In New England with a zillion races we are defining the most competitive with the USATFNE Grand Prix series to help runners make some sense out of the offerings.
When there is a Grand Prix race you can know where the best racers in all divisions will be so you can challenge them or go hide.
Tom
jamin wrote:
Unattached Runner wrote:This. If you're looking for a no frills race with solid competition, jump in a collegiate XC meet. Unless you truly live in the middle of nowhere, you likely have pretty regular opportunities to run unattached within a short drive.
How good do you have to be to run unattached in a collegiate XC meet?
Where I'm from you just need $20.
Cincinnati has a good competitive 15k in the heart mini marathon. It's
Consider This wrote:
Where I'm from you just need $20.
So if I wanted a real 5k on a track for an official PR, I could find some collegiate race and then pay $20 to enter even though I'll finish a minute behind everyone?
Here's an example for you. This is from the 2013 Triton Invitational at UC San Diego. Roughly a 3 minute spread between first and last:
Men 5000 Meter Run
================================================================
Name Year School Finals
================================================================
1 Jackson, Todd Central Ariz 14:41.85
2 Monds, Jevin Running Room 14:43.21
3 Ruiz, Lucas Pima CC 14:58.48
4 Valencia, Alejandro Pima CC 15:08.26
5 Rich, Ben UC San Diego 15:13.58
6 Montanez, Nico Paradise Val 15:16.83
7 Norton, Ryan Paradise Val 15:17.47
8 Koko, Martin Central Ariz 15:19.99
9 Petro, Solomon Central Ariz 15:25.35
10 Herrera, Caleb Pima CC 15:26.31
11 Liem, Warren UC San Diego 15:26.74
12 Lok, Ryan UC San Diego 15:34.97
13 Cave, Colton Paradise Val 15:35.98
14 Carrillo, Eddie UC San Diego 15:47.21
15 Hemphill, Aaron Unattached 15:53.63
16 Vasquez, Brennan Paradise Val 15:55.38
17 Villaquiran, Ciano Unattached 15:57.19
18 August, Marcus Unattached 16:19.07
19 Seat, Mathew Unattached 16:26.24
20 Norminton, Matthew Running Room 16:27.86
21 De La Cruz, Martin Unattached 17:47.50
And most NCAA events don't cost $20 either.
coach d wrote:
Here's an example for you. This is from the 2013 Triton Invitational at UC San Diego. Roughly a 3 minute spread between first and last:
Men 5000 Meter Run
================================================================
Name Year School Finals
================================================================
1 Jackson, Todd Central Ariz 14:41.85
20 Norminton, Matthew Running Room 16:27.86
21 De La Cruz, Martin Unattached 17:47.50
And most NCAA events don't cost $20 either.
NO
That was a 1:45 spread with one slow guy that everybody gave the pity clap to when he finally crossed the line.
UCSD is D2 and a pretty supportive environment, just as Steve Scott's operation and Cal State San Marcos is. There would have been no derisive clapping or pity. The last guy would have been just as supported as everyone else. Plenty of Masters athletes (throwers as well as runners) train at the track.
There were plenty of people in this race a lot more than 1 minute behind the leader.
Oheo wrote:
Cincinnati has a good competitive 15k in the heart mini marathon.
It's part of the runohio series
The website screams "stay away serious runner" if you already didn't know about the race.
Results link never takes you to results. The first thing you see in the center of the homepage is DONATE. When you hit "registration" you are taken to a page that tells you where there are Heart WALKS all over the country. There is a long waiver you must agree to. You are then taken to a page where they ask if you are on a team, want to start a team, or want to join as an individual and start collecting donations. Only by accident do I hit "race details" to find out the price of the event. Then I hit "registration and packet pick-up" that gives me links to register. Hitting the on-line registration link takes me right back to the waiver page. Hitting the "mail in" link finally gives me a pdf file of the race entry form.
While the price of the 15k is doable at $40, I probably wouldn't pay an extra $15 for the half marathon (does EVERYBODY HAVE TO ADD A HALF MARATHON to their long running races?) and I certainly wouldn't pay $40 for a 5k.
