race in my hometown that they call a ‘mini marathon’ and it is 2.62 miles long. I could see how some people might have issue with this but at least it is the right idea. I’ve also heard of metric marathons (26.2km).
Interesting! I have never heard of a metric marathon. Hmm. I will have to watch for one!
I think 26.2 miles or 42.2km is a marathon, half that distance is a half marathon and everything else should just be called what it is: 5K, 8K, 10K, 10 miles, 15K, etc. I don’t mind marathon festivals, as long as there is actually a marathon in the mix there somewhere. By all means, market a shorter race as part of the festival but please don’t call the shorter race something that it isn’t.
I don’t know why I care so much about this but it is something that reaaalllly bugs me!
It drives me f-ing nuts. Marathons are hard and I am so proud of everyone that I have finished. So when someone says “oh yeah I did a few marathons” and they turn on to be 5ks, I want to punch them. Obviously I feel a little strongly about this 🙂
It’s absolutely stupid. Ok so it’s probably that BS mentality of “everyone’s a winner” or everyone should be included or get a ribbon for trying. It’s also like Inflating your job description to make you sound better- like stay at home moms calling themselves “domestic engineers.” (Bad example but can’t remember my other ones) it’s like trying to make yourself sound better by saying ” I ran a mini marathon” vs “I ran a 5k.” I don’t understand the need to try to one up or appear “better” than you are (not like any one really cares or looks down at you for whatever it is you’re doing- but quite possibly it’s the opposite- people are actually inspired) but you just sound stupid to me at least saying stuff like that. I’m an “old school” runner. And by that I mean a runner before it was the cool thing to do. Before sparkly skirts, mud runs and spartan races. I’m a purist. And marathons will always be 26.2. 🙂
LOL! You are cracking me up. I really hope no one searches out for that type of race so they can say mini marathon instead of 5K or whatever the distance is they are calling it! I think it’s kind of the fault of the people organizing the race/selecting the title. I mean, I ran that Allstate thing of similar stupid title 😉
But… a lot of people are saying in comments that people lie and say they have run a marathon, so I guess they are wanting to one up. Bizarre.
I am doing a Spartan the week before Naperville! 🙂
Also.. not even going to TOUCH the SAHM comment. I know that is a job I would SUCK at!
And of course I mean absolutely NO disrespect to the SAHM peeps out there. (I cant imagine doing that and staying sane & being good at it- although ill find myself there in a few more years) I couldn’t come up with a witty way to call my “staff accountant” title something more glorified. Sandwich artist- subway sandwich maker 🙂 there’s another one. Haha. Just trying to illustrate how we want to sound more impressive and “better” than what we are actually doing. I don’t get why we need to “impress” others at the end of the day because for me- I’m not impressed by titles but by actions. So I don’t give a rats whoo-haw about the mini marathon- but instead that you felt good, trained, had a wonderful time etx 🙂
And don’t get hurt in the spartan race!! 🙂
I hope I don’t get hurt! It’s a 5K, but that doesn’t mean there is any less risk! (Oh, but it’s in a stadium)
Hmm. We have had our titles changed so many times at work, but due to reorg, that I have not thought about how some people may change titles to … sound better? It’s interesting. I wrote this post just thinking about semantics, but it has turned in to trying to impress people, one-upping, running snobbery… whoa. It’s just a technical concern! Not a “you only ran a 3.5 miler!” thought. I would never think that!
Isn’t that the interesting part of putting your thoughts out to interact with others? You thought of the topic from one side and others brought in other sides to the mini marathon debate 🙂 I brought up my theory on the mini marathon because it goes beyond just semantics- but why they are calling it that in the first place. Would be interesting to talk to a RD or marketing person and their rationale as to why it’s called “mini marathon.”
I agree! I want to talk to someone about that! And hear their reasoning!
I don’t like the idea of labeling something a “mini marathon” because it just adds to the confusion. Many people associate the word “marathon” with any type of running event and this kind of marketing doesn’t help things. There is only one distance for a marathon. Why make things more confusing?
To get more registrants!
No, seriously, I don’t know. I wish a race director with a race title like this would comment.
I think it’s annoying and takes away from the accomplishment that is finishing a marathon. I think it’s a very big deal to do a marathon. One time my coworker called me a marathoner before I ever did a full and I made sure to correct her that I had only done halfs.
I’m guessing race organizers use that wordage to try to arract more people to the race.
I’ve read that in the ‘ultra’ world some do not consider it an real ultra until it’s 50 or more miles. So 50ks don’t count to them. hmmmmm
I have heard that too about ultras. And I have seen marathons that have a 26.3 or 27 mile option so people could call it an ultra.
So. Let’s pick a 50M for next year? I am following your logic, si?
Errr uhhh yeah…
actually I’ve been thinking about 50 next year, but do I want to train for it? hmmm. So, my answer is maybe.
As someone who has run marathons it drives me nuts when races/race directors call things like 3.5 mile races “mini marathons” and when other people say “I’ve run a marathon” and you ask them which one and they say something like “the Susan Komen one downtown” (which in our area is a 5K…no other distances offered).
Which…running a 5K is a GREAT accomplishment! But running 26.2 miles is something TOTALLY DIFFERENT. And I hate to sound like a running snob by saying it/admitting it (b/c I am most definitely not a snob) but if I’m being honest, yeah it bugs me.
For me, running a 5k is probably more of an accomplishment since I’ve never done it, than some of you running a marathon (since you’re on your 20th one this year and planning your double marathon or something cRaZy). Seriously, some of you keep track of your mileage on your shoes!!!
