I Hate It When So Many Running Events Today Advertise Using The F-word.

Dude, if it's a Fun Run, don't enter! Save your snotting and puking for real races with real runners. Why are you wasting your time whining about Fun Runs? You sound like Skuj.

Running=Fun wrote:

Let me rephrase a few things... The NFL and MLB aren't "easy", but I feel when compared to running, they take less effort (by far). How many times have you heard of some elite distance runner out at the bars partying it up frequently?

Prefontaine and Rodgers.

I remember being at the post party for the Austin Marathon in 2002 and the Russians were drinking it up pretty good (and dancing!).

Three Fifty Seven Point Nine wrote:

I want to race my ass off, with snot and sweat running down my face, stagger and puke at the finish line, on my hands and knees, and aim for a time.

That sounds like fun to me. If you don't consider it fun, then why are you doing it? Unless you're being paid an appearance fee, you're a recreational runner. The only difference might be how you prefer your recreation.

You asked to discuss, so I'll agree with your critics. Don't enter these races. Hit the track meet. But keep in mind that without the fun runner's the sport loses even more support than the little it already has.

The few times I've gone to fun runs have been to support a friend's charity. These events have their place. You get a ton of "non-runners" and every time i've had a conversation or two with a "non-runner" after the race and you can tell they're catching the running bug.

Later, i hear they ran their first marathon, or entered their first 10k. What's so wrong with that?

PostCollegiate runners actually have a lot more options to continue to compete than most other sports. You're obviously not setting the world on fire with your running if you're complaining about this topic. Do you think some lower-tier full scholarship basketball player actually enjoys going to the local Y and playing lunchtime basketball with the hacks?

I alwways did find it funny that a jogger would pay $100 entry fee, fly for $400 to a marathon, and walk for five hours to get a finishers medal and a t-shirt.

The difference between TRUE runners and joggers (to the general public it's "racers" and "Runners" - too often have I been called a jogger...) is a RUNNER (racer) can train 90-200 miles a week and not feel the need to share the fact they just ran a 21 mile training run, whereas a JOGGER (runner) needs to pay north of $400 total so they can get a medal, a t-shirt, and a picture to put up in the office bragging about the day they ran 26 miles. I don't know about you, but THAT (jogger's approach) seems more like ME ME ME rather then the RUNNERs.

I don't want nor do I need a medal or for people to baby me after I run a 20-22 mile long run. I don't even share that information unless someone asks me. I know this is the competitive RUNNER in me talking... But I'd rather save my $400 worth of race entry, travel and hotel if I was simply looking to COMPLETE 26.2 miles. If you're looking to quality for Boston (trials etc) or COMPETE against people you know - go for it. But if you're going to simply complete the marathon just to say you did it - why not map out a 26.2 mile course around town and save yourself $400.

That's the differece between a Runner (racer) and a JOGGER (runner). A jogger is the ME ME ME, they need the pat on the shoulder for TRYING, whereas the RUNNER actually has standards, and finishing isn't even thought of it, it's a given. Could this be the root for American mediocry in distance running? The spread of low-standards nation wide (EVERYONE GETS A MEDAL YAY!) sort of deal? Competitive races are few and far between, unlike the 70s and 80s (golden years for running), where the vast majority of people wearing running shoes did so to COMPETE and not because it was a fashion.

Three Fifty Seven Point Nine wrote:

Fun.

Damn! I want to race my ass off, with snot and sweat running down my face, stagger and puke at the finish line, on my hands and knees, and aim for a time. But oh no no no...this is a Fun Run. That kind of behaviour is frowned upon and discouraged. "It's not a race you know." (I once got told that while behaving in this apalling manner.)

There are too many Fun Runs these days.

Discuss.

Ummmm.....What????

First of all.....why would you want to do this? How about running normally and finishing strong because you trained hard? Sounds like you don't train and then call your self tough for puking after a race. Ive only puked once after a race and it was a very unpleasant experience.

Second of all...How would this be frowned upon? Most races people would just look at you weird (including me).

Whats your problem? wrote:

Dude, if it's a Fun Run, don't enter! Save your snotting and puking for real races with real runners. Why are you wasting your time whining about Fun Runs? You sound like Skuj.

i think we know who wrote that. wait.....let me guess what will now happen: this thread will degenerate into a skuja verses skujins battle just like a million other threads.

the op has a point. someone (skujins:) said its all about 'mememe' and an attitude that gives runners a bad name and but i disagree totally with that. runners have goals and should be free to persue those goals in an running event.