I would probably do this race for the RunOhio series but not on its own and if I was just randomly looking up a race and clicked on that website, I would have dismissed it fairly quickly. Does the race even give out any awards? I certainly couldn't find that info out anywhere.
coach d wrote:
clapping or pity. .
.
I'm not saying people at that particular meet would have a problem or be mean. The pity clap isn't even people being mean. I saw it a few times at the high school district xc meet I went to this morning. The point was that most of us know what we are capable of running and don't want to be in a race we shouldn't be in. The other problem is that these are not very publicized and there are very few of them. Track meets that adults can enter are even more difficult to find than good road races.
luv2run wrote:
#firstworldproblems
#thingswhitepeopleworryabout
#thingsTeaBaggersFromCOSpringsPokeFunAt
I'd love to see more bare bones races. I don't need any more race shirts or finishers medals. Don't care about an "after party". I like to race a lot and am getting worn out on the $35 5ks. I just want to race every week without breaking the bank.
As for entering college meets, LOL. I'm some 20 years older than today's college runners and would finish 3 minutes behind everyone.
[quote]ataglance. wrote:
The thing I hate is having to register for a race 4-6 mo. out.
I've lost a lot of cash the past few years. I registered because the race would close out, then "life happened" and I wasnt able to do the race. I know the RD gets the cash so they dont care, but I took up a slot that went un-used.[/quote
]
No kidding. I'm so tired of the escalating fees, registering early and then leaving this kind of cash ($50 plus) on the table. I know there are a lot of high dollar guys on this site but I am not one of them. I'm cutting way back next year.
I backfill 'real' races with my once or twice a month club races. Club races are pretty much free if you're a club member and minimal cost if you're not. No shirts/medals/chips - popsickle stick timing. Good enough to satisfy me.
dkny64 wrote:
rupkin wrote:+2 - I live in NYC and recently tried to find a decent 5k on a fall weekend - buncha tiny charity runs - I showed up to one in newark, there were just 30 people. I ran well, but I was alone the whole time. Won my entry fee back in prize money tho.
We get spoiled by the nyrr - I just wish they ran some fast flat races every once in a while. Sick of the cp hills.
NYCRUNS does a bunch of their races on Roosevelt Island. The course is practically dead flat although it does have some annoying turns and I find it boring.
If you want to see what you can do for a road 5k, I suggest racing in Prospect Park - not as hilly as CP, easy to get to, races there tend to get a solid turnout.
And NYRR does have their "Dash to the Finish" 5k which I gather is pretty flat and fast but also seems overpriced.
Prospect is a good one I live near there and the first mile that PPTC puts on in the 5k is a little slow due to the hill but the end of mile two will have you flying with that extended downhill...and only like 7 bucks. Roosevelt is really boring I agree there and if it's windy forget it you'll get blasted since it's alongside the water with no cover.
Takinadump wrote:
dkny64 wrote:NYCRUNS does a bunch of their races on Roosevelt Island. The course is practically dead flat although it does have some annoying turns and I find it boring.
If you want to see what you can do for a road 5k, I suggest racing in Prospect Park - not as hilly as CP, easy to get to, races there tend to get a solid turnout.
And NYRR does have their "Dash to the Finish" 5k which I gather is pretty flat and fast but also seems overpriced.
Prospect is a good one I live near there and the first mile that PPTC puts on in the 5k is a little slow due to the hill but the end of mile two will have you flying with that extended downhill...and only like 7 bucks. Roosevelt is really boring I agree there and if it's windy forget it you'll get blasted since it's alongside the water with no cover.
Easy get laid at / after Prospect too if that's an interest.
NE Runner5535 wrote:
Come up to the New England area, there are plenty of reasonably priced, open track, cross country and certified road courses with good competition to keep you happy.
So true. I'm in RI and between RI and Ct there are even 2 or 3 free races that give you numbers and prizes.
pittsburgh marathon is pretty good.
Let me tell you all this much: you can find any race on this calendar https://sportnomad.net/ No matter where you are, or what type of race you prefer, you can find one there
I hear you. Some races have gotten ridiculous expensive and difficult to sign up for. Very early sign ups and lottery's.
I try to avoid all of these races as much as I can.
But there are some marbles out there, like the Road runner series in Memphis, TN for $95 including 10 races from 5k to HM.