Uncategorized Archives « Page 3 of 7 « Serious Running Blog Serious Running Blog

Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Putting Running in a Box: Trail Running, Mountain Running, Fell Running

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

I know, you want running to be free, creative, and without limits; but I’m sorry, everything needs to be categorized. Below are some running categories with explanations. I know I left out a couple of running categories like “cross-country” or maybe “ultra” running but I write this blog everyday, I need to save some material for later. Can I get a doggy bag for cross-country and ultra running? Thanks…and some extra bread please.

Trail Running: The grand daddy of them all. Well, at least the most universal of all of the running categories. The only criteria for a run to be considered trail running is that it is not on a paved surface. Trail running can be done on grass, rock, sand, gravel, snow, or water. Whatever you want, just preferably no pavement. It can be done on singletrack, double-track, or in a field. Distances can vary from a 5K to 100 miles. Typically trail runs are distance runs. Sprinting on gravel isn’t really that fun. The main focus on trail running is getting back to nature and leaving the paved jungle you live and run in. Trail Running is beautiful and needs to be celebrated. Join me in celebrating trail running on Aug 22, National Trail Running Day.

Mountain Running: Categorized by its steep ascents or descents; like on a mountain. While many trail runs contain steep ascents and descents, mountain running can be done on paved surfaces as well as trails. The official authority on Mountain Running is the World Mountain Running Association. From their website they say that mountain running was developed from a need for humans to continue what they have been made to do, run over steep terrain to hunt and gather. There it is, Running is the oldest profession. Sorry real estate geeks.

Fell Running: Fell running begun in the 19th century and took place in community games. The sport grew with top athletes becoming famous for their Fell Running prowess. The sport eventually attracted bookmakers and gambling. I wonder if you can bet on running races in Las Vegas? I’m sure you can but I’ve never seen it. The official organization is the fell runners association. The difference between Fell Running and the other running categories is that it overlaps with orienteering. Runners are given checkpoints to run to but the course they take is up to them unlike a trail or mountain race. Fell Running race courses have categories, probably because there is no specific “course map,” in distance: Long-more than 12 miles, Medium-6-11 miles, and Short-less than 6 miles. I’m not sure what category a distance of 11.5 miles would fall in. They also have categories for the ascents, Category A-at least 250 ft. with no more than 20% of the route on the road, Category B-at least 125 ft. with no more than 30% on the road, and Category C-at least 100 ft. with no more than 40% on the road. See, it’s cool to categorize your running!

So next time you go for a trail run, mountain run, or fell run make sure you accuratley call it what it is. Or just say you’re going for a run. Even a caveman can understand that.

Tags:fell running, mountain running, trail running
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

New Running Boom Across America

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

I came across an article in the Mansfield News Journal the other day talking about the second running boom spreading across America. The first boom came in 1972 when Frank Shorter won the Olympic Marathon. About the same time period as the Frisbee boom and the not-showering boom. I’m glad that the running boom has been the only boom to stick around. So why would there be another boom if Americans’ interest in running hasn’t changed? The economy. As people begin to lose their wealth they have begun to get back to the basics and appreciate the simpler things in life again, like running. I’m actually going to take it one step further and say the next real boom is going to be trail running. You heard it here first. It’s going to be like the running boom of the 70s but now because our society has more of an emphasis on nature, the environment, and getting away from the concrete jungles, trail running is going to be the spark of the next running boom. Trail Running is the heat, but is also a cool way to escape the heat of global warming. Help start the fire and participate in National Trail Running Day! The heat is…on.

At any rate, whether it is trail running or road running, Americans are finding their love for running again. Finally people are doing something with their Saturday mornings other than playing endless bocce ball tournaments. So lame. So why does a bad economy make for a good running economy? Because running is cheap. The biggest cost is running shoes and even those you can get really cheap on SeriousRunning.com. The only other cost is race entries but you don’t have to participate in races to make running your hobby. Running is universal, anyone can do it, even two year olds can do it!

Although the economy is the biggest factor to this new running boom, I think our realization that obesity is becoming a large problem, even in our children, has made running more popular as well. People are realizing that even though any size is beautiful, not every size is healthy. Our society is deeply rooted in eating unhealthy. It tastes good and is easy to do. Even the Girl Scouts peddle delicious cookies ever year. What are we suppose to do? Not eat them? Of course not. The solution; go running and exercise while continuing to enjoy delicious treats.

So jump on the bandwagon and go running! Wait, how can you run while on a bandwagon?

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Learning about Running from Jeff Galloway

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

Today I had the special privilege of meeting and speaking with one of the running industry’s forefathers, great entrepreneurs, and savy marketers, and oh yeah, and a pretty good runner too, Jeff Galloway.

