Marathons in Resume Forum

[YCrevolution]

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[Mickey Quicknumbers]

Resume? Heck no.

If you qualified for the Olympic trials then yes, but everyone and their mom runs marathons nowadays

[esq]

Perfect, I'll list that my baby mama ran it too - I knew that I was forgetting something!

And Lord Protector - lawls, I like your advice. I've listed it as:

Runner, Rock 'n' Roll San Diego '08 and LA '09 Marathons

Put it under Activities and Organizations, which lists my undergrad extracurricular. Do you really think that I need to list the charities though? I think it is fairly common knowledge that running in a marathon usually benefits a cancer society of some sort.

[270910]

No need to list the charities.

The interests / hobbies / bullshit section on your resume is a very context specific issue. It all depends on what else is or isn't on your resume, what you need to convey, etc. But yeah, marathon is an interesting, conversation worthy, flattering hobby / interest. Go for it.

[094320]

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[Mickey Quicknumbers]

I guess i'm the minority here. But I feel like it would be the equivalent of "I'm pretty good at racquetball", just doesn't seem like something worth mentioning on a resume. If it was specifically for a fundraiser then that's different. (Note: there's a difference between someone raising money for cancer by running a marathon than than participating in a marathon that raises money for cancer)

[sumus romani]

I guess i'm the minority here. But I feel like it would be the equivalent of "I'm pretty good at racquetball", just doesn't seem like something worth mentioning on a resume. If it was specifically for a fundraiser then that's different. (Note: there's a difference between someone raising money for cancer by running a marathon than than participating in a marathon that raises money for cancer)

There is a cache with marathons that one does not associate with racquetball. Having said that, I didn't put my marathons on my resume. I would recommend sub 2:30 guys and 3:00 gals do though, since they have likely placed quite high in some lesser marathons. Also, these fundraiser-marathons are notorious for being inefficient uses of charity money. I doubt adcomms know that, but it just is not a good way to raise money for a cause.

[prezidentv8]

Add it unless the space you use to write it bumps off something more important. The end.

FTW

[lawls]

Perfect, I'll list that my baby mama ran it too - I knew that I was forgetting something!

And Lord Protector - lawls, I like your advice. I've listed it as:

Runner, Rock 'n' Roll San Diego '08 and LA '09 Marathons

Put it under Activities and Organizations, which lists my undergrad extracurricular. Do you really think that I need to list the charities though? I think it is fairly common knowledge that running in a marathon usually benefits a cancer society of some sort.

Yah, don't bother with the charities... Activities section works if it isn't pushing out something more important.

[Mickey Quicknumbers]

I guess i'm the minority here. But I feel like it would be the equivalent of "I'm pretty good at racquetball", just doesn't seem like something worth mentioning on a resume. If it was specifically for a fundraiser then that's different. (Note: there's a difference between someone raising money for cancer by running a marathon than than participating in a marathon that raises money for cancer)

There is a cache with marathons that one does not associate with racquetball. Having said that, I didn't put my marathons on my resume. I would recommend sub 2:30 guys and 3:00 gals do though, since they have likely placed quite high in some lesser marathons. Also, these fundraiser-marathons are notorious for being inefficient uses of charity money. I doubt adcomms know that, but it just is not a good way to raise money for a cause.

See, I really don't think there is anymore. Marathoning has become so participatory, it takes menial dedication and even less true physical fitness to "just finish" one nowadays. I would agree with your statements about faster runners, if you're winning marathons then it might be worth it, or if you run a 2:22 and qualify for the olympic marathon trials then that's something worth talking about.

[TheBigMediocre]

I thought about adding my 225 repetitions bench, vert, and 40 time to my resume so firms know that I'm a workout warrior in addition to my dazzling college (of law) career.

[jdhonest]

I guess i'm the minority here. But I feel like it would be the equivalent of "I'm pretty good at racquetball", just doesn't seem like something worth mentioning on a resume. If it was specifically for a fundraiser then that's different. (Note: there's a difference between someone raising money for cancer by running a marathon than than participating in a marathon that raises money for cancer)

There is a cache with marathons that one does not associate with racquetball. Having said that, I didn't put my marathons on my resume. I would recommend sub 2:30 guys and 3:00 gals do though, since they have likely placed quite high in some lesser marathons. Also, these fundraiser-marathons are notorious for being inefficient uses of charity money. I doubt adcomms know that, but it just is not a good way to raise money for a cause.

See, I really don't think there is anymore. Marathoning has become so participatory, it takes menial dedication and even less true physical fitness to "just finish" one nowadays. I would agree with your statements about faster runners, if you're winning marathons then it might be worth it, or if you run a 2:22 and qualify for the olympic marathon trials then that's something worth talking about.

I'm starting to get the impression that delBarco has never actually worked in a large law firm or had his resume used to get a job. I've worked in two now, and I say put it on the resume if 1) it is an interest and 2) its something you would care to discuss with other attorneys at the firm whom you barely know.

