Running a marathon - can you put it on an app?

[Chris127]

I know, I know, not medically related. But, running in/finishing a marathon does display alot about the will, dedication, motivation, and self discipline of an individual, and is something not too many people accomplish. The reason I am asking is that I plan on running a few in the spring and wonder whether this could possibly be put on a med school app. I really have no clue, thats why I am asking. My geuss would be that adcoms could care less, but I want to make sure.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Saluki]

I think you could put it down. I ran competitive track for a long while, and I continued running 10ks in college. I decided not to put it down, though, because I mentioned it in my personal statement...

 

[kaffy]

I know, I know, not medically related. But, running in/finishing a marathon does display alot about the will, dedication, motivation, and self discipline of an individual, and is something not too many people accomplish. The reason I am asking is that I plan on running a few in the spring and wonder whether this could possibly be put on a med school app. I really have no clue, thats why I am asking. My geuss would be that adcoms could care less, but I want to make sure.

Throughout college I ran road races every weekend. It takes a lot of training and discipline so I put that on my app. I don't really care what the adcoms think - I just wanted to put it down because it took so much work. Besides, they often ask what you like to do in your free time...so just tell them you run about 70 - 100 miles per week for fun.

 

[Turkeyman]

You could mention it as an extracurricular, or even as a sport. Say something like you are a runner and participate in local marathons for physical fitness as well as the competition.

 

[wowzer]

i ran a marthon to raise funds for stroke awareness in Hawaii. I mentioned the marathon as my opening paragraph in my personal statement.

 

[kaffy]

I was thinking I might say I run everyday, twice a day because I am totally obsessive-compulsive and I don't when to stop. Is that a good idea? 😉
Sometimes I have dreams that I say something like this in an interview...

 

[MoosePilot]

Sure. It's something that takes focus and discipline, it's unusual and interesting, and there are a lot of runners. You might have something interesting to talk about in an interview.

 

[UCLAstudent]

Why not? I put down IM soccer.

 

[Saluki]

I was thinking I might say I run everyday, twice a day because I am totally obsessive-compulsive and I don't when to stop. Is that a good idea? 😉
Sometimes I have dreams that I say something like this in an interview...

I'm a little OCD and run tons (or at least I did before the application process started- now I sit on SDN or watch Law and Order while eating cheese puffs) I think a lot of doctors are like that, so saying that might come across as positive. I'd like you 😉

 

[dbhvt]

I know, I know, not medically related. But, running in/finishing a marathon does display alot about the will, dedication, motivation, and self discipline of an individual, and is something not too many people accomplish. The reason I am asking is that I plan on running a few in the spring and wonder whether this could possibly be put on a med school app. I really have no clue, thats why I am asking. My geuss would be that adcoms could care less, but I want to make sure.

You are crazy if you don't put this on your app. You are also crazy if you are planning on running "a few" in the spring, especially if you haven't run one before.

Seriously, though. Good luck! (marathon, apps, etc...)

 

[humuhumu]

Definitely. Running marathons is a very cool extracurricular. I think adcoms want to know about any activity to which you devote a substantial amount of your time and energy, whether medically related or not. They want to know what makes you tick.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

As a survivor of the Air Force Marathon, I say put it down for nothing more than evidence that you have, in fact, lost your mind. Seriously put it down, it shows definite dedication.

 

[kaffy]

I'm a little OCD and run tons (or at least I did before the application process started- now I sit on SDN or watch Law and Order while eating cheese puffs) I think a lot of doctors are like that, so saying that might come across as positive. I'd like you 😉

Thanks. Sometimes it is the only way to relieve stress - except for renting TV series on DVD and watching a whole season in one night...

 

[Avenue Q]

You are crazy if you don't put this on your app. You are also crazy if you are planning on running "a few" in the spring, especially if you haven't run one before.

Seriously, though. Good luck! (marathon, apps, etc...)

No kidding - even the elite marathon runners are crazy if they run more than 2 a year. 2 in the span of a few months is insane, forget "a few".

 

[tigress]

lol, yeah, I was also going to say something about the "a few" comment
There are people who run multiple marathons a year, but not many. Although the reason the elite marathoners don't do it isn't because they can't, but because they want to be at their very best for every marathon they run.
If you've never run a marathon before, though, I can't imagine it's a realistic goal to run "a few in the spring." One is an accomplishment!

