What are some legit alternatives to competitive running?

Speed skating. I'm thinking of the winter sport, but if you live in a warm place devoid of ice rinks there is inline skates racing too.

Spartan Race - Elite Wave

See if you can finish:

https://www.instagram.com/p/8ZDBbZPB3a/

I'd look at competitive cycling. Jump into a few crits to see if you like it. You have to start in the less experienced, slower crits to begin, but you should be way more fit and easily move up. Buy a decent middle of the road bike and you should see yourself very competitive, very quickly. From what I've seen many people have all the gear and the what-have-you, but few have the motor. Guys like us - especially if you are starting at 21 or so - have big motors that the 30-something pretenders wish they had.

NotMakingIt..... wrote:

All I can think of is triathlons and race walking.

I ask because I'm a 25:00 8k runner in college and don't think I can really do much with running after college, so I'm trying to contemplate whether I should try to do running (Oly B standard in HM) or switch it up. I'm sure it will take a few consistent years to get the standard in running. Might be able to be somewhat legit in racewalking after a year of practice. Triathlons would be just to switch it up and go hard at something else.

Any other alternatives?

If you did racewalking and made a Youtube series following your transition to that sport, that would be HUGE. Your background as a legit runner would give you credibility, and your videos could consist of meeting with coaches to learn technique, traveling to remote locations to race, tracking your progress, etc.Someone else already said it here, but it's true: There are ZERO recognizable names in racewalking. If there's ever a market wide open to take over, it's that one. You'd probably get a lot of hate, though, because racewalking does look pretty odd.

The other option I'm surprised no one has mentioned is obstacle racing (Spartan, Tough Mudder, etc.). But I'll be honest - I think the window for that becoming a credible "sport" has already closed. Even the very few professional obstacle racers are transitioning into other sports/events now like American Ninja Warrior and ultras.

It totally depends on your goals and personality but I'm going to assume you still have a competitive itch.

Though a 25minute 8K is not going to get you in the diamond league, it certainly is fast enough to win many/most local road races and get some prize money. Not Italian villa prize money, but enough to support a Starbucks habit. Joining a local running group will help the motivation, as you'll likely find other runners near your ability with which to do workouts.

The cycling and triathlon world is a bit more intense and type-A. You'll also want a good job to support this expensive habit. Again, a good community if your personality fits. Big training time commitments are required for triathlons, so that could run into conflict with the need to work to pay for the expenses!

Trail and ultra running is on the opposite side of the personality spectrum to triathlon - it really does fit the stereotype of laid back hippys who live in their trucks. I was assigned bib 420 at a recent Colorado ultra, and man did I ever get a lot of thumbs-up. And though the LR's here seem to think ultras are a graveyard for slow runners, it's surprisingly competitive. For reference, I ran the Boston Marathon injured, and finished ~2200 out of 26,000 runners. Later I ran a really well executed mountain ultra in Colorado and finished 45th out of 75 runners. Percentage wise, more of the the trail runners kicked my ass than the road runners.

I'd suggest trying everything to see what your good at, or even more importantly, what community you fit better.

This actually sounds like something I would do.

However, to explain my thoughts more to everyone, I am probably going to graduate and try to run a good half marathon. Might give running a solid chance for another year or two, but I need a back up plan after that. There is a group I want to get into and the half standard is 1:07:XX. If I can get in, I think that training with legit runners might help me get the Oly standard (I train alone and the next person on my team is mid 26 in the 8k). But past 1:04 in the half marathon, I'm not sure how far I could go. I would love to find out, but I need to be realistic if I'm still doing 1:10 in the half three years from now.

However, if that doesn't happen, I would like to try to get nationally competitive in something else. Not to go full time in necessarily, but to be pretty legit and maybe a few small sponsors. I know a few race walkers, and since many race walkers used to be 30 minute 8k runners, I think I could make a big mark in the race walking world since it is an Olympic event and I would have a chance at making a team (more so than running!).

Triathlons sounding appealing because it would be something different. I live in Northern USA and winters are harsh. Biking could be a challenge in the winter on a stationary. In the end, having a swim session in the AM and running in the PM seems less mind numbing than running twice a day.

I really like the suggestions so far. Seems to be turning out into a decent thread. Keep them coming! I am also here to answer any questions.

I'm 26. You have the right philosophy of wanting to stay competitive into your adult life. I've seen so many guys fall off as soon as they leave college, and their fire/vigor for life is just gone. Never stop trying to get better in something, whether it's running, racewalking, or even competitive board games. Competition can be extremely healthy.

I switched to adventure racing...basically finding check points by navigating your way with a map and compass using running, biking, kayaking, and usually some light rope skills. It is pretty fun and you can compete seriously for a long time as long as you can navigate. You could also make the national team for orienteering. I know people that made it who are only 30 min 8k runners...again it is all about navigation.