Delbarco, you're whole attitude about this reeks of someone is doing their best to "subtly" imply how incredible athletic you are without coming off as a "I'm so impressive and cool, I'm not even impressed by my own accomplishment...which are definitely more impressive than yours" kind of douche. Stop it and heed my advice. As someone who knows at least 2 dozen lawyers who enjoy running, your attitude about menial dedication and that crap will not win you any fans. You'll come off sounding like a huge douche if you ever had the chance to talk about running with about 98% of running population. Grow and shut up about it.

[Mickey Quicknumbers]

I'm starting to get the impression that delBarco has never actually worked in a large law firm or had his resume used to get a job. I've worked in two now, and I say put it on the resume if 1) it is an interest and 2) its something you would care to discuss with other attorneys at the firm whom you barely know.

Delbarco, you're whole attitude about this reeks of someone is doing their best to "subtly" imply how incredible athletic you are without coming off as a "I'm so impressive and cool, I'm not even impressed by my own accomplishment...which are definitely more impressive than yours" kind of douche. Stop it and heed my advice. As someone who knows at least 2 dozen lawyers who enjoy running, your attitude about menial dedication and that crap will not win you any fans. You'll come off sounding like a huge douche if you ever had the chance to talk about running with about 98% of running population. Grow and shut up about it.

Well i've definitely never worked in a law firm before. I have no clue how that is relevant, or the fact that it's something you can discuss with other attorneys is relevant, when OP is sending in a law school resume. Not a job interview resume.

I'm sorry you're so easily offended, reading things that i'm not at all implying. But when you're putting that in on a law school tailored resume, adcomms (who probably won't be in contact with you) won't see it as a point of conversation, they'll see it exactly as it is: someone who has participated in two marathons. It just doesn't seem relevant unless it's working as a soft factor. But good lord, chill out with the insults.

[Scurredsitless1]

I think this thread accurately reflects that running marathons is impressive to some but not all. But it's offensive to no one. If you have to leave off your time at NASA to include the interest section, it's a bad idea.

There are going to be people on this site that have strong enough resumes that there isn't room for marathons. I'm not one of those people. I think this thread could be more constructive if we discussed what should be left off to make room for marathons.

Is running a marathon more impressive than holding an office in a frat? I think so.

Is it more impressive than the nonprofessional summer job i had after freshman year? I think so.

Is it more impressive than indicating a self financed education? I'm not sure. (I know a guy that keeps this on his resume even though he's highly accomplished, and says it's gold in interviews)

Is it more impressive than waiting tables throughout college? I'm not sure..... maybe...


I see it as a single line on a resume that could really strike a chord with the right person.....

[YCrevolution]

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[The Kid]

I think this thread could be more constructive if we discussed what should be left off to make room for marathons.

What amazes me in this thread is the notion that we are bound by space limit to the point of having to exclude something in order to put others.

My questions are for you all:

1) Are you working with a strict limit (like one page)? and
2) If someone has a strong enough and lengthy résumè, does he have to leave some relevant stuff off?

[YCrevolution]

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[Fred_McGriff]

What about playing in the majors for 18 years and hitting just shy of 500 home runs?

Should I put every time I made the All Star team as a separate entry or put all five as a single entry?

[YCrevolution]

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[Mickey Quicknumbers]

I guess i'm the minority here. But I feel like it would be the equivalent of "I'm pretty good at racquetball", just doesn't seem like something worth mentioning on a resume. If it was specifically for a fundraiser then that's different. (Note: there's a difference between someone raising money for cancer by running a marathon than than participating in a marathon that raises money for cancer)

I had it on my resume, and it was a talking point at every single one of my interviews during 1L. That is the point of interests-conversation starters.

Again i'd like to point out that this was a law school resume, not an SA or job resume. But i'll gladly concede in light of differing opinions that there's no harm in putting personal interests on a resume, and change my stance on issue as a more learned person.

[nealric]

same answer for olympic distance triathlons?

I had triathlons on my resume for OCI and it it was a great conversation starter (especially because I'm not interested in spectator sports). One of the partners I interviewed with at a callback was a huge cyclist and thinking about getting into tris- I'm pretty convinced that my getting along with him (which was greatly assisted by the interest in common) was a big reason for getting the offer.

[Mickey Quicknumbers]

What is the difference between law resume and summer associate resume? I was interviewing at biglaw and corporate firms.

You're not interviewing when you apply for law schools (typically), and you have a personal statement to tell them about yourself. Usually there is a box on the application for you to tell them about your personal activities. I just don't see the relevance of putting it on the resume.

[dresden doll]

I had my running interest on my resume. Spent five minutes at my NU interview discussing it. Adcom appeared rather impressed, particularly after learning that I did my routine outside, no matter the weather (yes, I was that obsessed). /end anecdotal evidence

[Scurredsitless1]

Fun fact - my city's marathon has a corporate team division, Law Firms won 2 of the 3 awards. I thought that was particularly interesting bc the law firms are not nearly the size of most of the corporations in the city.

[Tenth Usher]

It seems that people with interviewing experience are of the opinion that marathon running has a place on your resume if it's a defining activity for you, something you want the interviewer to talk with you about, and either relate to or be impressed by.

This completely makes sense, thanks for the insight