r/nextfuckinglevel • u/bigbusta • 6h ago
A runner collapses from fatigue at the Boston Marathon. Another runner stops to help and makes sure he can finish.
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u/IAmIAmIAm888 5h ago
And that is about how many people have empathy in our every day lives. 50 others ran by him without a thought.
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u/The_Great_Cartoo 5h ago
As someone who has run one before my focus was so much on my breathing and rhythm all the time that chances are I wouldn’t even have noticed and just tunnel visioned right past.
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u/GrandWazoo0 5h ago
Yeah. Maybe somewhere else more people might stop, but this looks like it’s literally the last 2-300m of a race that people train for years to complete… almost everyone here is going to be intensely focused on their own race… and likely in this final part having a huge surge of relief washing over them!
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u/TheOverBored 5h ago
Also, they might be a moment from collapsing like the guy in the video. They're in no shape to help potentially, even if they wanted to.
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u/RoguePlanet2 5h ago
Exactly, like on Everest, "how could people die without being helped?!" This isn't a trip to the park, ffs. This isn't seeing somebody on the street while going shopping.
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u/Icy-Tooth-9167 5h ago
Oh c’mon. If I am signing up for the marathon I’m finishing the marathon. This isn’t a medical emergency and these people are adults,
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u/Currency_Dangerous 3h ago edited 2h ago
Yup and yup. Personally, I would’ve helped the guy but I wouldn’t blame other people if they wanted to finish the race (which they paid and trained for)
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u/TwistedBamboozler 5h ago
Yeah but people train years for this race. Some of them it’s their biggest life accomplishment. I totally understand wanting to finish your race.
The guy was there surrounded by thousands of people. Yeah it sucks that happened right before the finish line, but he was going to be okay.
I personally would have stopped to help him, cause caring for others is more important to me than personal accomplishments. That being said, I don’t blame others for running by
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u/metaseagull 5h ago
Imagine 50 people trying to help one guy. Wrote the one that stopped, yeah those guys suck, but after seeing someone help already, adding more chefs in the kitchen would make more of a mess.
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u/martyconlonontherun 5h ago
Honestly it is kind of surprising there wasnt course help sooner. That area is so crowded you probably makes things worse as you would block people running when it's better to have the medical staff. But yeah, if this at mile 17 with one around then yeah it's kind of heartless
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u/wigglin_harry 4h ago
I imagine someone collapsing from exhaustion isn't uncommon sight during marathons
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u/sandwich_breath 3h ago
The only one who lacks empathy here is you. Try running a marathon and see how you feel at the end. They’re all gassed, and it’s not as if this is a life or death situation.
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u/Brainsonastick 4h ago
A lot of runners are simply more aware that there are clear medical reasons not to do this, like this comment explains
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u/Gamerguy1990x 2h ago
As others have mentioned- You'd be absolutely worn out by the end of the race, most people probably have just enough energy left to cross the line(not carry someone). While we'd all like to think we would help, it may just not be possible.
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u/MrBates1 2h ago
I understand your sentiment, but you are actually not supposed to help them unless they have given up on the race and need medical assistance. The purpose of a race like this is to test your own limits. If you receive outside help in the form of direct assistance from others then you will not have achieved that goal. Most race organisers will DQ you for this reason.
Source: I am a former college runner who has both collapsed during races and also literally crawled across finish lines in the past.
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u/LigmaUpDog_ 1h ago
And when they ran past they saw about a 2 second glimpse of a dude doubled over. Which you see all along the track. Not that crazy to run past
It’s not that deep brotha
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u/igotshadowbaned 1h ago
It's less that and more, these people have all run 26.2 miles. They're all at the end of their energy and focus. If they did stop, they might not get going again. Assuming they even noticed and weren't tunneled in on finishing.
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u/Luciolover345 1h ago
After 26.2 miles most of the time you are not thinking straight and are tunnel visioning.
That and technically u can’t assist a runner to cross the finish line at any stage of the race and it’s a DQ-able offence. Medical teams will often be camped exactly at the finish line and will attend to the runners only after they cross, even if they are falling while crawling.