Woah wrote:

Second of all...How would this be frowned upon? Most races people would just look at you weird (including me).

isnt that the point of the op? why is running hard so weird? if somoene takes the trouble to put on an event, clear the roads, even measure te distances properly, why shouldn't people race without being weirded out.?

Three Fifty Seven Point Nine wrote:

Fun.

Damn! I want to race my ass off, with snot and sweat running down my face, stagger and puke at the finish line, on my hands and knees, and aim for a time. But oh no no no...this is a Fun Run. That kind of behaviour is frowned upon and discouraged. "It's not a race you know." (I once got told that while behaving in this apalling manner.)

There are too many Fun Runs these days.

Discuss.

You don't belong in fun runs any more than you belong in a high school track meet. It is not intended for you. If you are really a 3:57.9 miler, then there are plenty of opportunities for you to race competitively (though I haven't yet seen anyone of that caliber puking with snotty face after a race). Quit yer bitchin' and move on.

No offense Running = Fun, but if that's how you really feel, I don't think you'll be running much as you get older and slower.

Running can be fun.

Doesn't mean you should pay money and enter into a competitive race to have fun. You can you do it for free anyday.

Actually, I've had a lot of hard but fun races, even when I didn't win or PR, but it was still a lot of fun when I did, like when I first broke the impossible barrier of 10:00 for 3200m as a freshman in high school. I was ecstatic, but I've also had a lot of challenging races that were a great experience, but I still got beat. I think people can have fun no matter what place they came in, and still try hard. Who says you can't try hard and have fun?

Running=Fun wrote:

other sports work 3+ hours a day (

where did you get that figure? i'd say you need more than one + there.

[/quote]isnt that the point of the op? why is running hard so weird? if somoene takes the trouble to put on an event, clear the roads, even measure te distances properly, why shouldn\'t people race without being weirded out.?[/quote]

Because your puking. It means your not in shape and trying to run beyond your means..It\'s just stupid and indicates poor training leading up to the race.

The OP doesn not strike me as a \"tough\" person, just someone who doesnt train hard enough and has poor gag reflexes.

I want to add my voice to those in disagreement with the OP. He sounds very selfish. Why would anyone get their panties all in a bunch because of a fun run? Stop thinking about yourself and consider what is best for humanity. With obesity rampant, we should all be supporting any kind of activity for the masses. Take your three fifty-seven point nine and go find yourself a track, dweeb. Just don't puke on it! hahaha

The following OP may be a lot of things but how is it selfish? Discuss?

Three Fifty Seven Point Nine wrote:

Fun.

Damn! I want to race my ass off, with snot and sweat running down my face, stagger and puke at the finish line, on my hands and knees, and aim for a time. But oh no no no...this is a Fun Run. That kind of behaviour is frowned upon and discouraged. "It's not a race you know." (I once got told that while behaving in this apalling manner.)

There are too many Fun Runs these days.

Discuss.

because he wants everyone else to conform to how he thinks they should act.

who cares what they call it. if you're so upset about it, don't run in it. and quit worrying about what other people think (or don't think) of you and your running.

chuck d wrote:

because he wants everyone else to conform to how he thinks they should act.

who cares what they call it. if you're so upset about it, don't run in it. and quit worrying about what other people think (or don't think) of you and your running.

You see, I'm just not seeing that in the OP. He/she couldn't care less what others do. He just wants to race without being looked upon as a weirdo, no?

In my neck of the woods its all Muddy Buddy this and Adventure Mix that. I feel for the serious runner these days who wants to race a lot.

Three Fifty Seven Point Nine wrote:

Fun.

Damn! I want to race my ass off, with snot and sweat running down my face, stagger and puke at the finish line, on my hands and knees, and aim for a time. But oh no no no...this is a Fun Run. That kind of behaviour is frowned upon and discouraged. "It's not a race you know." (I once got told that while behaving in this apalling manner.)

There are too many Fun Runs these days.

Discuss.

on a terry fox run on an accurate 10k course i once decided to test myself ie race and got exactly the same thing from some obese beeeeatch...'its not a race', so at the finish, when she arrived 4hours later, i politely told her that it was a race for terry and a very hard one at that, therefore in that spirit i will also push myself hard.

so he wants people to not look at him weirdly for having snot all over his face and vomiting after a road race. thus, he wants other people to think/act how he thinks they should act. ergo, selfish. not the most selfish thing in the world but selfish nonetheless.

don't worry about what other people think about you. i realize this can be a difficult thing to accomplish - our society seems to condition us to care about it - but the OP will find himself experiencing a lot less angst.