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AIBU?

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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:
Rollofrockandsand · 26/04/2025 19:07

I don’t blame her. It’s deathly boring

ExpressCheckout · 26/04/2025 19:06

None of your business, OP, but of course you know that already.

She probably is just being kind by saying she's busy at home but in reality she's become bored shitless with DH undoubtably blathering on about it for the last few months.

greengreyblue · 26/04/2025 19:06

Also depends if he’s done it before. DH did the Prudentual Ride 100 bike ride. We went the first time with young teens to watch him finish at The Mall. The second time we didn’t .

Octavia64 · 26/04/2025 19:06

Honestly my ExH ran marathons and they are bloody boring as spectators and difficult to get around as well with traffic closures and what not.

i stopped going after a few years.

faerietales · 26/04/2025 19:05

Having been to watch my dad in multiple London marathons - it is boring as bloody sin for everyone who is not a runner. Just hours of waiting around to see someone for thirty seconds who often doesn't even realise you're there.

ScribblingPixie · 26/04/2025 19:04

I've done it once but I wouldn't do it again, it was a total faff. Much better just to hear all about it afterward.

greengreyblue · 26/04/2025 19:04

I went o support by DB. Very hard to catch a glimpse. They’ve obviously made a decision so it’s none of your business. She can watch at home.

Pigeonqueen · 26/04/2025 19:02

I think it’s pointless to go tbh. You see someone run past for 60 seconds (if you’re lucky enough to even spot them) and they won’t see you, they won’t even know if you’re there or not! I guess it’s nice to be there to meet them afterwards but going to cheer them on is really not worth the bother.

SeventeenClovesOfGarlic · 26/04/2025 19:02

ML5 · 26/04/2025 18:56

What makes you say that

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If your friend posted on a forum with 9 million users about you being busy and called you mean for it, would you think 'aww, what a brilliant friend!'?

phoenixrosehere · 26/04/2025 19:01

My DH runs the North Run. I don’t watch him. Too busy at home with our children and definitely not taking them to stand about for hours, especially since it is during the school year and 5 hours from where we live. He runs with his uncle and cousin and it is mostly a competition for them since they’re runners.

Her children may be adults but she probably supported him in other ways that don’t mean her having to be at the actual event.

RipleyJones · 26/04/2025 19:01

HarpSnail · 26/04/2025 19:00

Let’s see — starting a nosy, judgemental thread on the internet about her?

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A more succinct answer than mine, thank you!

maggiecate · 26/04/2025 19:00

It sounds like she’s watched him run before and realised you don’t see much. It’s not like she can follow him round shouting encouragement - he’ll be past by her in seconds. Most people I know who run marathons/long races, the family go to the first one or two, and then after that don’t go or they’ll go sightseeing and meet up afterwards if it’s somewhere interesting.

HarpSnail · 26/04/2025 19:00

ML5 · 26/04/2025 18:56

What makes you say that

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Let’s see — starting a nosy, judgemental thread on the internet about her?

TadpolesInPool · 26/04/2025 18:59

Meh. DH has run our one several times when DC were young. He just told me roughly what time he would be running past our flat and I took the DC down to cheer then went back home. My parents did the same for him at a different, prearranged point of the marathon.

No way would I have done it without a time frame to be looking for him/if I had had to take 2 young hyperactive DC a long way with me.

RipleyJones · 26/04/2025 18:59

ML5 · 26/04/2025 18:56

What makes you say that

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Commenting on her behaviour and asking a question about it on the internet. You frame it in a way that’s ‘innocent’ but it’s dripping in judgement - and not only is it none of your business, it’s none of any strangers’ concern either. I’d be upset if a so called friend of mine did that, we wouldn’t be friends any longer.

Swampdonkey123 · 26/04/2025 18:58

She'll get a much better view on TV, and be able to track his chip as he runs. London on marathon day is bedlam, and your chances of actually seeing the person you've come to see aren't great. I wouldn't watch if DH was doing it.

Cynic17 · 26/04/2025 18:57

She wouldn't see much but, ultimately, it's her choice and absolutely nothing to do with you, OP.

BaronessBomburst · 26/04/2025 18:56

DH runs all kinds of races. I started out going too but got cold, bored, and rained on. The final straw was having to sit in the car with an unshowered man, still wearing sweaty running kit.
We follow him on the live tracking instead now. Grin

Original poster
ML5 · 26/04/2025 18:56

RipleyJones · 26/04/2025 18:52

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

What makes you say that

OP posts:
Shegotanology · 26/04/2025 18:55

I didn't go see mine run the Brighton. Not sure it's any of your business.

SpottedDonkey · 26/04/2025 18:55

This has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with you, so mind your own business.

Darkmorningsarethepits · 26/04/2025 18:54

I ran London. And not a single family member watched me. DH and the kids didn’t even bother looking on the tracker to see whether I was getting round ok! I was mildly disappointed they didn’t do that but but didn’t expect them to travel to London and stand around all day to be fair.

Yellowdresses · 26/04/2025 18:54

Do you think he won't get enough of a feeling of achievement by completing it, and having thousands of people cherring him on, that he would need his wife there to tell him he's great?

Jeschara · 26/04/2025 18:54

Why are you concernening yourself with other people's business. My partner has run loads of marathons and I have gone, it can be boring.

materialgworl · 26/04/2025 18:53

When you said they have adult children something in me says the husband is on some midlife crisis with the marathon thing and he’s been too annoying on the lead up 🤣🤣🤣 but like you we don’t know haha her reasons are valid too