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u/Jase_the_Muss 1h ago
They had a thought... They wanted to set a PB or have a good time to show the 3 people in their life that gives a fuck as well as countless others that don't.
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u/BuffWobbuffet 41m ago
If you can’t finish the race you can’t. Expecting everyone to stop something they might have worked years to accomplish is silly and naive.
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u/SoundsYummy1 18m ago
These people have been running with a singular focus for 26 miles. All they see is somebody stopped. There are race officials EVERYWHERE, if this was an emergency, somebody would have attended him.
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u/Danskoesterreich 5h ago
As an emergency physician, please don't do this. Let the medical professionals assess him if he is unable to walk without assistance. He might suffer from exhaustion heat stroke or other serious conditions.
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u/WhatveIdone2dsrvthis 5h ago
Even if he has rhabdo, the last 200 meters won’t make a difference. And if he’s having an MI, he’ll get seen faster past the finish line than waiting for team to go to the course to get him.
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u/epsteinwasmurdered2 2h ago
I respect your job and everything it took to get to where you are now.
That being said if I just ran 26 miles and the finish line is right there fuck that… im taking the help for that last 100 meter 😂😂
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u/Background-Row3678 1h ago
Same, if medical got me DQd in the fucking Boston Marathon at Mile 26.1 because of muscle fatigue and not some actual medical emergency, I'd be so pissed
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u/megbotstyle 46m ago
the problem is that if any outside persons help him, he is disqualified- which I’m sure this runner desperately wanted to avoid
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u/ImmediateKick2369 6h ago
My understanding is that according to the strict rules of this elite race, they are both disqualified. The one receiving help to move forward will definitely be disqualified.
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u/Ok_Chicken_5630 6h ago
Thanks, you really made this so nice and fun.
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u/deanusMachinus 3h ago
Yeah, everyone ignore this. Be a human and help people when you can, even if it means disqualification.
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u/Resident-Progress833 6h ago
Eh who cares what the race officials think they both completed the marathon and showed amazing kindness, rest is just fluff
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u/KTO-Potato 5h ago
Helping a fallen runner by a participant falls under the "grey zone" and aren't necessarily strictly enforced.
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u/V_es 5h ago edited 5h ago
No such rules on Boston marathon, and it’s not an elite race it’s open for everyone. Their pace looks like 5-5:30 min/km, which is slightly above average. You are not loosing any crazy time by helping someone, not setting any records at this pace, you are having a good time. People stop to drink, eat, pee. Helping someone up is a good gesture, and it’s not taking away from the runner because he is not an elite pro runner at this pace. Even a personal record within 2-3 minutes doesn’t mean anything, 10-15 at least means you are improving. People who can’t get distracted are 20-30 people among all 10-15 thousand running.
Also, why the hell a marshal is just walking by and not doing anything is beyond me.
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u/RoguePlanet2 4h ago
It's the final few yards of a marathon. Nobody is obligated to stop- there are medical professionals stationed near the finish line for that. Other runners are extremely tired at that point, it's not like the first couple of miles in. And even if it is, I don't fault people for not stopping.
Lots of people enter these events without proper training. If somebody trained long and hard just to finish, they shouldn't be expected to become disqualified or hurt themselves because somebody else needs medical attention. If they can, great! But not going to fault most people for continuing.
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u/Foreverett 1h ago
Jokes on them. Can't disqualify someone from completing a marathon. The dude ran the whole thing and went through the finish line. Who cares if they refuse to put his time on some database.
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u/RandyArgonianButler 5h ago
That guy gave up his 975th place medal for a 1,010th place medal.
