DO YOU read THE........?

Question

really long questions or answers?........
i dont i get bored easily.............

Answer 1

How could you not read the answers?

By the way, here is a random story:

All in all I can say it was a great experience and a great race which I am proud of !!
The view of the big city was quite nice. A good deal of the race was along a river and we had also some kilometers in the "suburbs" area of the town. The start was at the "House of the People" (not sure this is the spelling), a very big construction built during the administration of Nicolae Ceausescu for his headquarters. It was considered to be the third building in the world. We have also passed through the Arc of Triumph and another few sights. I had also some quite frustrating moments during the race, but all that matters now is that I have successfully overcome them. As you read the following lines, you'll probably wonder what kind of race was that. Well, It was the 12th Edition of the Bucharest International Marathon..

I could actually say that all that week-end was a "race" as most of the time I was in a hurry. I took the train for Bucharest at 10 PM and I went with a sleeping wagon. I read a little and then I tried to have a sleep. I can pretty much say I was having nice dreams, but damn! I woke up with the feeling in my mind that I was almost there and gee ... only ten minutes passed! I couldn't believe my eyes :). In the end I think I may have slept a while (if I add up all the 10 or 15 rounds ... ).
Well ... at 6 AM I was there. I took my breakfast at the train station, sitting down at a table next to a Mc'Donalds restaurant. I had a few slices of bread, cornflakes, yogurt, cheese and salami. Took then an ice-cream as I had to buy a Mc Donald product in order to sit there :). Then, an apple and a banana. I took with me more, but my stomach got a little disturbed, so I just sat down and took some water in order to at least save my precious food I had taken so far ... Then I went to the subway to take me to the destination. At 8:30 AM or so, I reached the sunlight again. Then, I asked two people for directions (the race organizer said to me on the phone that the start will take place in the Constitution Square, next to the House of the People). So, as I said, I asked those people for directions in order to reach the Constitution Square. They said that I have to go some good kilometers to reach there. Lucky me, I gave some details to the second person, as I couldn't have believed it to be so far. I said that next to the House of the People, where the race starts. He has heard about that race and pointed me the right direction which wasn't that far.

I reached the race place at about 9 AM. I registered and started to look around. There were actually 3 races (a popular race of 7 Km, a semi-marathon and the marathon). I stayed there for another few minutes, talking with other 2 contestants and then I went back walking through the city (and tried to find a bathroom ... ). I eventually found it, then read something for another few minutes in order for the time to pass and then returned back. Still an hour and 20 minutes till the start. So, what could have I done till then? Well, took another apple, some water and just admired the sight ... But anyway ... there wasn't much time to "worry" or "stress" as the race started at 10 AM, instead of 11 AM !!

There weren't as many marathoners as I expected. Maybe a little over 150. But all the races started at the same time, from the same place, so there was a little bustling in the beginning. We, the marathoners, were aligned ahead of the others participating at the popular race, so we had the pleasure to see how we were passed along. That was especially true for me, as I took pole position. At least I got caught by the camera :). The first few kilometers I tried to keep my pace, ignoring the other "rabbits" in front of me. All enthusiasts and lively ... it was quite a nice view! Then, after about 3 kilometers I went to a nearby shop to buy half a liter of mineral water. In the race program it said there was a nurture point at the half way. I said no, it is impossible. It cannot be only there! But anyway, I didn't want to take my chance :). Actually, we received water at about 5 kilometers ... But I do not regret that "early refueling", though. So, after about 20 minutes of racing I only saw an old guy jogging behind me. But I still had in sight a lot of people in front of me. Despite this, I didn’t rush to them. I just kept a constant speed and thought at a slow recovery from behind. There were no markers, can you believe that? Well ... that wasn't such a grave problem, as I just run "freely", not worrying for a 10 or 15 seconds/kilometer faster or slower than my expected pace ... After about 5 or 6 kilometers I have passed an old lady and then reached another group of people from behind. There were 2 guys with funky clothing (like they had wings) and another gal. We went together for a while, then those guys took it ahead. At 10 kilometers (the first marker), we had 1:03:30. Well, that was quite a good pace! Although I was expecting a minute or two less :). The first 15 kilometers I had almost all the time a bottle of water in my hand. My 15-km time: 1:42:00 has surprised me a little. There were almost 40 minutes for 5 kilometers and we only stopped at the nurture points (for some water, a small piece of lemon and a piece of sugar). Few minutes later, I have noticed that we are slowing down even further. So, I decided not to get out of my pace this early. So, I wished her good luck and I took it ahead. I passed some people already walking and close to the half-way I was looking for a toilet. I knew it has to be somewhere, in the ecological park, but I just didn't spot it :). Anyway, it wasn't next to the race route. So I moved on. Well, I "relieved" myself few kilometers later, in the open. I guess only a few dogs were aware of this :). So, I have finally relieved myself of water. And "relieved" it for good! Between the kilometers 15 and 25 we had no droplet of water. They bloated us with water at the very beginning and now, when we really have needed it, it was all gone. Two stations in a row without water! But had other concerns, though :). Just when I ran slowly, trying to relax, a car passed alongside me with about 50 miles an hour. So, had to wake up to reality ... The circulation wasn't stopped at all except that in each intersection there were cops and race organizers to point us the right direction and to give us priority. In this interval, I passed another few runners, including the one with "funky clothes", which I passed and I was passed by about 3 times (because of my short breaks I had to take ...). Then, I have run another few kilometers with a gal that ran along with her coach. Her coach on the bike gave her some water from now and then, but also some piece of advice. Yuck :). She said how it hurts, he said her to push harder or not to push at all! She made some walking breaks. When she started running back again, her coach started again with his nagging. It was her first marathon too! Ok ... nice conversation :). But at that moment, we really needed some water. Water! Water! Water! I picked up the pace a little and finally, a shop! We have run by then in a remote area of the city, so I have seen no shops in range. I wasn't actually thirsty, but I had been looking for water long before :). Just in case ... Anyway, as I finally reached to the shop, I bought two bottles of mineral water. I took my well deserved drink and then I waited a little for that gal to get me from behind in order to give her a bottle. She must have run very enthusiastically for the bottle, because after half a minute or so, we were again at a pace of promenade ... Well, I wished her good luck and moved on :).

