Another Thursday has snuck up on us and Thursdays are reserved for the Runners’ Lounge, where like minded people gather to share stories about their obsession passion: running, training, racing, pushing through pain, giving it your all and finishing strong! And on this fabulous day, Kate is curious about the unconventional race:
What’s the most unconventional race you’ve ever run? Have you run a race like North Carolina’s “Take Pride in your Hide” naked race?
Does your local running group have “prediction runs” where everyone guesses their finish time, and the winner is the person who has the closest guess?
How about a Mud Run? If you could make up a wacky race, what would the twist be?
This had me thinking and then realizing that with all my mileage and all of the long and short races that have been run over the years I have actually never ventured out of the ordinary. And I don’t like this notion of ordinary! Not one bit! Of course the definition of “unconventional” can be taken in a narrow or broad sense and in case of the latter I guess I have run a few races that could fall into the “unconventional” category. Pier-to-Peak for one is definitely not a race I would define as ordinary. Climbing 3669 feet over 13.1 miles is anything but. A course so steep that at various points you can walk faster than you could run it and when you run it you understand why it is often called “the world’s toughest half marathon”. It is certainly not for the faint of heart but it is a ton of fun!
And then of course there is the Boston Marathon! I know, I know! Some might be of the opinion that it is “just” a marathon, but to me it is not exactly conventional. First of all, it is the only marathon for which you actually have to earn your entry. And you have to earn it by running another marathon previous to Boston and finishing that marathon within a certain time frame. Something many have tried and continue to try and continue to fail at. So it’s not that you can wake up one morning and decide that this would be a good day to sign up for Boston. No, Sir! You will first have to find a marathon that might qualify you to be amongst the chosen ones. And then you will have to train for that qualifying marathon in a way that will assure you not only cross the finish line but that you actually cross it in a time frame that is set by the honorable people at the Boston Athletic Association. If you come that far, and after you get your official finish time certificate, only then can you sign up for this, the most prestigious of all marathons. And once you get to Boston on race weekend you immediately know that this is no ordinary race! Chances are you will meet fellow Boston qualifiers on the plane and then continue to run into them throughout downtown Boston. I am usually no fan of Bean Town but on marathon weekend the air is vibrant with excitement and pride. And when you get to the enclave of Hopkinton on race morning, 26.2 miles west of Boylston Street and realize that you are surrounded by runners who worked just as hard to get there as you did you throw convention right out the window. Yes, it is that special!
With that being said I have to admit that although the above mentioned races are definitely not conventional in the strictest sense they are also not what one would call outrageous. There is no mud to slide on (if there was we would have a problem), no naked people have been observed (at least not yet), and no alcohol is involved (at least not officially). Maybe one of these days I will come across a race that is completely off the wall, and it does not necessarily have to involve mud or nudity as it has been done to death from what I read online. I would certainly not be opposed to participating in something extraordinarily adventurous. Until then I will stick with running in 100+ degree temperatures during our summer, which lasts from April until October. That should count for something.
Today’s Running Tip: Trail Running!
If you venture from road running to trails beware that trail running is usually harder on your body that running on the open road. Be sure to have the appropriate shoes and always tell a family member or friend where you are heading!