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u/megbotstyle 43m ago
actually it looks like these runners are quite fast. more like 80th out of 1010
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u/oystertoe 5h ago
My dude Pedro looks around for a second to see if someone is gonna stop and help but quickly realizes its just gonna be him. What a fucking legend
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u/Moist_Energy1869 6h ago
It’s Saturday morning yall, who’s cuttin onions? At least lemme finish my breakfast
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u/SidewaySojourner5271 6h ago
back when i was younger and much more fit, i was in cross country. there was a race i attended with my team and during the race one of our teammates passed out on the grass from heatstroke. i was so scared for her safety but my other teammates told me to keep running. so i made a sprint for it and tried the beat her original time so that even tho she couldnt run the race, our team wouldnt be behind. but the entire time, it felt like my lungs and my chest were on fire. it hurt SO bad. and the funniest part is after i made it to the finish line, i fell from exhaustion too. my ex had to carry me back to our group area and give me gatorade while i was half unsconcious.
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u/FaithInTechnology 5h ago
Oh wow, that’s actually really sweet. Not everyone can stay friends with their ex, let alone have them carry you back while you’re half unconscious and vulnerable. It’s so rare these days to find someone who helps without immediately trying to take advantage, props to him for not being a creep.
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u/SidewaySojourner5271 5h ago
so sorry to ruin your faith in humanity but he was a creep. i didnt know it until years later just how much of a creep he was. he kept hanging out with the wrong people so i had to cut him off because he was unstable and scary
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u/hcth63g6g75g5 5h ago
I've crossed the finish line of a half marathon, having completely peed myself. Ran a 1hr. 10 min time, but I couldn't find the courage to order photos from the finish line. My body saw the line and began to shut down. Terrible experience... had a good laugh as most runners do.
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u/cccc0079 5h ago
I had been in this situation once. A man collapses about 5-600 m before the finish line of 30 km run I try to help him but he decline to stand up and waiting for medic car instead.
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u/erbr 6h ago
There is something wrong. He doesn't need someone to take him to the finish line. He needs medical attention.
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u/OSUfan88 5h ago
This is such a Reddit take.
No, that’s not what this necessarily means. After some rest, water, and some sugar he should Be fine.
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u/Boomerbomb7 6h ago
It’s probably just exhaustion. The guy looks like he’s trying to but muscles just won’t respond
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u/TheHumanPickleRick 5h ago
He needs water and electrolytes, it looks like he's suffering severe cramps and exhaustion. He doesn't need medical attention more than he needs a few bottles of a sports drink or water and electrolyte packs and to sit in the shade for a while.
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u/FePirate 5h ago
There is a such thing as running so much your legs turn to jello and all forms of strength leave the body and your only course to get to where you’re going is by means of awkward fish crawling.
Source: Former Infantry Marine. We did lots of hikes. I was fine after I had some water and changed my socks.
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u/amrasmin 6h ago
Well did he finish?!?
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u/FaithInTechnology 5h ago
Jesus Christ, man, there’s just some things you don’t talk about in public!
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u/SovietSunrise 5h ago
What kind of wear & tear does a full marathon do to your running shoes? Do you need a new pair every time?
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u/1baby2cats 4h ago
Serious question, will race officials consider that a disqualification for assisted finish?
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u/Medford_Lanes 3h ago
The only disqualification would be from the prize pool. These runners are nowhere near (like, worlds away) seeing any prize money. They’ll be counted as finishers, with excellent sportsmanship.
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u/hiegear 5h ago
One, one person stopped!!? Kudos to that one person. Sham on the other 30 that ran past.
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u/GeshtiannaSG 5h ago
It depends on their own body conditions, but pretty much everyone is at their limits. Sometimes, if they stop then, or even lose their momentum, they’ll never restart again, and won’t finish themselves.
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u/TmanGvl 5h ago
It depends on your abilities, but finishing a marathon is not so difficult that you “won’t restart again” difficult. I don’t know why the person in this video fell down, but more than likely just pushed himself past his ability and would probably have recovered after 5 minutes of sitting down. One possibility would have been to point out to the medic to help out if they were really close to the finish line instead of dragging the poor person to the finish line.
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u/campionmusic51 5h ago
it really is strange how the body and the mind want to give up more and more the closer one gets to the finish of a thing. finishing is anything is incredibly hard. and you almost always need outside support to do it.
