Getting into shape

[Gashouse]

The best fun race is this 5K beer run:

http://www.millcitysudsrun.com/#!info/c1jxp

It includes a beer stop in the middle of the race instead of a water stop. I've run it a couple of times, but not for a few years. When I ran it, your bib came with rip-off tickets for free beer and food at the end of the race.

The first year I ran, my brother-in-law and I ran hard and fast to the beer stop to beat the crowd. We got good and loaded and didn't run much for the last half.

[Blitzer]

Speaking of paying for races, my wife just paid $50.00 to sign me up for the Color Run on Saturday with her co-workers... at 8am in the morning.

yay...

[jim]

It does behoove you to be picky on the races. Who is managing? does it support a cause you don't agree with? what sort of history does the event have? is it run by local running folks vs the national gimmick outfits?

My kid wanted to do a 5K last year, so we found one out in the St. Charles. Not well run - dangerous with not enough volunteers to keep vehicles from going thru the throng. (Jim, I suspect)

Worst was a Turkey Trot we did in suburban Chicago with my daughter. Supposedly thru a Forest Preserve - which meant mostly running on congested & chewed-up asphalt path along a screaming highway. There were gobs of people -and a hassle with a shuttle bus to your car. Waste of time & $.

MS Mud Run a few years ago (done as teams - non-competitive division -I probably paid $75) was pretty lame. hardly a race and not much of a challenge. A cluster at each of the obstacles. We did have fun, support a good cause, and our team's kids got a kick out of watching us get muddy - but nobody has wanted to do it again.

Cause? What cause?

Where was the Turkey Trot? That's the one I do every year. "Traidiition" my wife calls it. Doesn't sound like where ours is (Batavia). Mud run at least there is some obstacles and [expletive] that make it fun.

But again, support a good cause? What do you think these races are, some kind of charity or something?

[Freed Roger]

It does behoove you to be picky on the races. Who is managing? does it support a cause you don't agree with? what sort of history does the event have? is it run by local running folks vs the national gimmick outfits?

My kid wanted to do a 5K last year, so we found one out in the St. Charles. Not well run - dangerous with not enough volunteers to keep vehicles from going thru the throng. (Jim, I suspect)

Worst was a Turkey Trot we did in suburban Chicago with my daughter. Supposedly thru a Forest Preserve - which meant mostly running on congested & chewed-up asphalt path along a screaming highway. There were gobs of people -and a hassle with a shuttle bus to your car. Waste of time & $.

MS Mud Run a few years ago (done as teams - non-competitive division -I probably paid $75) was pretty lame. hardly a race and not much of a challenge. A cluster at each of the obstacles. We did have fun, support a good cause, and our team's kids got a kick out of watching us get muddy - but nobody has wanted to do it again.

Cause? What cause?

Where was the Turkey Trot? That's the one I do every year. "Traidiition" my wife calls it. Doesn't sound like where ours is (Batavia). Mud run at least there is some obstacles and [expletive] that make it fun.

But again, support a good cause? What do you think these races are, some kind of charity or something?

No cause is best for me. But if you must do events for a cause...pick one that doesnt suck.
I think the turkey trot was in picturesque Shaumberg/Rolling Meadows.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

There's a 5k mudrun around here benefiting the city parks. Cost like 20 bucks, you get a tshirt and an entry number. Run e miles, do stupid obstacles then run a hundred yards thru mud. Dress up in costume and drink beer during the race. I don't know if I've ever finished. But def got a good buzz a couple years. One year I was a shady businessman drinking a bloody mary smoking cigs. Didnt win the race though.

[JackofDiamonds]

There's a 5k mudrun around here benefiting the city parks. Cost like 20 bucks, you get a tshirt and an entry number. Run e miles, do stupid obstacles then run a hundred yards thru mud. Dress up in costume and drink beer during the race. I don't know if I've ever finished. But def got a good buzz a couple years. One year I was a shady businessman drinking a bloody mary smoking cigs. Didnt win the race though.

Run 2.718 miles?

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Probably about right.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

One of the funniest things I've seen out there, rather intentional or not I have no clue, was a guy dressed up as a soccer player, cleats and all. Quit the run because of an injury. Hilarious. Though it could have been real, running a mile or two on pavement in cleats sucks.

[jim]

It does behoove you to be picky on the races. Who is managing? does it support a cause you don't agree with? what sort of history does the event have? is it run by local running folks vs the national gimmick outfits?

My kid wanted to do a 5K last year, so we found one out in the St. Charles. Not well run - dangerous with not enough volunteers to keep vehicles from going thru the throng. (Jim, I suspect)

Worst was a Turkey Trot we did in suburban Chicago with my daughter. Supposedly thru a Forest Preserve - which meant mostly running on congested & chewed-up asphalt path along a screaming highway. There were gobs of people -and a hassle with a shuttle bus to your car. Waste of time & $.

MS Mud Run a few years ago (done as teams - non-competitive division -I probably paid $75) was pretty lame. hardly a race and not much of a challenge. A cluster at each of the obstacles. We did have fun, support a good cause, and our team's kids got a kick out of watching us get muddy - but nobody has wanted to do it again.

Cause? What cause?

Where was the Turkey Trot? That's the one I do every year. "Traidiition" my wife calls it. Doesn't sound like where ours is (Batavia). Mud run at least there is some obstacles and [expletive] that make it fun.

But again, support a good cause? What do you think these races are, some kind of charity or something?

No cause is best for me. But if you must do events for a cause...pick one that doesnt suck.
I think the turkey trot was in picturesque Shaumberg/Rolling Meadows.

Both of those places are simply awful locations for a race, or to visit or live.

[JL21]

I passed out in a ditch in Schaumburg once.