Attention fast college runners and all those sub 16 guys

1) Entry fees

2) Lack of competition

3) Doesn't fit my training schedule

jewbacca wrote:

1) Entry fees

2) Lack of competition

3) Doesn't fit my training schedule

As a 17 minute runner, i have a better chance of competition, but even i would generally be running by myself. Why pay $30 to run by myself?

If you were as fast as us, you wouldn't be for long running local races every week.

Bennythebull wrote:

Why don't you guys show up to the open 5ks???

You guys could easily win these races and yet you stay home and let some hobby jogger win with 19:00.

I'm not as fast as you, but IF I WERE...I would run these races.

I know you have to get your 15 miles in...but why not run 3 of it in the 5k race and win?

Then I will see you running on the sidewalks later on that day super fast.

BullmanBenny

For what purpose? Why would a college runner mess up their summer training to go race a 5k against a bunch of slow pokes? To WIN a race? That would be pathetic.

If you were a sub 16 college runner, you wouldn't do it either.

entry fees?

Just show up at the race venue , if anyone ask are you in the race , just say you're going for "uptempo jog" , they'll understand.Don't pay anything, always works for me.

If your in college and running..you cant accept cash awards can you?

You need to look at past race results if you're searching for a certain competition level. You might find that you have to drive a few hours for a good one.

I'll never forgot winning a mid size, somewhat competitive Summer 4 miler many moons ago and the prize was a balloon ride. I was excited and looking forward to enjoying this prize.. fast forward a month and the race directors decided that since I was a NCAA runner I couldn't accept the prize. 200 miles in gas driving there, race fee etc for nothing.

I once had this mentality. I would go around and hit up every local race to make sure the winning time was respectable (in my eyes). I didn't think 18 or 19 min runners deserved to win; however, I have changed my tune. After a while you make bigger goals and having consistent training blocks becomes more important than racing every other weekend. If you show up to a lot of these low competition races and win easily, what is fun about that? Much more satisfying to race in a competitive event and push yourself to a PR even if you finish outside the top few places. Only time non-competitive races can be fun is if you win a race with several hundred people and they have a bike pacer. Then you can distract yourself by chasing the biker and you feel special beating 800 hobby joggers. Bigger races = sick medals and gift certificates

a lot of the time there isn't any advertised prize, and also if 50 people get together and "run" between 19 and 45 min, what's the point of paying 20 bucks to do that

and when you stud college runners do show up. and win with a 14:xx time...then YOU GUYS DONT STAY AND ACCEPT YOUR TROPHY.

You go and run more miles and leave the race site. What the heck?????

I run for a d2 school and I ran one local summer race this year. I won by over two minutes, and never had anyone to run with. My 12-year-old sister came in third with just above 19 for the 5k. With all the $$$ for entry fee it just doesn't make sense. Maybe big city races are more competitive. I don't know.

let me guess when you were done you put on your college top on and walked around with your head held high

Bennythebull wrote:

let me guess when you were done you put on your college top on and walked around with your head held high

No, I had to wait for my sister to finish and then we went home.

For the same reason Diamond League runners wouldn't want to race with lousy 15 min 5K runners. That's not even a time that the best women in the world run. You think you're fast with your 15 min 5K? The best in the world would lap you twice on a track. So stop thinking so highly of yourself because to a world beater you're also a slow poke!

The Real Cici wrote:

After a while you make bigger goals and having consistent training blocks becomes more important than racing every other weekend. If you show up to a lot of these low competition races and win easily, what is fun about that? Much more satisfying to race in a competitive event and push yourself to a PR even if you finish outside the top few places.

Yes, agree with this 100%. Though I do like hopping in low-key road races in the summer, since that's when training is most flexible for me.

In fact, tomorrow, I'm going to do exactly as OP is advising. Run 3 miles to the start of a community 5k, race it, do a few mile repeats right after, run home, and call it a day.

Ran a local 5k supporting the Community Parks and Rec Association, for which I am volunteer. I won the race and beat the field by over two minutes, which I figured I would do. But the reaction I got from some of the participants was not very friendly. A small contingent of women pushing strollers came up to me, gave me the stink eye; and proceeded to advise me that the event was a fun run and not a race and that my show boating wasn't appreciated. I told them that I jogged the race, since my time was 20:30 and was running it for fun. They just shook their heads and walked away cackling away about their next Zumba class. Oh well, can't win for loosing.

junkinthetrunk wrote:

Ran a local 5k supporting the Community Parks and Rec Association, for which I am volunteer. I won the race and beat the field by over two minutes, which I figured I would do. But the reaction I got from some of the participants was not very friendly. A small contingent of women pushing strollers came up to me, gave me the stink eye; and proceeded to advise me that the event was a fun run and not a race and that my show boating wasn't appreciated. I told them that I jogged the race, since my time was 20:30 and was running it for fun. They just shook their heads and walked away cackling away about their next Zumba class. Oh well, can't win for loosing.

You can lose for sucking.

Bennythebull wrote:

and when you stud college runners do show up. and win with a 14:xx time...then YOU GUYS DONT STAY AND ACCEPT YOUR TROPHY.

You go and run more miles and leave the race site. What the heck?????

See this is part of why. I agree it's a bit rude not to stay for awards. But if you do, then even if you can save time by running to and from the race site, then a one hour run turns into a 2.5-hour ordeal. If you're driving, add up to an hour. That's kind of a lot of time investment if you're running alone anyway, you already have a bunch of plastic trophies, you don't know many people at the race, and you have other stuff to do that day and another run in the afternoon.

I also don't like showing up to a race and not giving it my all, but that's just me. Also can be a pain to fit a medium or hard weekend 5k into a training schedule.