The Running Thread - 2016

[Baloo in MI]

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?

Not sure if this counts but I used to compete in adventure races (running, biking, canoeing/kayaking, climbing, swimming and orienting). It was done with a team, usually four of us and we would complete against other teams covering large distances. Lots of fun, so hard, but really fun. I learned to sea kayak in the San Francisco Bay during a race. Not exactly just running but that was always a big piece of the races.

Otherwise never done a colour run or a mud run, etc. They just don't appeal to me. But like many others said, if it gets others out then awesome!

 

[Waiting2goback]

I'm sure everyone doing Star Wars weekend is there already but I wanted to wish everyone luck with your races and hope you have a good time this weekend.

 

[Miranda]

Good luck everyone who is racing this weekend. Just a 9 mile long run for me, eeek. I am feeling so unprepared for my upcoming races, and I've put on about 5 lbs over the winter.

 

[Anisum]

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 the color run and that was okay. I feel like the purpose is more having fun with your friends than actually running which is cool and if someone I knew said they wanted me to do it with them I would but beyond that it's not something I need to do for myself.

I like the idea of runs that involve food or drinking because then I can eat terrible food I normally wouldn't and work it off but we don't have many around (other than getting post race wine at the vineyard runs) so I haven't done one yet. My concern with the obstacle courses and mud runs is that I have next to no upper body strength so it would take a lot of training and even if I did it seems like there would be more risk of injury.

 

[ebradley23]

I've done the color run and that was okay. I feel like the purpose is more having fun with your friends than actually running which is cool and if someone I knew said they wanted me to do it with them I would but beyond that it's not something I need to do for myself.

I like the idea of runs that involve food or drinking because then I can eat terrible food I normally wouldn't and work it off but we don't have many around (other than getting post race wine at the vineyard runs) so I haven't done one yet. My concern with the obstacle courses and mud runs is that I have next to no upper body strength so it would take a lot of training and even if I did it seems like there would be more risk of injury.

Oh, we have a donut run sponsored by Dunkin Donuts. It's awesome, but I don't consider it a "fun run". It's chip timed and there are prizes. Then I get eat more calories than I've burned in free donuts after. Score!

 

[camaker]

Oh, we have a donut run sponsored by Dunkin Donuts. It's awesome, but I don't consider it a "fun run". It's chip timed and there are prizes. Then I get eat more calories than I've burned in free donuts after. Score!

We have something similar in Raleigh called the Krispy Kreme Challenge. You run 2.5 miles from the NC State bell tower to the old Krispy Kreme in downtown Raleigh, eat a dozen donuts and run back. It can get to be a bit of an obstacle course towards the end, too, as the donuts don't always sit well on the stomach! I don't think the calorie balance works out in your favor, either.

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD: No crazy runs for me so far. Not a fan of the tough mudder because I wear contract lenses and heard there's a lot of sand and mud that will get in your eyes. Count me out.

There is an ice cream run coming up this June near us that looks like fun and the Wipeout runs (based on the tv show) might be something we could do with the kids.

Closest I have come might be a Santa-themed race. Lots of costumes, everyone wore Santa hats and ran 5 miles and then drank beer. Lots of beer.

 

[Olallamom]

I love doing runs, but I have no desire to run through mud or jump over fire. Now I have done several local 5K which include beer at the end

 

[Anisum]

Oh, we have a donut run sponsored by Dunkin Donuts. It's awesome, but I don't consider it a "fun run". It's chip timed and there are prizes. Then I get eat more calories than I've burned in free donuts after. Score!

I wouldn't consider that if you don't eat donuts on the course. It's not a fun run until you have to eat/drink before you've finished the race (unless it a beer run since that's a different category) because even if you're chip timed on a run like the Krispy Kreme Challenge or many of the ice cream runs it's probably not going to be at the pace it would be for a race where you don't eat until the end.

 

[ebradley23]

Yeah no I wouldn't consider that if you don't eat donuts on the course. It's not a fun run until you have to eat/drink before you've finished the race (unless it a beer run since that's a different category) because even if you're chip timed on a run like the Krispy Kreme Challenge or many of the ice cream runs it's probably not going to be at the pace it would be for a race where you don't eat until the end.

Well, they do have donut stop instead of water stops, but they aren't required. Pretty much only kids are stopping.

 

[Anisum]

Well, they do have donut stop instead of water stops, but they aren't required. Pretty much only kids are stopping.

Ahh, then I guess it's based on whether you are planning to run it seriously or not. That would be a hard choice because on one hand you can finish fast and eat all the donuts at the end but on the other hand I have no self control and there are donuts right there on the course if I just stop and grab some.