Jeff Galloway told the group about how he started running. He chose running cross-country because it was the easiest sport to participate in the 8th grade. The coach was rather laid back and the participants could go run in the woods and then sit there until it was time to come out again. Jeff did this for the first couple of days until some other kids told him that he was going to run with them. So he ran and ended up keeping pace because he wanted to hear the funny stories the other runners were telling about their classmates. From there Jeff was hooked on running. Maybe you’ll get hooked on running too. But you will never know until you get out there and run. Run with a running club or group for extra motivation like Jeff did! Maybe you’re a world class athlete and don’t even know it yet!

Jeff Galloway went on to not only be a lover of running, but also a great competitor. However, not until his Senior year of High School did he finally qualify for State Championship in Georgia. He then went on to run at Wesleyan college, then went into the Navy, and from there went to graduate school at Florida State University where he had two missions; one to get a graduate degree and the other to train for the Olympic trials. He trained with Frank Shorter and Jack Bacheler in the mountains of Vail, Colorado and qualified for the Olympic team in the 10,000 meter race; however, Jeff says his greatest thrill was dropping back so Jack Bacheler could qualify for the last spot on the Olympic marathon team. Jeff was an alternate. This is one of the aspects of running that Jeff Galloway fell in love with, the mutual respect that distance runners have for each other, no matter what speed or what distance. Jeff also was the 1st winner of the Peachtree Road Race in a field of 110 in 1970. He told us there were even cars on the road in the first Peachtree Road Race because the race director hadn’t let the city know that they would be running right down the center of the busiest street in Atlanta. Jeff Galloway then became involved with the race directing of the Peachtree Road Race and persuaded some of the top national athletes to run it. During this time he grew the Peachtree Road Race from 1200-12,000 participants which has now grown to be capped at 55,000 people which makes it the World’s largest 10K.

As you can see, Jeff Galloway isn’t just a great runner, he’s an entrepreneur, a marketer, and an innovator. He has written over 18 books, including the best selling running book in North America, Galloway’s Book on Running. He started one of the first running specialty stores in the United States, Phidippides. He has conducted over 500 fitness events, does over 200 talks a year, and has coached over 200,000 runners. He told me he works 16 hours a day and makes contact with at least 100 people a day. He’s what you call a “connector.” How does he do it? By always meeting and talking with new people. He told me he answers every email he receives, although he did admit that some particular emails may take a couple of months to respond to. Jeff Galloway is probably one of the few people in the World who wishes email was never invented.

He’s become an innovator by learning as much as possible about running and how it effects your body. In his book, Running Until You’re 100, he discusses how to take care of your legs and feet and avoid aches and pains at a later age. But perhaps the most innovative and popular idea and technique of Jeff Galloway’s is the run/walk method for marathon training. I have personally never tried this method, but the concept is that you run for a pre-determined amount of time, say 8 minutes, and then walk for one minute, then do it again until you reach your distance. The idea is that you avoid putting as much stress on your body. A serious runner I spoke with told me that she used this method in training for a marathon and found that it did make her recovery a lot quicker after a long run (plus some walking) day. She also had trained for marathons using a normal running method. Anything that takes stress off your body has got to be a good thing. You can pursue your running addiction the rest of your life!

I’d like to thank Jeff Galloway for taking the time to talk with me, but also for developing and promoting the running industry to be what it is today. Congratulations on all the successes Jeff, you deserve it.

Check out Jeff Galloway’s website for more information.

Tags:Jeff Galloway
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Running and Racing Tips from a BADD Runner (2 of 2)

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

How does a BaddRunner mentally prepare for a race? What types of things do you tell yourself race day? Do you have a mantra when you run?

I try to find out as much about the race as possible and train accordingly. For instance, for Boston we tried to find a long run course that had similar elevation and do that every time. My mantra can also change depending on the race, in fact it probably should never be the same. At Boston I knew there would be a lot of other runners around me, which is not always the case, so my mental saying was, “keep moving up, keep passing.” That way I never settled in. A conservative estimate is that I ended up passing 1,500 runners during Boston. So it really depends on the race at hand. If it is a short fast race (5k for me.) My motto might be just to “hang on to the front runners” or “just stay within striking distance.” But overall, if I had to have one motto it would be “Just keep yourself in the best position to succeed.” Some days that is easy to do in a race, other days it seems impossible, but if you can just keep close to your goal, a lot of times you surprise yourself and find some way to succeed.

I’m always surprised when I succeed…not really. I deserve everything I have, like my ridiculously good looks. For those who aren’t as lucky as me, do you have any tips for running a competitive race?

