Reply #117: The marathon runners have a point. It is decreasing their status to have these

[yawnmaster]

untrained masses in the sport.
As a matter of fact, I think that to increase their status immensely, they should destroy all participants who do not finish 1 hour after the first to cross the line.
Everyone could wear one of those exploding neck rings you see in so many movies. Once the finish line is crossed a one hour timer is started and if you don't cross the line before then. boom.
This would also have the advantage of having a major influence on the mean marathon time and really would make the trained runners more important.