racing?? Kinda done with it?

JimJon wrote:

So, anyone else now enjoy the runs daily and have nothing else to prove with race times??

Yes, totally! :) There are lots of great people who just run for fun. You can find many of us here:

If you feel jaded with traditional races, you're not alone! I suggest checking out Obstacle Courses, Zombie Runs, and Color Runs (my fave). Enjoy the jog, and remember you're lapping everybody on the couch!

I'm only 28 but I completely agree with you that the racing scene has become a little bit ridiculous compared to what it was ten years ago. Even the "classic" competitive road races have prices that are going up and many of these races are being taken over by Competitor Group and their over-priced parades. Just the way it is I suppose. I just race less and run more.

I hear your complaints and agree with them for road races.

However, who says road races are the only races available? Are there club xc races available in your area? These are generally a lot more fun.

Also there might not be a lot of masters track meets available, but you should be able to find some if you look. Those are often free or else quite cheap.

Just some thoughts. And there is nothing wrong with just enjoying training and only doing a race or two every year. Just make sure that you take some down time twice a year or so to reset, which you would have done if you were training and peaking for specific races. Don't want to burn out because of an endless year of 80-100 mile weeks.

I am tired of it too. I ran 26 marathons over the last 8 years. I ran my last one in September at age 41. I wanted the final one to be under 3 hours, and it was. I switched to the half for my January race. One more 10k in May, then I am done.

I enjoy running, but am tired of the speed workouts (never really enjoyed them much - I think that is why I kept running so many marathons). It's been nice not having to do the marathon long runs since September. My current mileage is down to around 40 miles per week, from around 70-75 for the marathons. I'll probably end up with 30-35 miles per week. I've been making sure to do strength training every other day, which I often neglected while racing so often.

I'd rather spend the money on something other than racing and just enjoy my shorter runs.

The number of 5ks are staggering. This Saturday in Ohio there are 21 5ks, 1-4 mile run and 1 "training run".

The following Saturday, there is 25 5ks with 3 races adding a 10k. There is one other race that is not a 5k.

I posted pretty much the same thing a few months ago. I used to race 25-40 times a year. I'll probably race 10-15 this year. My only criteria now is that the race has to look "interesting". (very few 5ks fit that criteria) So far this year I did a 6 hour race and a 50k. Running a 10k in a couple weeks only because I have run the race all four years and it is a sunday afternoon. After that it will be a 50k and then a 10+ mile trail race.

This weekend instead of racing, I am going to a state park and do a long trail run.

Same here, been running 40+ years maybe because my times are static or maybe because the race scene has changed. Im 59 enjoy my 60mpw and my favorite time is the weekend long run by myself or my weekly speed/tempo session.

JimJon wrote:Then the ultras, gun goes off and 10 people in front go and race and the remaining 200+ start the slow death march.

Lol, totally true.

Ender Wigginstein wrote:

JimJon wrote:Then the ultras, gun goes off and 10 people in front go and race and the remaining 200+ start the slow death march.

Lol, totally true.

Agree - but for any distance from 5K up.

I understand about the cost being too high but why would what others are doing affect whether you enjoy racing or not?

People get medals for finishing a half marathon - so what, it doesn't effect you

Slow people in a race - so what, it doesn't effect you

You just got old and crotchety.

I'll tell the kids to get off your lawn.

Yes, plenty of run without racing.

Star wrote:

People get medals for finishing a half marathon - so what, it doesn't effect you

Well, it increases the entry fee, which is the first thing he complained about. And now it's some sort of stupid arms race to have the biggest and gaudiest medal. Never do the Little Rock Marathon - their medal is such a complete joke in size and I've heard that it costs $35-40 per medal for the full marathon.

I'm sure that having a medal increases participation and so the money the race brings in goes up, but no way would it offset the cost of the medal per runner for races like the Little Rock Marathon. Basically, if you finish a race and get a huge stupid medal that you don't want anyway, then you probably paid 25-50% more than you needed for that race.

I agree. Recently I've whittled my racing down to 3 races a year. A 10k, a half, and a full. The 10k to get a time to base training off of, a half to test fitness, and the full for fun. That's it done for the year.