The Running Thread - 2016

[Chasing Dopey]

QOTD: What are your thoughts on races/events that aren't your standard road race or trail race? (ie Color Run, Obstacle Course, Foam Run, ect) If you have run one, what was your experience like?

I'm a big no to the color run idea, but I like the obstacle course... Then I think about my ankles, knees, and everything else that can get twisted the wrong way.

 

[roxymama]

I have done three "non-standard" races.
1) Ditka Dash - un-timed - everyone wears "Da Fan" costumes, mustaches, aviators, etc. Big party atmosphere. But hubby and I started in the early wave at the front so actually ran it relatively normally. It was a hoot because of the funny stuff along the route and all the crazy looking people. Actually the best "feeling" 5k I had ran to date...probably because it took me 10 min longer than my normal run. Not being timed took any pressure to race off the table. It was a sight-seeing run
2) Great Pumpkin Race - timed, but similar to a mud run and carrying a pumpkin. I was wearing old clothes and shoes and completely trashed my sneakers and threw them away before leaving. Never laughed or swore more during a run in my life. I can't even put it in same category as normal runs. Probably a one and done for me. I hate the dried mud feeling afterwards. Also took 14 min longer than normal race.
3) Disney 5k - untimed. I consider it a non-standard because I literally stopped to take pictures the whole time and I was not racing, I was moseying. Another 10 min longer than normal.

Thoughts: I will never do a color run and never again a mud run, because I hate the feeling of "stuff" on me. But for my personality type (competitive, hard on oneself, wanting to be fast for me) I reccomend a non-standard, un-timed run to everyone like me. BECAUSE it is a mental and physical break from the trying to be the best I can be all the time. It's my version of a nice stroll in the park instead of trying to get somewhere before it closes. It's nice if its for charity too and not too expensive (cough disney)

 

[Dis5150]

QOTD: What are your thoughts on races/events that aren't your standard road race or trail race? (ie Color Run, Obstacle Course, Foam Run, ect) If you have run one, what was your experience like?

I have not done any and probably would not. I would be afraid I would somehow hurt myself in mud, or on obstacles or a trail, etc. I hurt myself running a regular race - I don't need an added challenge to do it!

 

[RunDisneyDad]

ATTQOTD: The non-standard races currently don't appeal to me, so I haven't done any. But, I'm all for anything that gets people out there and moving.

 

[Barca33Runner]

QOTD: What are your thoughts on races/events that aren't your standard road race or trail race? (ie Color Run, Obstacle Course, Foam Run, ect) If you have run one, what was your experience like?

RunDisney events are the only non-standard runs I have done. I have never done any of the races that you mention and probably will not be running any of them. Sweat is dirty enough for me when I've finished a run. I don't particularly want dyes, colored foam, mud, etc. to be all over my clothes/person and don't particularly want to figure out how to get myself home without making a huge mess in my car. I am willing to pay a bit of a premium for an enhanced experience (I runDisney after all), but I would actually probably want to pay less for most of those types of races.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

QOTD: What are your thoughts on races/events that aren't your standard road race or trail race? (ie Color Run, Obstacle Course, Foam Run, ect) If you have run one, what was your experience like?

Never have, probably never will unless it is because my kids want to do one. Like @RunDisneyDad said, if it gets people out there it's a good thing.

 

[ebradley23]

QOTD: What are your thoughts on races/events that aren't your standard road race or trail race? (ie Color Run, Obstacle Course, Foam Run, ect) If you have run one, what was your experience like?

I have done a color run and a Pretty Muddy event - both when I first started running. They were both run with friends, and we did more laughing than running. A year or so ago one mud run in VA got a lot of press when the participants all got scabbies. That story killed mud runs for me. I'll never even consider doing anything that has me crawling through mud again.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

1) Ditka Dash - un-timed - everyone wears "Da Fan" costumes, mustaches, aviators, etc. Big party atmosphere. But hubby and I started in the early wave at the front so actually ran it relatively normally. It was a hoot because of the funny stuff along the route and all the crazy looking people. Actually the best "feeling" 5k I had ran to date...probably because it took me 10 min longer than my normal run. Not being timed took any pressure to race off the table. It was a sight-seeing run

I was in Chicago the weekend of the 2014 Ditka Dash! I did a nice long run along the Lakefront Trail and ended up running through a whole bunch of Ditka's around Soldier Field...looked like a hoot!

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

ATTQOTD: I have done one run that was probably considered non-standard, it was the Jaguar's stadium challenge 5k. I had only been running a couple months and thought it was a normal 5k around the stadium. I guess challenge in the name should have been a clue. In July in Florida we had to run to the top of the stadium, up 4 ramps then down 2, back up 2 and then all the way down. It was so hard, but now that I'm prepared I can't wait to do it again this year and blow last year's time away!

 

[roxymama]

I was in Chicago the weekend of the 2014 Ditka Dash! I did a nice long run along the Lakefront Trail and ended up running through a whole bunch of Ditka's around Soldier Field...looked like a hoot!