I didn't put running on my AMCAS, but apparently my pre-med advisor included it in my committee letter. I guess that means she, at least, thinks it is worth mentioning because it shows dedication. The only reason I know it's even in my letter is because one of my interviewers (at Drexel actually) is a runner so she brought it up and we had a nice chat about running. So not only could it look really good, it's also something to talk about in interviews (particularly if the interviewer is also a runner!).

Good luck with your marathon 👍

(btw, pet peeve...well actually pet peeve of my husband's that I've adopted 😛 ...but if you say they "could care less" that means they obviously DO care, because it's possible for them to care less; I think the appropriate phrase would be "couldn't care less", meaning they care about it so little that they couldn't possibly care less..okay, yes, I'm anal )

 

[Chris127]

Well the last marathon I ran was last October, and I remember about 3 weeks afterwards going for 12 mile run around my neighborhood. So I dunno, maybe all I will be able to do is one, we'll see.

 

[masterMood]

What about ping-pong? Competitive ping-pong. Like the guys on ESPNN. I think i'm that good, but I just need someone to endorse me.

Team Badonkadonk - "It's a ping-pong thing"

 

[kaffy]

I know a guy who ran about six marathons per year. He has had 6 knee surgeries now, too, because his cartilage is badly damaged/non-existent.

 

[kaffy]

What about ping-pong? Competitive ping-pong. Like the guys on ESPNN. I think i'm that good, but I just need someone to endorse me.

Team Badonkadonk - "It's a ping-pong thing"

Ping Pong is good. What about video games? I mean, what if you are really, really good.

 

[markboonya]

What about ping-pong? Competitive ping-pong. Like the guys on ESPNN. I think i'm that good, but I just need someone to endorse me.

Team Badonkadonk - "It's a ping-pong thing"

hahah my first couple drafts of my PS had my table tennis experiences in them. i think its unique, and i put a breaking the mold spin on my story- ie fighting stereotypes and educating others about a great but lesser known sport. most people in america dont realize how crazy competitive table tennis really is.

 

[kaffy]

hahah my first couple drafts of my PS had my table tennis experiences in them. i think its unique, and i put a breaking the mold spin on my story- ie fighting stereotypes and educating others about a great but lesser known sport. most people in america dont realize how crazy competitive table tennis really is.

I don't know too much about table tennis - but it is incredible to watch professionals play. I didn't even know people could move that quickly.

 

[QofQuimica]

I know, I know, not medically related. But, running in/finishing a marathon does display alot about the will, dedication, motivation, and self discipline of an individual, and is something not too many people accomplish. The reason I am asking is that I plan on running a few in the spring and wonder whether this could possibly be put on a med school app. I really have no clue, thats why I am asking. My geuss would be that adcoms could care less, but I want to make sure.

I've run two marathons, and I did put that on my app. One of my acceptance letters explicitly mentioned the marathons as being one of the things on my app that impressed the adcom at that school. (Interestingly, they didn't mention my earning a PhD as something that impressed them. )

 

[Saluki]

I've run two marathons, and I did put that on my app. One of my acceptance letters explicitly mentioned the marathons as being one of the things on my app that impressed the adcom at that school. (Interestingly, they didn't mention my earning a PhD as something that impressed them. )

Anyone can earn a PhD- nothing special about that 😉 I'd do it in my spare time except I already have a parttime job

 

[QofQuimica]

Anyone can earn a PhD- nothing special about that 😉 I'd do it in my spare time except I already have a parttime job

😛 I used to actually like you, kid. 😉

 

[MoosePilot]

I've run two marathons, and I did put that on my app. One of my acceptance letters explicitly mentioned the marathons as being one of the things on my app that impressed the adcom at that school. (Interestingly, they didn't mention my earning a PhD as something that impressed them. )

Is there anything you don't do?

 

[kaffy]

I know, I know, not medically related. But, running in/finishing a marathon does display alot about the will, dedication, motivation, and self discipline of an individual, and is something not too many people accomplish. The reason I am asking is that I plan on running a few in the spring and wonder whether this could possibly be put on a med school app. I really have no clue, thats why I am asking. My geuss would be that adcoms could care less, but I want to make sure.

