The Running Thread - 2016

[opusone]

My understanding is that they make it a little bit over the distance because being 1/10 of a mile over is better than someone checking the course and it being .05 under and DQ'ing any important records broken on the course. That's at least what I have been told.

You are correct, but it's pretty minor. In course measurement, there is a 1.001 safety factor that is applied to the measurement. So, for a marathon (i.e. 26.21875 miles), if the calibration/measurement is completely accurate, then you would actually run 26.24497 miles if you ran the shortest possible route, or approximately 0.026 miles too far. Clearly, 0.026 miles is very minor in context of a marathon, but it does help make sure that the course is record-eligible.

 

[Anisum]

Kind of on-topic...This is not a race that exists but my hubby and I thought it would be cool to one day make a "formal 5k" and have everyone get dressy for the run. The free tshirt could be a tuxedo or ball gown type top. Serve water in champagne glasses (probably easier than paper cups anyways) and serve post race food on silver platters by butlers. Have classical trios playing along the course. The medal could double as a monacle or pearls. So many weird ideas. If anyone steals my idea...just give me a cut of the profits!

I really like that idea. Someone should make it happen.

 

[opusone]

QOTD: What is the most unique race that you have run outside of your standard 5k, 10k, 10 mile, half marathon, and full marathon? Exceptions to these distances could be if you had something you had to do during the race that makes it different.

We have a local "Run 3.14 Pie" race on Thanksgiving morning. Not only do the first 750 registered runners receive a Sara Lee pie after the race, but the course is 3.1416 (Pi) miles long. Depending on your speed, it only adds about 10-25 seconds to your 5k time.

 

[derekleigh]

QOTD: With all the talk about the beer mile recently, I thought this would be a good opportunity to ask this question. What is the most unique race that you have run outside of your standard 5k, 10k, 10 mile, half marathon, and full marathon? Exceptions to these distances could be if you had something you had to do during the race that makes it different.

ATTQOTD: I have two, which I have already mentioned. Happy's Beer Mile (Happy's is the name of a bar in Baton Rouge as well as a running club) and the Navy Nautical 10 Miler, which is ~11.5 mile race.



Although a shot would get the same end result as 4 beers, downing a shot would be much easier. I have always allowed anyone who didn't want to chug a beer the option of drinking 12oz of whole milk. Never had anyone take me up on it, they just drank the beer.

Milk...interesting. How about a shot of Kahlua in 12 oz of milk every 1/4 mile? I'd do that, just no one be around me at the finish line.

On the QOTD - The only odd-style races I've done were a few of those color 5Ks. I hate them. I want to run hard but it'd be pointless for two reasons; 1) WAAAAAAY too many people and 2) not timed.

There is one 5K in VT I so badly want to do. At the turnaround point, you have to eat an entire carton of Ben & Jerry's Ice cream! That should be interesting!

EDIT: Found the website! Brain Freezer 5K

http://brainfreezer5k.com/home/

 

[Anisum]

Milk...interesting. How about a shot of Kahlua in 12 oz of milk every 1/4 mile? I'd do that, just no one be around me at the finish line.

On the QOTD - The only odd-style races I've done were a few of those color 5Ks. I hate them. I want to run hard but it'd be pointless for two reasons; 1) WAAAAAAY too many people and 2) not timed.

There is one 5K in VT I so badly want to do. At the turnaround point, you have to eat an entire carton of Ben & Jerry's Ice cream! That should be interesting!

EDIT: Found the website! Brain Freeze 5K

http://brainfreezer5k.com/home/

This is relevant to my interests. Do you think they have choices of ice cream? If I got stuck with a flavor I didn't like I'm not certain I could get through it.

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: A coworker and I once did a Dirty Girl Mud Run 5K. Picture lots of mud, sand, water and giant inflatables - it was loads of fun! I laughed so much my abs were sore the next day.

 

[derekleigh]

This is relevant to my interests. Do you think they have choices of ice cream? If I got stuck with a flavor I didn't like I'm not certain I could get through it.

