Not to spectate while Husband runs the London Marathon

[SaveAHorseRideAHighlander]

I'll keep it as short and sweet as possible -
We are going to London for the weekend as DH is running the London Marathon, just the two of us going without the kids. Have a hotel booked near the start line on the first night, then another hotel near the finish on the second night.

My plan is to walk down to the start with him, wave him off, then take the luggage across to the second hotel (early check in arranged), drop the bag off, then have a lovely little wander by myself, get a nice pastry and coffee etc. I'd then meet him at the bottom corner of St James park when he finishes.
My friend thinks I'm being unreasonable for not picking a spot along the way/making my way direct to the end and waiting for him to pass by.
My thoughts are, he'll be busy concentrating on running, he's not overly emotional so I don't think he'll care (he's agreed to the plan!), and apart from when he's running we'll be spending a lovely weekend together.

So hit me, am I being unreasonable?

Oh you will miss out op

I didn’t even know anyone running it and felt emotional.

it’s really special

”a nice pastry and coffee”

over watching the marathon and cheering on your husband in this monumental feat?

ok.

Does he care either way? I suspect not

If he is happy with it, then why worry about what anyone else thinks.

Oh he’s said he’s cool with it and appears not to care

well knock yourself out with that nice pastry and coffee op!

Oh nooooo don't tell me that!

Does it help if I say I've seen him run many a marathon including Snowdon multiple times? 😅
I don't know quite how long it will take me to get the luggage across hotels, and would assume that the finish line area will be super busy from very early?!

Agree with friend. My SIL is running. We go to a spot where you see the runners twice by just moving a short distance. Then we will make our way to the finish line. Love the marathon, it’s such a great day.

If he doesn’t care then it’s non issue, but you’re only guessing at that.

I’m with you on this OP!
But the only person who can tell you that YABU is your DH. If he doesn’t mind then what’s the issue? Sounds like a nice way to spend an afternoon

You won't be able to get near the start as it's participants only. My husband is coming to London with me and I'd be pretty gutted if he wanted to get a pastry instead of supporting me.

I went down last year to watch even though I wasn't running and it was great supporting all the runners.

I watched DH run the marathon a couple of years ago, I went with my (then 2 year old) DS and my sister. We went to stand around mile 18 and it was very emotional cheering on all the runners. I later found out that DH had fallen over about a minute before he saw us, he thought he was going to have to pull out but seeing us gave him the motivation to keep going.

You don’t have to justify your decision op

your husband doesn’t give a fig
and you’d like a nice pastry and a coffee

works for you both

unfathomable to me! But I’m not you!

Yanbu. The only thing worse than running is watching other people run. 🥱

The “luggage” being for a couple of nights away for two people?

I agree

marathons are different

Is it his first marathon? If so then I think you should be there to support him, he has no idea how he will feel at the time and the support may just get him through. Unless you are running it as a race and concentrating on running fast you notice all the supporters and they really can help you to get through it. If it was my husband I would be so proud you wouldn't be able to keep me away. Its not just the effort on the day there is so much prep to running a marathon. Its not like you need to stand near the finish for hours to wait, you can track him so you will be able to see when he is near the finish to be there and take pics etc

With the added bonus that it's endless?

It’s London (my love!)
and it has one hell of an amazing atmosphere

wouldn’t be my choice but you do you

that's making the assumption that everyone will feel as you did....

No one else is you

OP, make the plan, nothing cast in stone, if you're really feeling like it's a "must see" on the day, they nothing says you can't change your plan.

Sounds perfect to me, what's the aibu? Sounds like you're being supportive by going down there with him and hopefully you can do something relaxing together when he finishes.
I dislike marathons.

I clarified

that I am not the same person as the op and wouldn’t expect her to feel the same in a later post

I like London just fine, I don't think it's improved by standing in an over excited crowd watching a parade of sweaty exhausted runners pass by.

understood, didn't see your later edit!

He mightnt even see her in the crowd. Caught some of the footage on TV one year, it was extremely busy.

He's running a marathon.

Find a spot close to the start, plonk yourself there. Stay until he goes past (or you think he's gone), then fuck off for your pastry.

You will have time to do both with no issue...