By now it was almost 1 PM. Quite a nice and sunny day. The temperature rose to about 26 degrees. Lucky for me that I took a hat on! This way I could enjoy the refreshing air of the morning a little more ... I also took with me some chocolate bars with peanuts which proved very useful. And with another 3 or 4 bananas we should have received at the nurture stations, it was quite a nice race-diet. Making hopes they have bananas! What was I thinking ... But I took with me some glucose too. The next few kilometers were quite nice and I still felt I had a lot of remaining energy, although I started to feel my leg muscles from now and then. Unfortunately, I couldn't stick to anyone during this part of the course. I passed most of them with double speed and I wasn't passed by anyone. Then, finally some joggers :). Well ... not quick enough. I found out that I can jog with them, but I can also walk with them while they were jogging (consuming of course less energy). I now was at a sub-6 minutes/kilometer pace while running. I still tried to avoid walking-breaks.

It was a nice view as I ran along a river, but I was also thinking and what is about to come! I knew that somewhere between the 30th and 32th kilometer marks there is a critical point called “The Wall” and my hope was to manage to get through it. This is quite infamous in the marathon terminology, because if you run faster than you should or you are not well hydrated, glycogen runs out and you feel a sensation comparable to that of hitting a wall - after which the race is compromised. I had respect for the incoming wall as I hadn’t had the opportunity to ran more than 28 kilometers before due to an illness that put me out of training for three weeks. But I was in for a big surprise. Little did I know that the wall has invisible iron spikes …


All this way till now I saw people ahead of me. Whether they walked, they drank or just threw water on their heads, they were there ... Actually, I was doing this too when I had spare water :). It is a good advice to "keep your had cool" ! I then saw a person walking towards me. She probably went to work or for shopping. I open the bottle cap, I took off my hat and then threw the water on my head. I am wondering what she was thinking then ... if she had stared for long, I think I would have had some spare water ... and then, if the things were getting bad, I would have said that she should have kept her head cool :p.


