BigLaw Partner Sets World Record By Running 105th Marathon in a Year

Katherine Dobson
Dec 18, 2008 11:07 AM CST

holler

Kiki
Dec 19, 2008 6:47 AM CST

Oh my GOD Rick (Dick) Presutti of SRZ will be really mad now…

Jeremy
Dec 19, 2008 8:32 AM CST

How much is the firm’s health insurance rates going to raise to pay for the arthroscopic surgery on this fool’s knees running a marathon every third day on average?

Lift weights and do moderate cardio (max of 30 miles a week) and you’ll be healthy and look good. 

Most marathoners look awful for all the time and effort they put into physical training.

B. McLeod
Dec 19, 2008 8:40 AM CST

Run, Forrest, run!!

Impressed
Dec 19, 2008 9:52 AM CST

Wow… I can’t believe how much negativity there is in the comments.  This is a tremendous accomplishment and I commend Mr. Macon for his efforts.  I know more than one triathlete lawyer, and they are all hard workers who use the exercise as a way to get out of the office and stay healthy. 

How many of the negative posters could run 1 marathon?  The San Antonio article say he runs with times between 5 and 8 hours (3-5 miles per hour), so I challenge everyone here to go out and run/walk 5 miles in one hour, then come back and fling insults.

And as far as the “rich lawyer” comments.  I highly doubt he is billing for the time he spends running.  And if he gets a piece of the billables for clients he brought to the firm, why is that so bad?

Rural Defender
Dec 19, 2008 11:21 AM CST

I am envious not of his running but of his success in working the system he is in to his advantage.

yup.  working the system to his advantage.  this is why we such a hated profession.

Unimpressed
Dec 19, 2008 12:07 PM CST

You marathon nuts are the idiots—no one takes you people seriously, except for others in the “I’m running a marathon” club.  I was in the Army and we had to run a 2-mile every year as part of our annual physical training test.  I bet most marathon runners couldn’t do it in the time required.  This is all a joke and you marathon runners need to get a life.  On the other hand, triathletes, who train far more rigorously, actually run to win, so I have much more respect for them.

Alice
Dec 19, 2008 12:15 PM CST

This is self-absorption at its finest.  Nothing says “me! me! me!” like running marathons.  Go help the homeless or something!

Seriously?
Dec 19, 2008 1:19 PM CST

I, like NeverDoneThisBefore, have never been compelled to comment, but some of the foregoing comments are bothersome. Perhaps this article didn’t deserve a spot in the ABA journal, maybe some of you think running a marathon is senseless, and sure, that many marathons might be excessive. But, did we really have to launch into attacks on people who run marathons in general.

Throughout law school and in my short time in this profession, I have found that many seem all to eager to jump at the chance to criticize others. It saddens me.  I never thought I would be criticize for running a marathon. It’s not for everyone, but it is an accomplishment, whether you break a record or shuffle. I have been a distance runner since I was 11 years old and running a marathon was an important goal. It is something some people love.

And who says I cannot help the homeless and run a marathon?

As a side note, a very good friend of my roommate passed away during the Dallas Marathon after collapsing at mile 21.  I have heard she had a big heart and wasn’t at al al “me!me! me!” type person.

runner
Dec 20, 2008 9:51 AM CST

As an runner who has competed in every distance from 200 meters to 100 miles, I can say that a marathon is a special accomplishment.  For those of you who feel compelled to insult this man for simply participating in a marathon, consider that perhaps he tried to get this record because he wasn’t happy with just participating.  He knows that at age 64 he is not going to win or set any records, so he can try to accomplish something a little different.  If you still feel the need to criticize him, I urge you to enter a marathon, finish it in 5 hours, and do it again the next weekend.
Unimpressed:  I have run PT tests with military personnel, and I have always been able to not only beat the requirement, but continue to hold that pace for an entire marathon (and in case you were wondering, no, I can’t win any marathons that I have previously run).  I completely disagree with your assertion that triathletes are superior to runners in their dedication as well.  I don’t want to take anything away from triathletes, but I think that serious runners (not necessarily fast, but serious) are just as dedicated to their sport as the serious triathletes.
As far as time is concerned, yes, he does get to use a perk of his years of work to climb to the top of his profession in taking the time and money to compete in these, but who amongst us doesn’t use what little we may have to participate in an activity we love?  I would definitely rather he spend his time and money this way than shopping for porsches in Dubai.
Concerning training, for those who are convinced that one cannot seriously train for such an even while remaining a productive member of society, believe it or not, it is possible; all that is required is that dedication (but, then again, I guess we’re not all triathletes or army PT jockeys…)  I have trained for multiple events farther than a marathon, including a 100 mile footrace a month ago, while remaining in good standing in engineering graduate school, so I have some perspective on time management.  All that is required is good time management, which, as a seasoned lawyer, I’m sure he has learned over the years.
Regarding the “me! me! me!” aspect of the sport, you clearly do not know much about running.  99% of the training is alone, much of it at some unholy hour of the morning.  Most of us don’t run for a team, we don’t get anything for running, and we quite often compete at a considerable expense to ourselves (monetarily, physically, mentally, etc.)  I can’t speak for all, but I will say that, in general, I couldn’t care any less whether or not anyone sees me in any given race (there were maybe 5 people at the finish line of my 100-miler in November).  All that being said, running at the record-setting level, which is exactly what he has done, requires a deep internal drive, because if external motivation and reinforcement is what you’re after in this sport, you’ll quickly learn that you’re in the wrong sport.
In any case, anyone who speaks ill of this man needs to grow up, find something to use as a goal (as he did at age 63), and quit criticizing people who are out there doing something in order to make yourself feel better about your own pathetic insecurities.

