Found the folowing post on Runners World Forum:-
"I have signed up for the Cardiff Half Marathon which is on 17th Oct 2010, less than 6 weeks away and I have not trained pretty much at all for this even though I signed up nearly a year in advance, I know that is really shameful but its true 
I started a training plan followed it for a few weeks then simply lost motivation and started road cycling instead which I really enjoy.
The most I have run is 4 miles and that took me 55mins!!!
I am athletic and healthy and I just want to get around the course, I'm not concerned about time, even if I have to walk half way around and run/jog the other half I just want to do it! as I've promised myself I was going to do it and also friends/family, I'm doing it for charity as well, Barnardos so dont want to let so many people down.
Do you think I will be able to just get around the course even if it takes me 5 hours! lol without too much pain, I am aware I would suffer big time and I would have a high chance of causing injury to myself. "
These are the responses he got:-
"When you got people to sponsor you for a half marathon did you tell them you'd be doing it in 3h 15?
That's not even fast walking pace.
Perhaps they had some expectation that you might get off your lazy arse and actually train for the race. I think you've already let them down. Of course, the charity won't care but perhaps some of your donors expected you to put some effort in as a reward for you hounding them for money.
I can't believe people have come on here and are applauding you for giving it a go when you're not even giving it a proper go. What a disgrace - pull your fuckin finger out or don't do it."
"If you're 'healthy and athletic' , how the hell are you taking 55 minutes to do 4 miles? I really hope that you've got your distances wrong.
Put the bike away and get your arse out of the door or tell the sponsors you just couldn't be arsed. Which is really not far away from the truth...
I'll encourage and help anyone who actually is putting in the effort, but you obviously aren't. Why don't you do a bike ride for charity? You seem to enjoy that. "
I thought they were being harsh with him, but I looked at his other forum postings and found he'd been whining about the Cardiff Marathon since April. I think he entered it, couldn't handle all the training, realised it was too much for him, then gave up only to decide recently he would like to give it a go after all. Been there done that, although my gaps were mainly due to injury. On a couple of occasions I've signed up for races only to realise near the time I wouldn't be able to finish them safely , so I pulled out. My advice for this person would be put more gently than the above, along the lines of give up on this one and try again later when he's more motivated towards the training. Or he could just get on and do it, just to show those who replied that they're wrong. His reponse to all the criticism levelled at him:-
"this is the last time I use this forum."
How childish. Bye then
