Pass on mud (unless it's trail), Obstacle, Color, Rave, Night, etc, etc. for me. 

 

I tried a fun cool gimmick run as my 3rd run in the summer, worst experience ever.

 I wouldn't put obstacle races automatically in the gimmick category.

The traversal of obstacles requires conditioning and practice. Overcoming obstacles is not only a legitimate form of competition, it is a form of martial arts, and  encompasses a philosophy that is applicable to other areas of life.

Not to sound like I care about it more than i do, but you know....

I'll never do one, it doesn't look fun as a racer at all.

I know this is an old thread, but people who know I run seem to get offended when I tell them I'm not interested in gimmicky races. Color Me Rad is coming to my city in May and it was $35 to register. No thanks... I'm glad it sold out quickly.

I know what you mean. Not knocking anyone's choices, but they're just not for me. Some girls I work with are doing a women-only mud run and asked me to do it, but thankfully I am on vacation that weekend so I had a decent excuse.

Oh hey my old thread was resurrected.

The Color Run that My friends wanted me to do got rescheduled for 4th of July weekend. I am on break from work the week leading up to it, so there's a pretty good chance I may try to plan a vacation during that time and couldn't commit to registering before it sold out since I didn't know my plans. Meh. Did not lose any sleep over it!!! My friends that are running it though are really motivated and already started training so hey, if that's what motivates them, that's great! I hope they have fun. If I end up in town that weekend there's a 10K on the same course that I ran my first 10K on in December that I will chose to PR instead

I did the New Orleans one, with my toddler, 4 year old, and 26 year old "step daughter". I had my 21 month old on my shoulders and we all ran/walked it in 48 minutes. It was a bunch of fun, but I wouldn't want to do it again. I like the participant feel of smaller races, the Color Run just felt like we were being mass herded. The chalky coloured dust isn't pleasant to run through either.

How do you get home without getting your car all crapped up? Do they have showers there? It seems like a royal mess. What do they do when someone gets it in their eyes. ears, nose and throat? I am sure the disclaimer releases them of any wrongdoing.

It seems like a wreckless way to do things for charity or fun.

They have blowers at the end that knocks off most of the excess. We took towels for the car seats, never had a problem. They say, the powder is pretty safe. I think it's corn starch based? Definitely had some interesting colours when blowing my nose for a few days though.

I think I"m a "real running folk".

I have nothing against Color Runs or any of the other Spartan runs or the like that have become

popular lately.  I just have zero interest in doing them. No interest in having something thrown

on/at me or getting covered in mud. Lots of people seem to enjoy them and good for them.

Plus I have too much time and training invested in my marathons and swimming to risk getting

hurt at a mud or obstacle race.

Of course I can't wait for my first triathlon of the season and am planning a Half IronMan next

year and most people have zero interest in those.