Super B****
I like shirts (if they are tech and gender-specific, I have no need for massive cotton men's shirts). I like medals. If I am paying so much for races, yes, I expect them.
However, if the race cost less and I didn't get a shirt and / or medal... I think I would live.
chasing the impossible
because i never shut up ... i blog
I'd prefer if races just had no shirts/medals, etc and were much cheaper. If you want a medal or shirt you can elect to buy it?
This^
Although my best running T-shirts other than my Asics singlets are actually the R&R Montreal Brooks T-Shirts. They're the ones I find that chafe the least of all the shirts I have.
More miles does not equate to more speed. I ran 50% more miles in 2015 than 2014. My 5k times saw no improvement.
The stupidest thing I've seen is "virtual races" where you essentially just pay for a finishers medal. There are people who will refuse to run a race if it doesn't give a medal which is the stupidest shit ever. I'd prefer if races just had no shirts/medals, etc and were much cheaper. If you want a medal or shirt you can elect to buy it?
Agree completely. Let's start with the reality that a traditional race means everyone faces precisely the same environmental conditions (heat, wind, etc). Everyone also faces the same terrain. Those two factors can make an enormous difference in a race. For example, the 15 mile Charleston Distance Run is hilly and run on Labor Day weekend so it's always hot and it's usually hilly. Rarely will your pace in that 15 mile race be faster than your marathon PR pace. Beyond that is the psychological factor of a race. How do you handle it when a competitor is hanging off your shoulder and letting you pull him/her along? What is your reaction when you just can't seem to catch up to that person in front of you? What do you do when you get passed and know you won't be able to hang onto the person who just passed you? That's all a part of racing.
Short term goal: 17:59 5K
Mid term goal: 2:54:59 marathon
Long term goal: To say I've been a runner half my life. (I started running at age 45).
I work for a non-profit. We have an event where there is a "snore" option & you get an event shirt (yes, you have to pay). From that end, if it gets people to give money, I'm all for it.
Wait, I like my medals! I choose races based on the type of medal they give (if I'm in between races), but I would run a race if they have no medals if I am going for that state, etc. But I don't run small races and nothing around here has no medals. I mean, for marathons. I once had a medal after a 5K and I looked it like what am I supposed to do with this?
Damaris
As part of the 2024 London Marathon, I am fundraising for VICTA, a charity that helps blind and visually impaired children. My mentor while in law school, Jim K (a blind attorney), has been a huge inspiration and an example of courage and perseverance. Please consider donating.
Fundraising Page
I hate most of the shirts. Sorry, but cotton short sleeves (and white to boot) only work as cat puke cleaners in this house.
The stupidest thing I've seen is "virtual races" where you essentially just pay for a finishers medal. ...
I have a friend who does this. It pains me. We will plan a run and she'll say "I have to do at least 13.1 because I need to do my virtual race." So she and I are running the exact same course, distance, time, potty breaks, etc., except she gets a medal that she paid someone on the internet for, and I don't.
Are we there, yet?
Virtual races seem to be a perversion of a couple concepts that actually made sense at one time. Before we had post-season HS track meets that actually resemble national championships, there used to be postal track meets, but these were actual meet results mailed in from all over the country to see which team would win a mythical national championship. The other concept was shadow races for lack of a better term, where major races, primarily marathons, allowed runners who were unable to run the actual race, e.g. because they were deployed overseas or otherwise had exceptional circumstances preventing them from being on site, run the measured distance at the same time the real race was being run and submit the time to the race directors. They would then receive the race t-shirt, finisher's medal, and other bling that the regular runners received.
2024 Races:
03/09 - Livingston Oval Ultra 6-Hour, 22.88 miles
05/11 - D3 50K 05/25 - What the Duck 12-Hour
06/17 - 6 Days in the Dome 12-Hour.
What did you learn this past year?
If you run too much and get cocky and overconfident, you WILL get hurt!!!
race obsessed
So I run too much but am not cocky or overconfident... I'm safe yes?
5K Specialist
People will willingly throw down 40-60 bucks on a 5k as long as there is a promise of chocolate or donuts (beer is a bonus) but will balk at 5-15 bucks for a 5k race with only bananas and water. local average in DFW: 5k event with goodies ~ 2000 participants 5k race ~ 75 participants
People will willingly throw down 40-60 bucks on a 5k as long as there is a promise of chocolate or donuts (beer is a bonus)
but will balk at 5-15 bucks for a 5k race with only bananas and water.
local average in DFW:
5k event with goodies ~ 2000 participants
5k race ~ 75 participants
Mellew banks on that.
Personal Bests:
800M - 2:38 (5/28/13) | 1 Mile -5:54 (5/28/13) | 3K - 11:55 (12/29/12) | 2M - 13:00 (12/1/12) | 5K - 20:00 (4/12/13) | 13.1M - 1:37:24 (2/3/13)