 

[IamTrike]

I kinda forgot, but my wife and daughter ran the Expedition Everest Challenge a couple years back and they really enjoyed it...a 5K at Animal Kingdom coupled with a scavenger hunt. Too bad they don't do that one anymore...

I did that with my son twice. I miss that race. We had a blast running it. My son as a 10 year old was pretty quick so we finished near the front of the pack. We wound up riding EE 11 times in a row. Good times.

We have something similar in Raleigh called the Krispy Kreme Challenge. You run 2.5 miles from the NC State bell tower to the old Krispy Kreme in downtown Raleigh, eat a dozen donuts and run back. It can get to be a bit of an obstacle course towards the end, too, as the donuts don't always sit well on the stomach! I don't think the calorie balance works out in your favor, either.

When I saw the donut challenge mentioned above, the Krispy Kreme challenge was the first thing I thought about. (I'm a Raleigh-ite too). I think the level puking determines the calorie balance. It's actually a pretty tough challenge as the race is timed. To compete it successfully you need to run 2.5 miles, eat a dozen donuts then run an additional 2.5 miles in less than an hour.

 

[croach]

Well, they do have donut stop instead of water stops, but they aren't required. Pretty much only kids are stopping.

Marine Corps Marathon has a donut hole stop on the course. It's at like mile 22 I think. First year I did I t I took some, but trying to chew them up and eat them just wasn't working that far into the race. I needed all my energy to move my legs.

 

[ebradley23]

Ahh, then I guess it's based on whether you are planning to run it seriously or not. That would be a hard choice because on one hand you can finish fast and eat all the donuts at the end but on the other hand I have no self control and there are donuts right there on the course if I just stop and grab some.

This is my internal debate every year. I opt to run it fast to get the red velvet donuts before they run out.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: Today is the 3 year anniversary of the bombing of the the Boston Marathon. It's a day in history that I'll never forget. Tell us what you remember about that day and what impact it had/has on running for you.

ATTQOTD: What I remember most is seeing how great a community can come together and put aside their differences and treat their fellow man with such kindness. I am forever grateful to those kind strangers who helped my wife and I during that day. The smallest things meant the world to us. The impact of this day is it keeps me motivated and reminds me how lucky I am for the things in life I have.

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/16/177427305/deadly-blasts-punctuate-boston-marathons-finish-line

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: Today is the 3 year anniversary of the bombing of the the Boston Marathon. It's a day in history that I'll never forget. Tell us what you remember about that day and what impact it had/has on running for you.

Well I wasn't a runner yet but I can't imagine what it was like for those who experienced it. I know I remember watching the news and seeing the video of what happened. Then again watching the days following as they tracked down the guys who did it.

 

[ZellyB]

QOTD: Today is the 3 year anniversary of the bombing of the the Boston Marathon. It's a day in history that I'll never forget. Tell us what you remember about that day and what impact it had/has on running for you.

ATTQOTD: I'm not sure how much it impacted my running, but I remember the shock I felt that it had happened and how frightening it was to watch that. Shortly after there was a story somewhere about a quote from Mr. Rogers,
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” After that when I would see clips from the bombing, I did look and you would see those people running TOWARD the explosion to help and all those who gathered around the injured. It's a quote I think about often now when you hear about tragic events and it helps so much to see that the helpers outnumber the bad people by an overwhelming majority.

 

[DopeyBadger]

I was relatively new to running, but it was the first Boston Marathon that had occurred since I started. I watched the live stream and saw the winners come across. I remember seeing later in the day that the bombing had occurred and I was in shock. It was the first time I had heard of reddit as well, and it was an interesting experience following the breakdown of events on reddit and the community's help in determining the bombers (although some misidentified people came out of it as well).

 

[Slogger]

I

When I saw the donut challenge mentioned above, the Krispy Kreme challenge was the first thing I thought about. (I'm a Raleigh-ite too). I think the level puking determines the calorie balance. It's actually a pretty tough challenge as the race is timed. To compete it successfully you need to run 2.5 miles, eat a dozen donuts then run an additional 2.5 miles in less than an hour.

That is quite a challenge. I don't think I could eat a dozen donuts in an hour. Or even two hours. Or maybe even all day.
How many people successfully complete this?

 

[RunDisneyDad]

ATTQOTD: That day was a few months before I started running / training again so I wasn't focused on the "Boston Marathon" connection, but more in overall shock of what those guys had done. I followed it on the internet as they tried to identify who did it and then managed (via Reddit) to make my way to the website that was broadcasting the police scanner and was listening when they took Tsarnaev in custody. That was such a strange few days, but incredibly awesome to see how the people of Boston came together.