I don't know for sure. However it's in VT and serving Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, so I'm quite confident they'd have a few choices to pick from. But if you do intend to register, maybe email them and ask, unless you can specify flavor during registration.

 

[PrincessV]

I'm late to the party. How did I miss this thread?! Going back to catch up a bit...

QOTD: What is the coldest weather you've run in? Do you run inside with a treadmill? Do you run later in the day?

ATTQOD: I think I have to divide this one into my previous running life, when I lived up north, vs. present running life in FL. Old, up north life: somewhere around zero. New, FL life: probably the Frozen 5K last year - was that just about 32*?

QOTD: Do you stay active on recovery/rest days?

ATTQOD: Nope! I have one rest day a week and it's truly a REST day.

QOTD: With all the talk about the beer mile recently, I thought this would be a good opportunity to ask this question. What is the most unique race that you have run outside of your standard 5k, 10k, 10 mile, half marathon, and full marathon?

ATTQOD: Alas, I've got nothing to offer on this one - my races have all been pretty ordinary lol!

 

[ZellyB]

QOTD: With all the talk about the beer mile recently, I thought this would be a good opportunity to ask this question. What is the most unique race that you have run outside of your standard 5k, 10k, 10 mile, half marathon, and full marathon? Exceptions to these distances could be if you had something you had to do during the race that makes it different.

ATTQOTD: I haven't done anything unique other than a color run (HATED IT) and a glow run (was okay), but those aren't really unique. I did run the Mo' Cowbell half awhile back. The race isn't especially unique, but every participant gets a little cowbell at the expo. You bring those to the race and right before start time they play "Don't Fear the Reaper" while everyone rings their cowbell. That was fun. You then drop the cowbell in a barrel at the start and pick one back up after you finish.

 

[Anisum]

I don't know for sure. However it's in VT and serving Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, so I'm quite confident they'd have a few choices to pick from. But if you do intend to register, maybe email them and ask, unless you can specify flavor during registration.

I'll have to find out. July seems like a solid time to go to Vermont.

 

[LSUlakes]

I'm late to the party. How did I miss this thread?! Going back to catch up a bit...

Welcome and hope you enjoy the thread. If you have any races you would like to add, just post them and in a somewhat timely manner they will appear on the main list in the OP.

ATTQOTD: I haven't done anything unique other than a color run (HATED IT) and a glow run (was okay), but those aren't really unique. I did run the Mo' Cowbell half awhile back. The race isn't especially unique, but every participant gets a little cowbell at the expo. You bring those to the race and right before start time they play "Don't Fear the Reaper" while everyone rings their cowbell. That was fun. You then drop the cowbell in a barrel at the start and pick one back up after you finish.

I would say that counts as unique! How many times did someone drop the joke:

 

[RunDisneyDad]

ATTQOTD: Not hugely unique, but way back in 1999 I did the Jingle Bell Fun Run in Houston. It was pretty neat hearing all the jingle bells. Anyway, it was the first race I had ever done and I was blown away by the people, the enviroment, the vibe and because of that decided I wanted to start doing races, a year later I did my first Marathon.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Kind of on-topic...This is not a race that exists but my hubby and I thought it would be cool to one day make a "formal 5k" and have everyone get dressy for the run. The free tshirt could be a tuxedo or ball gown type top. Serve water in champagne glasses (probably easier than paper cups anyways) and serve post race food on silver platters by butlers. Have classical trios playing along the course. The medal could double as a monacle or pearls. So many weird ideas. If anyone steals my idea...just give me a cut of the profits!

Sounds cool, but I can't imagine running in my dress shoes (ouch! ). I would never run in my tux, but would rent one for something like this.

 

[cburnett11]

That's a good bit extra. My GPS had it at 26.44 miles, which isn't bad at all. My understanding is that they make it a little bit over the distance because being 1/10 of a mile over is better than someone checking the course and it being .05 under and DQ'ing any important records broken on the course. That's at least what I have been told. Also, GPS watches aren't exactly spot on, but aren't bad either depending on what type and setting you have.