Ok, let's recap: no kilometer markers for pace management, not enough WATER, no bananas or energy bars (needless to say, no massages during or after the race), no safety during the race; I've heard that a woman was even hit by the mirror of a car (fortunately she wasn't hurt) and some race organizers were not too sympathetic either ... Anyway, I had one major relief. At least there were cops at every intersection and also arrow marks to indicate which direction to take. But again, how could I have been so naive? :). By now, I was all on my own. No one ahead of me, no one behind! At the beginning the groups were very compact, but now there were no groups at all. So, I reach at an intersection. Now what? I asked some people where other athletes before me had gone. They pointed me a direction, witch started identically as the other two laps we had to make. So, I thought the way to the finish line towards the stadium was a little further. In fact, we should have turned the other street exactly at the point where I was asking for directions. As I moved on, someone in a car passed along me. It was also a racer (funky racer), but at semi-marathon. I asked him if this is the right direction. And he confirmed it. He then asked me if I have seen her "lost" brother :). The one with funky clothes ... I said that he is somewhere behind. In fact, he was way ahead ... So, I guess the guy I talked to consumed some extra fuel too. But, unlike me, he was with the car!! So, I am running, I am running, where the heck is the 35 km marker? There already passed more than 35 minutes since the time I reached the last station (at 30 KM), so I started to get suspicious. I then started to walk frustrated for a few minutes. Then I started running again for about 5 or 10 minutes. Then, finally! The nurture station was there waiting for me! As I got closer, stupor! It was the 30-km mark again. DAMN THEM !!!! (trying to put nice language here). After I lost another minute talking with them, they said to go directly to the stadium and pointed me the direction which continued the lap. Then, I thought the stadium is somewhere nearby. So, I kept asking them where to go directly for the stadium. So, they pointed me the same direction. Then, I reached from behind an old man running and walking with the ambulance alongside him. I stayed for a few minutes with the guy, but he was mostly walking. Anyway, I didn't want to be alone again :). The guy in the ambulance told me that he was a veteran. Now what? They want to make fun of me ?! Anyways, I saw another jogger few hundred meters ahead. So, I was back in the running pace again. As much as my legs could have taken it :). But probably a sub 7-minutes/kilometer pace. By that time, my belly purse was also banging up and down. Well ... I have finally reached that athlete. She was the very gal I run at the beginning with. So, most of the time till I reached that intersection we were walking. Then, I took it again on my own. But I was asking people in left and right where should I go next. By now, I have started to feel parts of my body I never knew I have :). So, it was now clear for me that I have made all those 7 or 8 kilometers in vain. Anyway, I was still hoping that I could finish. My worry wasn't now my tired body (I trusted him), but the damn race-course. I knew all this time that I can complete the race, unless getting lost again. At another abandoned intersection, the people were not sure anymore what street the other athletes took, so I based upon my instinct. Lucky for me, in that very moment, I saw another 2 runners just about a few hundred meters in front of me. They said that from here is about the same course as the last week (there was a big cross event on a shorter distance then). Ok! I knew now. I saw all the race on TV :). Just kidding! But I stayed with these guys for another few kilometers. Then, I took it ahead and asked other people on the street where is the entry to the stadium. Luckily, it was very close. But I didn't knew exactly the distance, so if I had gone slower, I would have risked to run out of time (5:30 was the official time limit). Then a 500 meters on the track came. I saw some plastic lanes on the track, so I was still asking people where should I take it now! And how much? A lap? Two? Four? So, I took a nice jog on the first 400 meters. There were some people shouting around, so it was quite a nice feeling that in a few moments all this story is going to a happy end. So, I picked up the pace and finished in a sprint. At that moment, my heart rate was pretty low and I only felt the leg muscles a little. So, I think I was quite close to my maximum sprinting speed. Just in the moment I started to accelerate, I have heard something like a sonic boom. It was the shouting gallery! Or maybe the Doppler effect :). Well, I guess it didn't matter ... I was just waiting to throw myself on the grass!

I came in 102th overall (the 70th man crossing the finish line). So, 32 gals ahead of me ;). At 3:30 PM the race was closed. I suppose it is quite a pitty for all those who worked so hard, but finished few minutes later. We received a diploma and a T-shirt. There were also promised medals, but we didn't receive. I also discovered then that a lady also took it on a wrong way, but shortening the course. Maybe by a little more than an hour :). She was disqualified. There were also disqualified two people with times of about 3 hours. I don't know what happened, though. I think I would have been 57 overall if not for these petty organizers. As I looked at the final standings, I saw a "vacuum" between the 56th and the 57th. The 56th finished in about 4:20 and the next one almost 20 minutes later. I was probably caught in this vacuum when I got lost ...
The gal I was running with at the beginning has also finished just few minutes before the limit. The gal with the coach succeeded too! After all, maybe those naggings were not so bad ... :). I have also taken a picture in the end with the first gall I was running (Camelia).


Here are my split times (in fact the only split times I could get):

Split Times:

10 km: 1:03:30
15 km: 1:42:00
HALF: 2:19:00
25 km: 2:48:30
30 km: 3:18:00
35 km: 4:37:00
FINISH: 5:20:48
(not sure the markings were very accurate, though ...)

Well, time for me to take a well deserved bath. I didn't even have the opportunity to take a shower. I arrived back in Cluj at 4 AM. Had to wait for the hot water to come … Hope it came by now ...

Answer 2

If someone takes the trouble to send me a long answer, I read it. Not the long questions, though, I get bored as well. My answers are never too long - I get bored typing.

Answer 3

I skip the long, long questions. The first one I seen when I started on Answers, I did try to read it. But, couldn't get past the first paragraph. When the question is too long, you have to scroll up and down to reread a few times. To me that is a hassle to go through.
I do read all the answers when I am voting, so I can choose the best one.

Answer 4

I agree with you. Once I put a question in about there should be an abuse reason for LONG AND BORING and man! did people jump my case, it was so bad I deleted the question before I got reported for some inane reason.

Answer 5

I like to know the views of other readers . I read questions and answers however long or short if the topic interests me

Answer 6

It depends on the question. Most of the time they are too boring, stupid or silly to waste my time on. If it is one of the rare questions that are both lengthy and good, I will read all the way through.

Answer 7

yayyyyy for ADD! I can't read the really long questions or answers either.. just like when I'm voting for answers.. if there's a bunch of them I usually just pick the first answer because I don't have the patience to read all the others. (=

Answer 8

If I find them interesting I will or if the answer is the only one. Otherwise, I get bored.

Answer 9

I can see you would get bored very easily.

Answer 10

It depends If i notice it's a cut and paste probably no. If it is interesting I will read it more like the history of the f word or something.

Answer 11

If the questions or answers cover all the page I skip it. As soon as I see how long it is it scares me! If it's too short it's annoying.