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Normally I wouldn't list the Marathons that I've competed in on my resume. But seeing that many of the things on a law school resume are not normally listed, I thought I'd ask the TLS community for thoughts on this. Should I list Marathons that I've competed in under Activities & Organizations on my resume? And does it add anything of value, enough, to the perspective that a law school can gain about me if I do? Both 42k's benefited cancer research.

Sub 5hr, yes. Anything else, no.

Sounds like a better personal statement topic. Maybe under the "other interests" section of your resume (if you have one and space permits) you can list marathon running.

I am training for my first marathon (to be completed after I finish my first HALF-marathon lol) and I put it in the short "interests" section at the bottom...it's not a job or a volunteer activity but it certainly speaks to your committment, endurance, etc. and I think the appropriate place is a one liner

CG614 wrote:Sub 5hr, yes. Anything else, no.

TCR.

Haha but seriously, a marathon is a huge accomplishment and commitment and certainly speaks to your dedication and ability to endure challenges. A lot of distance athletes do very well in other aspects of life that require persistence and dedication through challenging times because they've already experienced it in another form. My PS was about running/injuries. Definitely worth a line on your resume, good luck!

One at 4 hrs and in LA at a little over 5 hrs, my knee quit on me at mile 19 and had to grit it out for the next 7. Thanks for the replies. This is really helpful.

esq wrote:One at 4 hrs and in LA at a little over 5 hrs, my knee quit on me at mile 19 and had to grit it out for the next 7. Thanks for the replies. This is really helpful.

I was joking with the times. Congrats on running one. I've done several half marathons and not sure I'd have the discipline to train for a full.

Glad you were joking about times - because, although completing a marathon is a personal accomplishment, it's no longer that big of a deal; and sub-5, unless you're an 80+ woman, is definitely not that big of a deal. Include it as other interests, but, even then, if your total marathons is less than 10, it's a "so what" accomplishment.

Disclosure: sub-2:30 marathoner, completed 30+, not putting it on my resume

NonTradHealthLaw wrote:Glad you were joking about times - because, although completing a marathon is a personal accomplishment, it's no longer that big of a deal; and sub-5, unless you're an 80+ woman, is definitely not that big of a deal. Include it as other interests, but, even then, if your total marathons is less than 10, it's a "so what" accomplishment.

Disclosure: sub-2:30 marathoner, completed 30+, not putting it on my resume

If you're running 2:30's you should probably scrap law school and start running professionally.

If I were female, perhaps, but, as a male, it's a decent time but certainly nothing to earn more than the occasional plaque and free pair of shoes.

NonTradHealthLaw wrote:Glad you were joking about times - because, although completing a marathon is a personal accomplishment, it's no longer that big of a deal; and sub-5, unless you're an 80+ woman, is definitely not that big of a deal. Include it as other interests, but, even then, if your total marathons is less than 10, it's a "so what" accomplishment.

Disclosure: sub-2:30 marathoner, completed 30+, not putting it on my resume

lol, if I was running sub 2:30 I wouldn't put it on my resume either. I'd be a URM from Ethiopia or Kenya! And that speaks for itself!

NonTradHealthLaw wrote:Glad you were joking about times - because, although completing a marathon is a personal accomplishment, it's no longer that big of a deal; and sub-5, unless you're an 80+ woman, is definitely not that big of a deal. Include it as other interests, but, even then, if your total marathons is less than 10, it's a "so what" accomplishment.

Disclosure: sub-2:30 marathoner, completed 30+, not putting it on my resume

NonTradHealthLaw wrote:If I were female, perhaps, but, as a male, it's a decent time but certainly nothing to earn more than the occasional plaque and free pair of shoes.

Occasional plaque and free pair of shoes > law school.

But seriously... shave 20 minutes off of that and you'll be internationally competitive. Or you could always go South African and get a quick sex change.

just list "distance running" as an interest. If any one cares, trust me they'll chat you up about it. In my experience, they'll send your resume out before you meet with people, and if anyone who sees it runs and cares to talk about it, they'll bring it up.

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

I hope you're joking about the guy "shaving" 20 minutes off his time...

sparty2L wrote:I hope you're joking about the guy "shaving" 20 minutes off his time...

It's only ~50 seconds per mile....

I would. I think it shows you can be committed to achieving a hard goal and actually do it. It also sounds like a good ps topic. I trained for a marathon but didn't go through because my knees quit on me halfway through training, and I was too chicken to run on my injured knees. I think I'm more jealous of someone who's run a marathon than someone who got into HLS.

jdhonest wrote:just list "distance running" as an interest. If any one cares, trust me they'll chat you up about it. In my experience, they'll send your resume out before you meet with people, and if anyone who sees it runs and cares to talk about it, they'll bring it up.

I think "Marathon Running" is better than "Distance Running" on a resume. It's best to be quantitative when possible on a resume.

If you were part of the "TNT" group, I'm not sure if I would mention the charity aspect of that or not. Although it is still completing a marathon, it takes away some of the qualities marathon running exeplifies, such as the "self starter" and "independently motivated" aspects. But again, I'm not sure, there is certainly something to be said about running with a purpose and raising money for a good cause.

fwiw, it takes up one line on my resume

same answer for olympic distance triathlons?

Scurredsitless1 wrote:

jdhonest wrote:just list "distance running" as an interest. If any one cares, trust me they'll chat you up about it. In my experience, they'll send your resume out before you meet with people, and if anyone who sees it runs and cares to talk about it, they'll bring it up.

I think "Marathon Running" is better than "Distance Running" on a resume. It's best to be quantitative when possible on a resume.

If you were part of the "TNT" group, I'm not sure if I would mention the charity aspect of that or not. Although it is still completing a marathon, it takes away some of the qualities marathon running exeplifies, such as the "self starter" and "independently motivated" aspects. But again, I'm not sure, there is certainly something to be said about running with a purpose and raising money for a good cause.

fwiw, it takes up one line on my resume

I agree, but the OP's only done 2 of them. I would stick with distance (which included from 10k to a marathon) until she has at least 5 or 6 to talk about.

blink wrote:same answer for olympic distance triathlons?

Definitely. I mentioned my Ironman Triathlon, but only in my personal statement. I didn't see how it applied to any part of my resume other than the brief "interests" section at the bottom.

lawschooliseasy wrote:

NonTradHealthLaw wrote:Glad you were joking about times - because, although completing a marathon is a personal accomplishment, it's no longer that big of a deal; and sub-5, unless you're an 80+ woman, is definitely not that big of a deal. Include it as other interests, but, even then, if your total marathons is less than 10, it's a "so what" accomplishment.

Disclosure: sub-2:30 marathoner, completed 30+, not putting it on my resume

If you're running 2:30's you should probably scrap law school and start running professionally.

If you think the job market is bad for lawyers, you have no idea what it's like for pro distance runners...

Put it under volunteer experience if you have space. [Ran X and Y marathons for X and Y charities.]

Full disclosure: I'm incredibly accomplished and don't have space on my resume.

sparty2L wrote:I hope you're joking about the guy "shaving" 20 minutes off his time...

Where did you pick up on the sarcasm? Was it after I suggested that free shoes were better than law school or before the sex change remark?