Did you run a race the day of your wedding?

I did not run a race but I put in two solid doubles. I ran 10 miles early the morning of my wedding, but then all of my former college teammates rolled into town and called me to run in the afternoon. I couldn't turn them down so I tacked on another 7 miles.

I was fine. You'll be exhausted no matter what, but that is fine. You should be exhausted.

The only reason I wouldn't want to race is because I wouldn't really be into it mentally. Maybe you'll be fine, but I was pretty jazzed about getting married, so a race wouldn't have really fit in.

Also, are you going to be out late after the rehearsal dinner?

yep an out and back hilly 20k - didn't really race it though just cruised with friends...out and back gives you the chance to not turn around - just keep running away from the madness. I made the turn and it has worked out quite well. tons of adrenalin flowing on wedding day - really had no problems with being tired etc. later.

Married Manners wrote:

Also, are you going to be out late after the rehearsal dinner?

The rehearsal dinner is a simple BBQ at a house we rented, but I'll likely be tossing a few back until the wee hours. I've run quite a few races after a night of drinking and the race seems to be really low key (~100 people running, course is on a farm). A quality result isn't a top priority, but I'll be giving an honest effort.

As you noted, I'm really psyched about getting married. Just curious whether my enthusiasm will keep me afloat through the day and night after putting in a solid effort that morning.

This guy http://doublejrunning.blogspot.com/ won a race the morning of his wedding. I think it was a local 5K, but I can't find the link.

jack frank wrote:

This guy

http://doublejrunning.blogspot.com/

won a race the morning of his wedding. I think it was a local 5K, but I can't find the link.

Here's the blog entry:

His wedding was in the morning, so he ran/won the race and then got ready for the wedding. Simply epic.

This is the problem with North American and especially American athletes.Running on the day of your marriage is not healthy, it is obsessive and strange.If you told Tirunesh Dibaba, K. Bekele, G. Mutai, etc that you ran on your wedding they would think you are insane.Why can you not just skip running for one day? In fact, it may make you faster.It's as bad as an eating disorder.

ooooatmeal wrote:

Hey y'all! I'm getting married at the end of the month and, as luck would have it, there's a 10k xc race being held nearby on the morning of the wedding. The race is 30 mins from the ceremony/reception venue and starts at 9am. The ceremony is at 5:30pm. I'm a little hesitant to run the race for fear I'll be pretty spent later that night after drinks and partying.

My question for the married folks of LRC: did you run a race the day of your wedding? If so, how'd it go? How did you hold up later that day and evening (if applicable). Thanks for any contributions, I appreciate it.

Do it! It's not often that you have the opportunity to do something that will brand you as a total loser for the rest of your life.

Weirdo Americans wrote:

This is the problem with North American and especially American athletes.

Running on the day of your marriage is not healthy, it is obsessive and strange.

If you told Tirunesh Dibaba, K. Bekele, G. Mutai, etc that you ran on your wedding they would think you are insane.

Why can you not just skip running for one day? In fact, it may make you faster.

It's as bad as an eating disorder.

You think that's weird, get this!

Some people like running because it makes them feel good.

Others have made "friends" while running, and enjoy running with these people in a semi-competitive fashion when the get together (like for a wedding).

I don't think this guy is running a race to keep pushing the envelope ever further, just enjoys it. My wife and I organized a 5k the morning of our wedding for all of our out of town friends. Get a little endorphin rush, share something special with your out of town guests and burn off some anxiety. I say do it.

Pathetic, seriously pathetic.

Wørd wrote:

Do it! It's not often that you have the opportunity to do something that will brand you as a total loser for the rest of your life.

Lol. Good one.

Nerd alert

Yes, 10k in the morning of a late afternoon wedding. Something fun that I'll always remember.

Don't do it. Prioritize being a good husband and having energy for your wedding! An easy run would be fine. I ran for about 30 minutes the morning of my wedding - Mostly easy with some 100 meter-ish strides. If the weather was ideal I would have considered going 45 minutes, but not much more. I was running about 60-70 MPW at the time.

My wife and I directed (and ran) a 5K on our wedding day...Jan and Craig's Pre-Nuptial 5K complete with wedding cake and t-shirts. Our 10th is coming up. Thinking of making it a 10K.

asdfsd wrote:

Prioritize being a good husband and having energy for your wedding!

Give me a break. Running a race on your wedding day has nothing to do with "being a good husband".

My wife and I ran to our wedding. :)

The ceremony was going to be on a beach in the Caribbean, so we wanted to get legally married in the states before leaving.

It was just the two of us, and we ran the 2.5 miles to city hall, exchanged vows and then ran the 2.5 miles back home.

Didn't race the morning of the ceremony, but did go for a nice little run (4-5mi) with all of my college xc/track teammates that were at my wedding(including my best man).

And when my best man got married a couple of years later, he had a semi-organized 5k race the morning of his wedding (or maybe it was the day before -- can't remember) on the beach in front of the hotel.

I ran the morning of my wedding. For those suggesting that he shouldn't run, why should it matter? The day of the wedding is mostly sitting around waiting for the wedding to start. If it's what you like to do then do it. A wedding is important but it's not like getting a run in diminishes that importance. 10 years from now you'll remember all the good times you've had, not just one single day that happened to be the day you made it official. The fact that you're even asking the question makes me think that you're not ready for marriage.

true story. 1980ish. Major race (maybe Diet Pepsi) on Philly's River Drives. I'm not running, go out to the mile mark, taking pics. Helicopter flies by, cameraman sitting in the open door. Couple thousand racing. Jog back to Boathouse Row, getting ready for my run, and there's a commotion... helicopter has crashed into the river. Run to the bridge over the Schuylkill, see people swimming out into the River, diving... oil on the water. Police arrive on both shores... friend and I say a prayer, go for our run.

Return, a close friend walks us to us, acting kind of sheepish. He's obviously been in the water, and smells of diesel fuel. He had swam out to the pilot, who was somehow staying afloat, with a broken back... friend, a triathlete (early Ironman participant), grabs him, swims over to the wall next to the Expressway, where police put a swimmer in the water, stretcher, etc. Newsman and camera man did not make it.

Imagine how my friend's wife to be felt, as she dressed with her bridesmaids, when one called her over to the TV, to see the man she'd marry that afternoon interviewed. He cleaned up pretty well, I stood up with him later that day. He was given Carnegie Award in recognition. Again, true story. Special guy.