It’s clearly all a matter of perspective. I’m surprised it took 25 comments for the word “snob” to show up, it’s the first word I thought of. But as definitions go (since that’s the topic), so far out of context for what the word originally meant.
I’ll go back to my computing analogies: There are people who say they know how to use a computer but it takes them 10 minutes just to remember their login (and another 10 to type it). But I can’t criticize them and say they aren’t computer users. And they know so much more than anyone else in the family that they are the “expert”.
And don’t even get me started on people who still have flip phones and act like they have a cell phone. Come on, the only thing those things can do is make phone calls!?! That’s not what real people use for phones these days! What’s wrong with them!?!
These folks aren’t computer experts (they’re barely users) but if I pick on their terminology I’ll discourage them.
On the completely opposite end of the spectrum- I bicycle a lot, but people thing I do it so much that I have to explain I’m not into biking marathons, I just go out and bike (“jog”?) around. But not exactly sure how to explain that to them. A 25 mile bike ride is a lot for me!
I feel bad that this has gotten to the snob discussion because that was not my intent. As you said, it is about definition, and it just irks me.
And I do track mileage on my shoes. You can see it in my sidebar 😉
And yes – we shouldn’t discourage people or be assholes about this. The person in my example? We ran together and were friends. I never said anything nasty about how they hadn’t done a marathon. Because who gives an eff? The person was not saying it to brag – they were honestly confused. Which, back to the point of this post, I think titles like the one for that race make it MORE confusing.
I haven’t had the experience others have where someone is lying about doing a marathon.
LOL about the flip phone! That is still a cell phone! It is not a SMART phone. Sigh. Semantics.
Wait, so people think you are doing biking events? Like, they think that would be the only reason to bike? I think people just don’t get cyclists in general.
I think most of us commenting aren’t trying to be snobby or exclusive! Exercising at all is a BIG DEAL and people should be proud of that. But titles like this make it sound like you are doing something you aren’t. Maybe.
But people who use titles incorrectly and exaggerate about things are always going to do it, right? Some people are always going to take away from other people’s accomplishments (intentionally or accidentally/incorrectly) and there’s nothing to do about it.
I’m totally excited about my running. I’m not even sure if I’ll enter into a 5k run or not (but I will NOT call it a marathon!). But I want to keep it up. I’m trying to figure out what I need to wear/do when it gets colder out (instead of, I’ll start it up in the spring again). It’s an accomplishment for me and that’s what matters!
I think they are! Friends have told me they have a lot of these people in their lives… it kind of sucks. Or sounds annoying.
I want to hear more about your running! I think that is awesome you are getting in to it! And that you will NEVER call a 5K a marathon. HAHHAHAHA. There are a few good links on runner’s world about what to wear when it is cold http://www.runnersworld.com/what-to-wear
A marathon is 26.2 miles. Isn’t that the definition? I’m okay with “mini marathon” for a half marathon, mostly because I did the Indy half for so long and it’s called the Indy Mini. But a 5k as a mini marathon just seems confusing to me. And weird.
I don’t know. I think a mini would be smaller than a half.
If we’re coming up with the de facto terms here, I think a mini would be smaller than a half, but larger than a 5k 🙂
On standardization: If you went to a few different restaurants and ordered a small, medium and large drink at each, the size would vary immensely and so would the price! This seems pretty basic and it’s all over the place.
And then you have places like Starbucks who have just thrown away that terminology (and they can charge more). (Yes, I’m off topic again).
I actually saw on dictionary.com they call any “long race” a marathon. Huh?!
I want to do that Indy race someday!
I think you can call a race a mini marathon if the race is a half marathon and that’s it. Or maybe a mini marathon can be half of a half marathon, which is 6.55 miles.
Have you ever noticed how news articles about runners being hit or attacked on the run call them joggers not runners? It just bothers the heck out of me.
So pretty much a 10k then? 6.21 miles 🙂
No, not a 10K! LOL. 6.55 ≠ 6.2! 😛
Ha ha ha, too funny you mention that! Rachel (Running in Real Life) was just talking about that on her blog – joggers in news articles!
I couldn’t agree with you more on the Allstate 13.1 Marathon. It was so confusing. I vote that no creative names are utilized for any of the non 26.2 distances. A 5K is a 5K, a 10K is a 10K, a half marathon is a half marathon, etc. A 5K should never be called a marathon, in my opinion. Ever!
I love when other people refer to my races as “marathons” – makes me feel so much more hardcore. Plus, to someone who doesn’t run at all, 3.1 miles probably feels like a marathon. So I let it be. Similarly, when I do a race and someone asks if I won, I always answer yes. Finishing = winning, that’s why they give everyone medals, right?
But when races that are not 26.2 miles use marathon in the title (other than half marathon)? Annoying.
Your first paragraph surprises me! I thought for sure you would let people know it was not a marathon and that you didn’t win. Unless it was a little kid asking 😉
But yes! The distance has nothing to do with the merit of the event or how hard it is. I just get annoyed when something other than 26.2, in the running world, is called a marathon 😉
I once had someone tell me her son ran a marathon when he was like 5 years old. I think she meant a 5K 🙂 But if the race organizers called it a mini-marathon no wonder she was confused! The thing is, it’s annoying that the terminology is getting all messed up. It just makes it difficult to have a conversation about what your accomplishments are! I want to know what you did so I can congratulate you with the right amount of awe 🙂 So maybe I’ll just have to start asking everyone how long their race was if we start calling everything a marathon.