Actually, in two of my interviews I was asked about my running. They wanted to know how much, how often, etc.

 

[QofQuimica]

Is there anything you don't do?

lol, I've never piloted a plane. Some day, will you teach me? (note: this should be done somewhere peaceful where we won't be getting shot at. )

 

[MoosePilot]

lol, I've never piloted a plane. Some day, will you teach me? (note: this should be done somewhere peaceful where we won't be getting shot at. )

Yeah, sure. Compared to running a marathon or earning a PhD, it's easy. 👍

 

[QofQuimica]

Yeah, sure. Compared to running a marathon or earning a PhD, it's easy. 👍

lol, you might not say that if you knew how hard a time I had learning to drive a car. 🙄 And I also flunked my motorcycle license test b/c I dropped the bike. 😛 😳

 

[MoosePilot]

lol, you might not say that if you knew how hard a time I had learning to drive a car. 🙄 And I also flunked my motorcycle license test b/c I dropped the bike. 😛 😳

You drive a motorcycle too?

 

[tigress]

obviously, Q is superwoman. We all suspected, and now we have proof

 

[QofQuimica]

You drive a motorcycle too?

Not very well; like I said, I dropped the bike and flunked the driving test. After that, they wouldn't let me try again without repeating the class, and I wasn't feeling the greatest at that point; I left quite a bit of my skin on the pavement. 😛 But one of these days, I'm going to re-take the class and the test. I think I'd do better now, because I've learned how to drive a stick in the interim. So I'm a little more experienced at this shifting business. 😉

 

[Chinorean]

I know, I know, not medically related. But, running in/finishing a marathon does display alot about the will, dedication, motivation, and self discipline of an individual, and is something not too many people accomplish. The reason I am asking is that I plan on running a few in the spring and wonder whether this could possibly be put on a med school app. I really have no clue, thats why I am asking. My geuss would be that adcoms could care less, but I want to make sure.

It sounds like a great theme for a personal statement, too. I think it's been done, but I'm sure everyone's take is a little different.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Yeah, just keep it above stall speed, and the nose above the horizon.....piece of cake. Interesting side question for you MoosePilot- what is the stall speed of a C-17? (I believe that's the plane you fly, right?)

 

[LuisitoMD]

I have a friend that applied last year and also put it on his app... and worked it into his personal statement... schools ate it up! Good luck!

 

[MoosePilot]

Yeah, just keep it above stall speed, and the nose above the horizon.....piece of cake. Interesting side question for you MoosePilot- what is the stall speed of a C-17? (I believe that's the plane you fly, right?)

Well, it's a complicated question. With a plane as big as that one and with such a huge variance in weights, it changes radically. Clean and heavy, Vmma (minimum maneuvering airspeed) is probably around 250 kts. Clean and slow, it's closer to 200. Configured with gear, half flaps, and slats, it's around 160 kts. It's got a stick shaker rather than an aerodynamic stall indication and we're not allowed to practice stalls, so it's much different than I was used to in the T-37. We used to stall, spin, and do anything possible in that plane.

 

[Sweetlill1]

My sister has a friend who does ultrarunning. He ran a 100 mile race in 23 hours and 45 minutes. He has also run double marathons... personally I think that is crazy, but it would be a good thing to put on an app!

 

[desertdr]

Just got back from NYC where I ran the NYC marathon Sunday and had a med school interview Monday morning 😱

Everything worked out but I did mention that I ran marathons in my personal statement but it was a topic of conversation with the other interviewees...we were a very social crowd!

FWIW, my interviewer wasn't too interested in my athletics....more with why medicine (I also have a phd...Q and I are pretty similar eh?!)...maybe my interviewer wasn't a runner?!!!

 

[QofQuimica]

Just got back from NYC where I ran the NYC marathon Sunday and had a med school interview Monday morning 😱

Everything worked out but I did mention that I ran marathons in my personal statement but it was a topic of conversation with the other interviewees...we were a very social crowd!

FWIW, my interviewer wasn't too interested in my athletics....more with why medicine (I also have a phd...Q and I are pretty similar eh?!)...maybe my interviewer wasn't a runner?!!!