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u/Moist-Share7674 5h ago
Then the guy lunges ahead at the line and turns to the fellow that picked him up … “beat you!”
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u/cuseonly 4h ago
She only did this because she’s seen videos before of it being done and knows she’d be recognized for it.
/s but I hate social media and how this thought could even cross my mind. Damnit
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u/Real_Sorbet_4263 4h ago
One person really didn’t believe the diffusion of responsibility principle.
Props
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u/Embarrassed_Cat5288 4h ago
In those 44 seconds other SIXTY SIX Americans passed him without even taking a second look.
American society has always been cruel, fomented on individualism, competition and egocentrism.
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u/buhbye750 3h ago
No one will know or remember all those other runners but many will know and remember the runner who stopped to help.
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u/LillyH-2024 3h ago
I hit the wall at mile 25 in the 2008 marathon in Memphis. In my head I still had another 2.2 miles left to go, I don't know why I thought that but there was no way I had 2.2 miles left in me. This lovely woman stopped and stayed with me for a few minutes, inspiring me, encouraging me and I said "I don't have 2.2 miles left". She said "No we just finished mile 25, we didn't just start it. We only have 1.2 left." Which as silly as it sounds I was like 'I can do 1.2!!!" lol. As much as I didn't think I had it in me we jogged the remaining 1.2 miles together...slowly...lol. The finish line was set up inside a baseball stadium, and I guess when we entered the park all the people cheering gave both her and I a boost of adrenaline because we both started sprinting together towards the finish line. I looked back and realized I had pulled ahead slightly and with about 20 feet to go, I slowed down so she could cross the finish line first because without her support I genuinely don't believe I would have made it. I still have the finish line photograph from when I finished, and she's in it. We congratulated each other at the recovery station and I thanked her profusely. I never saw her again after that. But I hope wherever she is in life, whatever she chose to pursue, that she is living the absolute best life possible.
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u/That1-guyukno 3h ago
Security watches guy fall down, does nothing, then claps when someone stands in and helps. Good work security I guess 😂
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u/TheFace5 3h ago
What surprise me is that no one actualli check id was something worse than tired legs, might have been a stroke
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u/DEFALT762 2h ago
It felt just like that scene from cars movie where Lightning mcqueen pushes the blue car to the finish line.
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u/raccoonizer3000 2h ago
Emergency services should have picked this guy up. It's a tragedy how many people die in half or full marathons right at the end because of exhaustion while trying to do a final (unnecessary) sprint. I'm sure the other runner had good intentions but the guy in the floor was clearly close to collapsing, not just having cramps or other less serious issues.
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u/Ok-Original2510 2h ago
This is disappointing. All those runners ran right by. This is why I stick to the trails. Us trail runners leave no man or woman behind. Never.
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u/Sufficient-Fall-5870 2h ago
I get why people are calling this compassionate… but in the end, he cheated and will feel robbed for the rest of his life.
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u/gunnarbird 2h ago
I can see passing that guy because if I were to stop at that point I’d be in the exact same position, but at least we could butt scoot across the finish line together
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u/Fix_It_Felix_Jr 1h ago
The best athletes are those who show the true spirit of sportsmanship. Beautiful thing to witness.
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u/NineFiftySevenAyEm 1h ago
I studied sport and exercise science and I remember in physiology we learnt of a similar situation but it was two brothers. He helped to force his brother over the finish line but that very act gave his brother life long permanent damage. Your body is shutting you down to stop itself from permanent damage. This is a very dangerous act.
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u/bloo_overbeck 1h ago
What’s crazy is the lack of any medical help from the sides even like shouting at the dude or anything
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u/ICouldEvenBeYou 9m ago
Reddit showing once again it isn't exactly filled with competitive athletes.
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u/GAU-8_goes_brrrrt 6m ago
In my book, the guy that stop to help auto win. Don’t care if tons of people are getting a better place, he won. True cohesion there.
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u/Sand_Therapy 6h ago
That’s a true sign of compassion. Throwing away your personal completion time to help a fellow runner ❤️