My new Garmin 630 had it at 26.39. I was really close to the mile markers until around mile 15 and then either the course lengthened, my watch struggled, or I got sloppy in my running of tangents. It may be a combination of all 3, but I know that after AK my focus turned to surviving and I'm sure I got sloppy in my quest to running the shortest distance.

 

[roxymama]

Sounds cool, but I can't imagine running in my dress shoes (ouch! ). I would never run in my tux, but would rent one for something like this.

Oh gosh, I would highly recommend regular running shoes! And think of it as fancy versions of running clothes. Like a nice boa or a top hat or bedazzled shorts, etc.
Ya know, if this was a real race.

 

[cavepig]

ATTQOTD:

Not sure if it's that unique but a long time ago as in I was in high school, we did this local trail race that was called so & so's most excellent adventure. It was supposed to be I think 4 miles maybe, but it turned out to be more like 6 and it was on snow/ice and a wooded trail path, oh and it had creeks to jump over in which I missed and my leg went into freezing ice water, that sucked. I slammed into trees a few times too on the slick paths. But, have no fear all the bagels were jumbled in garbage bags afterwards to stay unfrozen. Ah, good memories!

 

[LSUlakes]

My new Garmin 630 had it at 26.39. I was really close to the mile markers until around mile 15 and then either the course lengthened, my watch struggled, or I got sloppy in my running of tangents. It may be a combination of all 3, but I know that after AK my focus turned to surviving and I'm sure I got sloppy in my quest to running the shortest distance.

Sounds like our race went about the same. Somewhere between mile 15 & 16, I realized it just wasn't going to be my day. Around mile 20 I started playing the game "What pace do I need to run to finish under "x" time?" Good times...

 

[cburnett11]

Sounds like our race went about the same. Somewhere between mile 15 & 16, I realized it just wasn't going to be my day. Around mile 20 I started playing the game "What pace do I need to run to finish under "x" time?" Good times...

I had a stretch goal that would've required everything to be perfect. Given that it was my first marathon, it probably wasn't going to happen. My more reasonable goal was to break 4 hours. I was under that pace and running very comfortably (holding back intentionally so that I could hopefully run negative splits during the 2nd half... haha!) until I got into AK. In AK, I looked at my watch and noticed my current mile pace was about 35 seconds slower than I had been running for 12+ miles. I knew I could increase my pace, but I couldn't really figure out what caused me to immediately be slower with what seemed like the same effort. As I exited AK I began to increase my effort but I only could get back to the level of what I had run through 12 miles and it became increasingly apparent that the 2nd half waas going to be tougher. Somewhere about mile 15 I convinced myself that if I walked after a water stop, that I could regain composure and start grooving again. It also was at an overpass, so I told myself that going down the hill was going to jump start me. Not so much. The next several miles went like this... Oh, I can still finish in just over 4 hours, then I thought I could break 410, and then finally it became how many walk breaks can I manage and still get under 415. Well apparently I took 1 walk break too many because I didn't account for the fact that I wasn't going to be running 26.2, but rather 26.39...

At any rate it's amazing how much the experience can go from "that sucked" shortly after the finish line, to when can I sign up to do it again over the course of about 24-48 hours.

Chatting with other runners the next day (oh how beautiful the race would've been on Monday morning!), I learned how big an impact the humidity may have had on me. At least I'm telling myself that. It seems like the majority of runners were a little slower this year.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

At any rate it's amazing how much the experience can go from "that sucked" shortly after the finish line, to when can I sign up to do it again over the course of about 24-48 hours.

LOL - After my first marathon I swore on everything Holy that I would never do another. I can't tell you how many I have done since.

 

[ZellyB]

LOL - After my first marathon I swore on everything Holy that I would never do another. I can't tell you how many I have done since.

Mile 22 -26.2 of my first marathon mostly consisted of my telling my husband that I was a one and done marathoner. Yeah, right.