21 marathon lawyer
Dec 20, 2008 6:38 PM CST

I know what it takes to run a marathon; I’ve run a few while practicing law full time.  My hat is off to Mr. Macon, next to whom I feel completely inadequate. . . as a runner.  Chances are he didn’t set off to accomplish this goal for the glory of (or criticism seen here, for that matter) it but rather to know that he could do it.  The same reason many of us ran our first marathons.

Khalid Kannouchi said it best after his first Chicago Marathon victory.  He saluted the 4+ hour marathon runners (yes, we are RUNNING for more than 4 hours) when he said that we impressed him because we were doing something he could not . . . running 4 hours.

kevin christopher
Dec 21, 2008 12:00 AM CST

1. In response to the time better spent ‘feeding the homeless’, consider that most every marathon is a fundraiser for some sort of charitable organization. Doubtless, he contributed 50k to 100k of his own entry money in addition to the sponsorship funds directed towards various charities.
2. Consider that he is likely more valuable than any person in his firm this year. Likely, the San Antonio press has featured articles indirectly plugging the firm for this man’s achievement. Additionally, his national networking is an invaluable marketing tool for the firm. Of much greater value to all than some frosh overpayed associate that knows little beyond ramming for irrelevant law school exams.
All you naggering nabobs of negativity are seriously disturbed. HE RAN A HUNDRED FRIGGIN MARATHONS IN A YEAR! Get over your spite before it eats your souls.

Allen Scheketovits
Dec 22, 2008 7:35 AM CST

Comment removed by moderator.

Unimpressed
Dec 22, 2008 10:07 AM CST

I’m not going to respond seriatim to each of these posts, which are based largely upon the “you don’t know what you are talking about since you have never run a marathon”; and “you must be a troll and overweight,” blah, blah, blah.

First, PT tests in the military require far more rigorous training than most of the marathons, with the notable exception of a 5k, which, I admit is likely more competitive than the others because there is a potential for winning and the participants are generally in better shape physically (which I am, btw, at 42, 5.9, 170 lbs. and I work out at least three times per week in a gym).  I’m a lawyer—i.e., competed in school all my life (played football and basketball) and went to a top college and law school, entered BigLaw and am aggressive by nature; unless I join an athletic competition to win, it’s a waste of my time.  My motto is:  if you aren’t in it to win, get out of the way!  I’ve never run a marathon because I don’t believe it is healthy for the body, and find most marathon runners to be narcissistic, self-absorbed baby-boomers.

The Boston Marathon has a qualifying test, but it’s not that difficult and virtually everyone who applies ends up qualifying.  In particular that marathon attracts largely over-40-somethings who are fulfilling some mid-life crisis-precipitated goal of finally “running the Boston Marathon”—woo hoo!  By running with hoards of other runners, they convince themselves they are accomplishing something by the simple fact others are doing it; hey, if we are all doing it, it must be really, really important!  In reality, the only ones impressed are the runners themselves. (And thanks for all of you idiots who fly into Boston and spend your dollars here; we need the money!)  I’m impressed only by the Kenyans and other Africans who are in it to win; good for them.  As for the others, get a life.  If you want to give to charity, give to charity and don’t try enticing others to do what they should do rather than waiting for an excuse to give.

Finally, as has been proven time and time again, distance running is bad for one’s health, and to the person whose friend collapsed, he obviously ignored the warnings from his and other doctors.  The world is replete with similar stories about distance runners collapsing during marathons; what a tragic and completely avoidable way to end one’s life.  Distance running in particular ravages and is very bad for the knees and cardiovascular system.  Humans were not born to run marathons.  Even the military tacitly recognizes that the 2-mile is not healthy for the troops, with the exception of the teenagers and 20-somethings whose bodies can take the abuse.  The 2-mile is really a way of testing the short-term endurance of the troops.  For long-term endurance, we marched (i.e., walked) with our packs and weapons.  Try carrying an M-16 for several miles in full battle dress uniform, rucksack, canteen, Kevlar and BOOTS in the heat and humidity of Virginia in the summertime and you will quickly learn about endurance.  If you want to exercise, try walking, not even briskly, just walking a few miles a day; that’s far more effective than “training” for a marathon no one really cares about other than members of the marathon lonely hearts club.

julien
Dec 22, 2008 10:48 AM CST

In response to the comments that Mr. Macon doesn’t work, doesn’t bill hours, I can say that’s 100% false.  I know many former Akin Gumpers in San Antonio where Macon is based.  They are all uniform in stating that Macon is a workaholic.  He is known throughout the firm for his relentless work ethic.  He regularly bills 2,400 hours a year as a partner.  His ethic is incredible.  All he does is work and run.  Any problems the firm has are not because Larry Macon doesn’t work.

Craig Stokes
Dec 23, 2008 6:59 AM CST

I have known Larry Macon for over 20 years, as opposing counsel. While I have never worked in the same firm with him, I know that his work ethic matches his marathon ethic; he serves his clients well.  I just concluded a case against him earlier this year.  While I know nothing about running, I do know this man is a great trial attorney.