That's the secret of all Chicago lakefront trail races...you literally can just run them as a pedestrian...you just don't get any of the swag. The 2015 ditka dash was so windy that Lake Michigan was splashing us. They had an aviator squeeging area set up mid-course for people to get their ditka glasses wiped off!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

QOTD: What are your thoughts on races/events that aren't your standard road race or trail race? (ie Color Run, Obstacle Course, Foam Run, ect) If you have run one, what was your experience like?

I like challenging runs/races, so they make up most of my races - not the typical 5k/10k/half/fulls. I do not like mudders because I am prone to twisted knees and ankles, so I like to be able to control my footing in races. But I love obstacle races and steep hill races.

I have never run a color race - just seems yucky to me.

 

[Chaitali]

QOTD: What are your thoughts on races/events that aren't your standard road race or trail race? (ie Color Run, Obstacle Course, Foam Run, ect) If you have run one, what was your experience like?

I've done a color run and a couple neon runs and one women oriented obstacle 5k. I think they're great for getting new people into being active and for fun things to do with groups of differing abilities. But I think they're often overpriced. I won't do them unless I can find a discount. Groupon, Living Social, etc. often have deals for those types of events so I take advantage of that.

 

[DVCFan1994]

ATTQOTD: I have never done an non-standard type of race. I am prone to injury, and it has never seemed worth the risk to me. My kids have done a kids mud run obstacle race though. It was done by an organization whose purpose is to get kids outside and enjoying physical activity. It was great to see so many kids running and having fun. But it was a mess going home! I agree anything that gets people moving and feeling less intimidated is a good thing.

 

[Miranda]

ATTQOTD: I've not done a non-standard run. Like others, getting sprayed with powder or foam does not appeal to me in the slightest, and I'm a solo runner so it's not like a fun group thing to do for me. As for the obstacle runs, those don't appeal to me either because I don't want to get muddy/wet and gross, plus the risk of injury is too great. A girl I knew at the gym did one and broke her lower leg on one of the go over the wall type obstacles.

 

[surfde22]

QOTD: What are your thoughts on races/events that aren't your standard road race or trail race? (ie Color Run, Obstacle Course, Foam Run, ect) If you have run one, what was your experience like?

I've often thought about doing a mud/obstacle run. I've looked at both Tough Mudder and Spartan races, just a sprint though. I may put more thought into it after Dopey, but don't want to do anything before then that may put me at greater risk of injury.

 

[LSUlakes]

For todays Boston Marathon moment, I'll bring you along to about the half way point of the race, the "Scream Tunnel". For at least .25 to .5 mile you run along Wellesley College, which is a all girl school. Hundreds of the students line up along the route with signs asking runners to kiss them for various creative reasons. They are LOUD as well. Its one of those unique things about Boston. I have not stopped for a kiss the times I have ran the course, but its on my to do list.

 

[Barca33Runner]

I've seen a lot of responses about many non-traditional races being formed to get more people/kids out enjoying physical activity. I also appreciate this aspect that many of them have and respect that added dimension of these types of races. I don't think I would have become a runner without rD events so I am forever grateful for non-traditional events existing and getting me out the door and improving my health and happiness.

On the other hand, I have also seen examples of (primarily) non-traditional races and race circuits, that were clearly organized as a profit making endeavors to take advantage of the fitness boom, close down and disappear with people's money. I've always been a bit leery of color/foam/obstacle runs because of these few bad eggs.

 

[ZellyB]

QOTD: What are your thoughts on races/events that aren't your standard road race or trail race? (ie Color Run, Obstacle Course, Foam Run, ect) If you have run one, what was your experience like?

ATTQOTD: I've done a color run with my kids. Not a fan of having stuff thrown at me while I run. Luckily they organized this one so you could run around the color flingers and avoid most of it. I've also done a glow run which was fun. Glow in the dark shirts, chem lights and black lights along the route. No mudders for me because, ew, mud. We have a friend who has been trying to talk us into a team adventure race or something. Trail run, mountain biking, and some orienteering and obstacles. It sounds fun in theory, but I'm a bit of a wimp about stuff like that, so not sure I'd agree to do it.

 

[croach]

ATTQOTD: I haven't done anything like Color Runs, Foam Runs, etc. Just not my thing but have nothing against them. Seems like a good way to get kids /families involved. I don't know if Ragnars count as non-traditional road races but I've done three of those and loved them. Probably the most fun I've had running.

 

[Diskidatheart]

QOTD: What are your thoughts on races/events that aren't your standard road race or trail race? (ie Color Run, Obstacle Course, Foam Run, ect) If you have run one, what was your experience like?

These races are not for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they are out there for those that do enjoy them or those that would not get off the couch otherwise, but I just have a hard time dealing with people throwing powder at me while I'm running or trying to get through a huge mud puddle.