I got into weight lifting. I don't try to gain much mass, I try to hit certain benchmarks while maintaining a more moderate weight. I did put on about 20-25 pounds, but it's lean, so I don't feel sluggish, and I'm still quite slim. Right now I'm focusing on my squat, I recently PR'ed in the deadlift and hang clean. I'll try bench press next, then try to set a PR in consecutive dips and consecutive pullups, then back to DL and hang clean. It's got a lot in common with running in terms of setting goals and hitting marks, but you're starting back at a low level and working your way up. It feels like running used to feel when I first began. I still run about 15-25 miles per week with one random workout in there just to mix things up. I run exclusively on soft surfaces. My overall health is excellent. I strongly recommend it.

I have to say this, because I don't have this opportunity very often, and I'm pretty proud of it.

My father took a random HM runner without perspective and coached him racewalking. He made it twice to Olympics.

This is his profile:

http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/romania/costica-balan-9152

So yes, we may not be the best in what we dream, but we may be very good at other things.

Professional escort.... Greatest rush you'll ever have, better than runner's high.

CrossFit

Do you really want to remain "competitive" after college? I competed in cycling, triathlon, and swimming post college and enjoyed all of those for a while (and did fairly well).

It is fun to get better at new things but the truth is just about all "professional" endurance athletes are subsistence beggars. If you really like sports I would recommend volunteer coaching at the youth level and see if you like it. My friends who coach track, football, basketball etc are way more satisfied and stable than the few guys who became road whores or cat ii bike racers.

Alternatively, there are plenty of ways to make an active living outdoors without competing. Working as a raft guide, ski patrol, or cycling guide are all legit if not lucrative ways to keep yourself fed And fit at the same time. These jobs let you travel and meet more interesting people than the typical type a endurance nut.

If you really want to chase medals, just choose the most obscure sport you can find. My advice though would be to take a few years to travel and learn some new skills. Let your competitive urges rebuild and get back in the game at 24-25 with some perspective-

Cyclocross. No longer obscure in any way, but if you have any bicycle ability, say, from jumping ramps when you were a kid, and you live somewhere rainy, you can find success there.

I would say go that way over competitive road cycling either way, though, because crashes will be MUCH less severe.

That said, if you want obscure, you might build on what Krupicka does any more. Ride a bike to somewhere semi-remote, run/hike to some climb area, run/climb up climbs. Heck, set the record for the Boulder/Longs Peak run/hike/climb. Do something even more bad-ass that than. Invent something more nuts. Get Red Bull's attention.

Not Lance wrote:

I'd look at competitive cycling. Jump into a few crits to see if you like it. You have to start in the less experienced, slower crits to begin, but you should be way more fit and easily move up. Buy a decent middle of the road bike and you should see yourself very competitive, very quickly. From what I've seen many people have all the gear and the what-have-you, but few have the motor. Guys like us - especially if you are starting at 21 or so - have big motors that the 30-something pretenders wish they had.

I'm not sure if I agree. Most 25 flat 8k runners will make perfectly decent cat iii team racers. Runners also tend to have superior natural power to weight ratios which makes us strong climbers and tour racers. However, the guys who really excel at racing, particularly crits, seem to be cut from a different cloth and are either tiny little guys who have absolutely no drag or stockier sprinters who just suck wheel until the last lap. Also, the decline in cycling performance is a lot gentler than in track so the 35 plus race is usually one of the nastiest divisions out there. Even the 50 plus races are amazingly fast.

I think Jiu-Jitsu and MMA fighting would be a good alternative. Your already light and have good endurance. Diaz Brothers in the UFC are pretty legit runner tri guys. Plus you would get mad props from the let's run community if you were a sub 4 minute miler who went into the Octagon. Now that would be a following. I think Alan Webb should join the UFC.

The more I think about this, the more I'd lean toward Spartan racing and all those other "extreme" races.

Your only issue will be building toward domination there before the sport evaporates. You might also consider Duathlons, which are about as obscure and impressive as racewalking. Run, ride your bike, then run. Because it's not field-based road cycling, you're a little bit safer.

Another one, if you have any experience on motorcycles, is Enduro racing. Basically longer, lower-speed motocross racing. Takes tremendous endurance to do well. You could actually just be an endurance monster and take on all these things, and more. Try this:

Win some Spartan race series, national or regional-level, one year. Same year, run some crazy race like Badwater, finish and/or win that. Then race Enduro motorcycles in Baja or something, win or place there. If RedBull doesn't start paying you to fly around the world and film you doing crazy crap, try harder. Either way, you'll have some awesome selfies.

Indoor rowing. Compete whenever you want at home, or travel to big indoor regattas. Are you tall? Long levers are a benefit in rowing.

Get into yurt sales. Very good way to make a buck or two and have fun!