Would you rather have people Color Running, or not entering running events at all?

I am doing a color run this weekend and I have done a mudder race, and doing another in a couple months. I am a formally elite runner who was off running due to injury and busy with kids for 10 years. I am just getting back into running now and the mudder was so much fun. It really light my spark again to be in races, and I am about to start back with a cross season. In no way do I think that these runs are preparing me to be a better runner in any way, or are they a true representation of readiness when preparing for races. I felt good running in between obstacles and felt strong over them, I didn't get annoyed at the people I moved past, I just ran the race for me. Most of all I had so much fun being there with my friends. For some people it likely motivates them to run a little more, for others it is just about getting out there and having fun. And if people are enjoying themselves, who gives a crap where or not the races are happening.

But without tough mudders how will girls make guys think they're "badass" on dating websites?

Coincidentally, I was reading the Running USA list of most popular races and they want to differentiate between races and 'festivals', which I gather are these mud, color and electric runs (non-timed).I do feel a small % of these participants will eventually show up at traditional road races. The ones that have a competitive edge.I don't think regular races will be squeezed out, but perhaps it might suck up limited town/municipalities resources.Will be watching what the NYRR does to catch this wave.

Derderian wrote:

I am president of USATF-NE and am seeking to define competitive races in the mind of all running participants as separate from fun,fitness,charity events just as major league is separate from little league: Each as a distinct place.

Tom

LI Running wrote:

Coincidentally, I was reading the Running USA list of most popular races and they want to differentiate between races and 'festivals', which I gather are these mud, color and electric runs (non-timed).

Maybe you should practice that whole reading thing.

Running USA uses "festivals" to categorize events with multiple races held on the same day. For instance, the Portland Shamrock Run has a 15K, 8K, and 5K all on the same day, so the "Festival" participation numbers are for ALL races, and not just one distance.

To quote my hero, Ventolin: "moron."

What are "color runs"?

In the UK "colour runs" are what you get if you put cheap dark coloured clothes in the washing machine with light coloured clothes.

not entering any "competitions" and moderating their diets instead.

Fat Swede wrote:

What are "color runs"?

In the UK "colour runs" are what you get if you put cheap dark coloured clothes in the washing machine with light coloured clothes.

I don't see what the big deal is about colored people running. Oh...Never mind!

Color runs, meh.

BUT BLACKLIGHT RUNS, they are the BOMB. YOU HAVE TO DO ONE:

http://www.blacklightrun.com/

---------

What is Blacklight Run™?​

​Blacklight Run™ is a unique night experience focused less on speed and more on glow-in-the-dark fun with friends and family. Glowing participants come from all different ages, shapes, sizes, and speeds; every participant will get Glowed​™ and has the time of their life. Whether you are an avid runner or a walk around the park walker, the 3 miles of the Blacklight Run™ course will have you glowing and waiting for the next one!

How does it work?

​The Blacklight Run™ has been setup with very simple rules:

​

1) Wear a white shirt (any white T-shirt will work) worn at the start line.

​

2) Finish covered in neon powder, that will glow in the Blacklight Zones™ and at the Blacklight Run Party™.

​

By the end, they look like they fell into a ghost busters movie and are covered with different colored Glow™​​​. This is the first of its kind at night and is quickly sweeping the nation!



Each participant will receive:



- White Blacklight Run T-Shirt

- Swag from Sponsors

- Race Bib

- Donation to local charities

- Glow Pack to throw at the finish line!

What is the Glow™?

Along the running path you will find Blacklight Zone's™, which are associated with a designated color: green, pink, or blue. As the runners/walkers reach the Blacklight Zones™ they are showered with neon powder that glows with our high beam black lights at every zone. All products are 100% natural and non-toxic. At the end of the race there will be a Blacklight Run Party™ filled with music pumping from the DJ, neon powder all while glowing under tons of black lights!

What about the finish line?

​Are you ready for the best After Race party on the PLANET? After the finish, participants are encouraged to stick around, celebrate, and see exactly how much Glow one person can handle. We will have Glow, and festivities that will make your Glowing head spin.

I know the Kenyans are out performing us but having race divisions based on "color" is just wrong.

QUESTION:

To anyone actually raced one of these Color events.. I know theyre not timed, but most of us would have a watch on for ourselves anyway...

Can you race the course to win? If someone were to show up in a singlet and flats and run sub 16, would you look as stupid as everyone else?

I actually do know people who trained to do a color run. These were out of shape types who wanted an event to train for but were scared to enter an actual race. So, yes I think these are good things for getting people to exercise, but they have almost nothing to do with competitive running, much like your typical local 5k.

I just did a 5k DONUT run. The winner ran 24:51 and ate 10 donuts. 4:51 net time. These weren't those little miniature krispy kreme donuts either. Has to be more fun that those idiotic pump and runs I have heard about.

This may be an alien concept to the ultra-competitive types who gather here (including me), but it isn't the point of every event to be the "best" in a quantitative way, nor the "fastest".

Two examples:

Sex: Having sex as fast as possible, or even as slow as possible, or at a certain heart rate, or anything like that is totally missing the point. Except maybe that you have to beat your competitors.

Life: Living your life as fast as possible and dying the fastest will not get you on a spot on any podium, not as far as I know.

If you really must be competitive at all times in order to feel some purpose in life, you could set your goal to have more fun than everyone there.

I believe there are quantifiable measures of fun, and at this very moment there may be designs in the works for a device that displays one's fun index, compatible with any ANT+ device including Garmin, Polar, and other major manufacturers. With this device you can track and record your fun, plot it on a chart, and compare it with friends on Facebook, Twitter, or your favorite social network. This is a device that measures EMG activity in certain known pleasure centers of the brain.

I can really see this happening in the future.

I will never enter any of these events, but if they draw 10,000 runners and some kid sees his mother doing this, and begins to see running/racing as something "normal" maybe he/she will see XC or track as something he will at least TRY.

That's what we need. It's a good feeder program.

oh brother wrote:

Which would you rather see:

People entering Color Runs, Tough Mudders, and Rock 'N' Roll events?

Or

Those same people not participating in any kind of running even at all?

Rock 'N' Roll events are fine because they are still competitive...they just have bands there...big deal. Not really a fan of the mudders, but for anyone over age 11, the Color Runs are ridiculous and stupid. Limit the color runs to those under age 12 and maybe you snag a couple of runners who wouldn't have been, but anyone older than that getting and glee out of being painted while they run...that's just ridiculous...AND stupid.

Flagpole wrote:

oh brother wrote:

Which would you rather see:

People entering Color Runs, Tough Mudders, and Rock 'N' Roll events?

Or

Those same people not participating in any kind of running even at all?

Rock 'N' Roll events are fine because they are still competitive...they just have bands there...big deal. Not really a fan of the mudders, but for anyone over age 11, the Color Runs are ridiculous and stupid. Limit the color runs to those under age 12 and maybe you snag a couple of runners who wouldn't have been, but anyone older than that getting and glee out of being painted while they run...that's just ridiculous...AND stupid.

Well said! My kids would love the Color Run, but everyone else looks like they have a screw loose. Could you imagine olympic athletes doing a color run?!