Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Friends husband running the marathon tomorrow but she’s not going to watch him

239 replies

ML5 · 26/04/2025 18:45

Just wondering - friends husband is running in the Marathon tomorrow but she’s not attending to watch him as she’s busy at home & even if she does go chances are she won’t be able to see him from the crowds she said. Is this a mean thing to do or AIBU to think that

OP posts:
RipleyJones · 26/04/2025 18:52

Are you sure you’re friends? You don’t sound like a friend of hers.

KvotheTheBloodless · 26/04/2025 18:52

Cherrytree86 · 26/04/2025 18:50

she doesn’t sound like a good partner. Running a marathon is a huge deal, it’s a massive achievement - if my partner wasn’t supportive of me with it I.e coming to see me pass the finish line I’d genuinely be reconsidering my relationship.

It really isn't a huge deal. It's just a long run.

EilishMcCandlish · 26/04/2025 18:51

Is he a regular runner or is this his first marathon?
Friends of mine run multiple marathons a year all over the world. They do not expect their families to traipse all over after them. For a first one, I would probably go along as the atmosphere at London is amazing.

And if he has trained for it, she has probably suffered months of him boring on about his training, fuelling, kit etc. I say that as a runner who has done all this to my family in the past.

KvotheTheBloodless · 26/04/2025 18:51

Watching other people run is like watching paint dry. I do triathlon and ultras, when DH and I were first together he said he really wanted to come and watch - I warned him how boring it would be, but he insisted. Afterwards he said I was absolutely correct, and he's not come to a race since Grin

Your friend has the right attitude. Long races are super boring for spectators, often you don't see who's around anyway as there are so many people. She'll be able to keep track of him online far better than at the event itself.

Cherrytree86 · 26/04/2025 18:50

she doesn’t sound like a good partner. Running a marathon is a huge deal, it’s a massive achievement - if my partner wasn’t supportive of me with it I.e coming to see me pass the finish line I’d genuinely be reconsidering my relationship.

pimplebum · 26/04/2025 18:50

It’s so hard and boring watching someone do the marathon you can stand around for hours in the cold or heat and they scoot past in a second and can miss you jumping up and down screaming
if she has to drag kids along even more so (£5 for a single scoop of ice cream in tub )
I have done it twice but would not do it again in a hurry
having said that huge inspiration very emotional but a grind

SunnyDreamst · 26/04/2025 18:48

We went to support DH run a city marathon not London though and it’s quite boring & hard work looking after younger kids for 4hrs+ but it was lovely to see him finish. He was exhausted and mainly needed me to drive him home because he was so tired. It’s a shame he won’t have a friendly face at the end though.

Screamingabdabz · 26/04/2025 18:48

I wouldn’t go either. Great for him, boring as hell and a complete waste of my day for me.

BashfulClam · 26/04/2025 18:48

Aw I’d be there with a bottle of cold water and some jelly babies as it’s a hard task.

Original poster
ML5 · 26/04/2025 18:47

She has 2 adult children early twenties

OP posts:
Stillearninglife · 26/04/2025 18:46

Ha! Give Over!

kidsanddogs10 · 26/04/2025 18:46

Do they have children? If she would have to bring them, then fair enough, it’ll be so busy and fairly unpleasant day with little ones!

Eldermillennialmum · 26/04/2025 18:46

in her position I'd go but you don't know the full situation

you don't know her reasons not to go

2024onwardsandup · 26/04/2025 18:45

It could not be less of your business