Cool desert, what in? Mine's in chem, if you hadn't already guessed that. 😉

 

[desertdr]

Q, to answer your question: phd in chem also...orgo but more towards materials. It's funny though since I was a P-chemist in undergrad...but came out of the darkside in grad school

So far for me, the interviewers have had questions about the phd more than the marathons (even though my PS allluded to marathoning rather than the phd) so for all you runners out there....unless you make it a point to discuss marathoning, I think the ADCOMs focus on the entire package...or something unique or needs clarification.

 

[Shredder]

definitely put it on. there are so many ways to spin it, it would be tragic to leave it off

 

[QofQuimica]

Q, to answer your question: phd in chem also...orgo but more towards materials. It's funny though since I was a P-chemist in undergrad...but came out of the darkside in grad school

So far for me, the interviewers have had questions about the phd more than the marathons (even though my PS allluded to marathoning rather than the phd) so for all you runners out there....unless you make it a point to discuss marathoning, I think the ADCOMs focus on the entire package...or something unique or needs clarification.

That's very cool. 👍 Maybe we are soulmates. 😀 I am also in organic chem (pharmaceutical chem), but I got my best grades in p. chem, not synthesis.

I have actually never been asked about the marathons in an interview, but I do frequently get asked about my research....that being said, the marathons obviously impressed someone, or they wouldn't have mentioned them in my acceptance letter. 😉

 

[MousseKnuckle]

I know, I know, not medically related. But, running in/finishing a marathon does display alot about the will, dedication, motivation, and self discipline of an individual, and is something not too many people accomplish. The reason I am asking is that I plan on running a few in the spring and wonder whether this could possibly be put on a med school app. I really have no clue, thats why I am asking. My geuss would be that adcoms could care less, but I want to make sure.

put it down for sure dude!

 

[gdbaby]

I would definitely put them down. I put down my triathlons (and my PhD) and people wanted to talk about it. Probably because knowone knows what one does with a PhD in Anthropology. 😛

 

[tigress]

That's very cool. 👍 Maybe we are soulmates. 😀 I am also in organic chem (pharmaceutical chem), but I got my best grades in p. chem, not synthesis.

I have actually never been asked about the marathons in an interview, but I do frequently get asked about my research....that being said, the marathons obviously impressed someone, or they wouldn't have mentioned them in my acceptance letter. 😉

What I wonder is who goes to the effort to write individualized acceptance letters? Mine have both been form letters, and I assumed that was the only way it was done. It must take a lot of time and effort to write one for every acceptance! Unless Q got one because she's so special 🙂

 

[QofQuimica]

What I wonder is who goes to the effort to write individualized acceptance letters? Mine have both been form letters, and I assumed that was the only way it was done. It must take a lot of time and effort to write one for every acceptance! Unless Q got one because she's so special 🙂

lol, no, they do it for everyone. So most people's letters don't mention marathons, unless they wrote about running marathons in their apps. 😉

 

[oceanside]

In the extracarriculars I put down having run Boston, New York and Chicago because I thought it showed the usual associations of discipline, exertion and goals. I used to run about 50-100 miles a week but cut that back with work and school and volunteering and shadowing,etc. I'm a non-trad and I I knwe the work involved in it. I applied to PA school and my first interviewer was from Emory and his wife had just run Chicago and he was smiling and enthusiastic because he said he knew what the training involved. I got accepted into that school.

 

[Captain Sisko]

I realize this is a seven year bump, but I searched and found this thread and wanted a clarification.

When putting distance running on an application does that go under athletics, or other? I just run on my own, not affiliated with NCAA at all. I've run more thanacouple marathons, never came close to winning, but I finished everything I started. Thanks!

 

[Bluto385]

I realize this is a seven year bump, but I searched and found this thread and wanted a clarification.

When putting distance running on an application does that go under athletics, or other? I just run on my own, not affiliated with NCAA at all. I've run more thanacouple marathons, never came close to winning, but I finished everything I started. Thanks!

I ran two marathons and listed it under 'Extracurriculars/Hobbies/Avocations'. One of my interviews at the school I was eventually accepted to was with a fourth-year med student who happened to run marathons as well, so great side-conversation. Good luck!

 

[chemsmith]

I listed my daily running under extracurricular activities, I said it was a great way to manage stress and boost my focus and energy