I’d say never panic and continue to analyze the race. I feel like a lot of competitors that are equal to me in skill level sometimes fail because they allow their brain to shut off at key moments in the race. They might miss a surge because they aren’t paying attention. Or something unplanned might happen that could throw you off mentally…you can’t let it get to you. I’ve almost been hit by a deer, a train, and a tree during a race. You’ve just got to deal with it and not give up. Sometimes I’ve beat a competitor using one tactic that failed the next time. You have to have alternative race plans for the same race. That way if something changes you can adapt and not be phased.

Wait, almost hit by a train during a race?! That’s a true competitor! Other than running putting your closer to death, can you tell me more about what you mean about running taking too prominent of a role in your life? How did your running change/consume other aspects of your life?

In high school and college I let running basically run my life. I really enjoyed it and knew it was happening, but it just left no time for anything else. In college I called my commitment to running “total war.” I tried to beat competitors with every aspect of my life. Anything that could change the outcome of a race I tried to improve such as sleep, nutrition, weight lifting, stretching, massages, icing, rehab, prehap, psychology (I saw a sports psychologist on campus,) and anything else that I thought might help. When people asked me my major I told them that I came to college to run. I did happen to graduate from a private, liberal arts university with a 3.5 GPA (Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama) but I was there to run. After graduation I had to sit down with myself and realize that I was not fast enough to run professionally and therefore had to make room for other stuff. I had also become a Christian in college and it no longer made sense for me to worship my running. Of course I have continued to run at a pretty high level, but overall I consider myself retired. Every time I get too amped up over a race I tell myself to relax because now I’m just doing it for enjoyment. It also gave me time to fall in love with a great girl and make her my wife. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary while in Boston. So obviously running is still a huge part of my life, but I’ve found a balance that has made me happy and more accessible to others in my world.

Congratulations on your Anniversary! I’m personally still holding out for Running, she’s a tough love to lock down. So being a part of the running shoe industry, what do you think about the new Vibram Five Fingers, barefoot running, and toe strike techniques and the idea that the running shoe industry has created running shoes that create more injury by putting such an emphasis on heel cushioning? That the human body was made to run on its toes?

I understand and appreciate the idea, but one thing that I always preach to customers that come in our stores, Breakaway Running in Memphis, Tennessee, is trial and error and personal preference. Sometimes we’ll have people that should obviously be in a shoe with a lot of medial stability but for some reason they can’t stand the feeling and have always worn light flexible shoes to train in. So I tell them that the end goal of footwear is to keep you comfortable and safe. So if they aren’t having problems and can run at the level they want to then they have to go with what works. I say all of this because I understand the theories behind all of those shoes and I own a pair of the Nike Frees that are a similar idea, but I happen to run way back on my heels and haven’t been able to wear anything that is too minimal or forefoot focus like Newtons. Another question we have in the stores is about running form and I always lay out the principals that are supposed to be good for runners and everything, but I end off with telling them that your body will find it’s own “natural” form and to night fight that too much. So always get wary with products that preach only one correct style or stride for running. Some off the greats had terrible running form. I just say do whatever keeps you keeping on.

I couldn’t agree more. There are ideas and general practices that work, but everyone’s body is different and running is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.

Thank you so much for taking the time to give us some insight on your Badd Running, Bryan. We look forward to more great running information on your blog, The BaddRunner, and on your running shoe store website, Breakaway Running. See you on the race course!

Tags:racing
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Learning from the Running Techniques of the Tarahumara Indians

Sunday, May 17th, 2009

After being injured for the first time in 17 years of running I’ve been searching for ways to become a more efficient runner. I am intrigued by the new movement to run barefoot like the human body was made to run, landing more on the middle of the front of the foot than on the heel, where most shoe manufacturers place most of their cushion. It’s a bad economy, it’s time to get back to the basics, why not cut out buying running shoes and start running barefoot? Because that’s just silly. Go purchase some running shoes here. When researching barefoot running I came across the Tarahumara Indians of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Northwest Mexico. These runners have always been about the basics and guess what; they’ve never been in a recession. Stop complaining, give up all of your worldly possessions, and never be in a recession. Just be prepared for a 30% successful birth rate.

The Tarahumara live in a rugged land which is often not able to be travelled by horse or wagon so traveling by foot is the best option. They usually travel at 50-80 miles per day at “race pace” which I would guess is probably faster than your race pace. Pretty much running two marathons a day is their job. What did I tell you? Marathons are recession proof and business is always good for the Tarahumaras. Become one and you’ll no longer have to work at a bar or casino! Don’t act like you don’t enjoy it. The reason the Tarahumaras run about two marathons a day is because their job is to chase animals, often until the animals drop from exhaustion. Humans were built for running long distances on trails. Even Usain Bolt can’t outrun a cheetah or many other animals, but there is no species that can outrun humans over long distances. Plus we’re better looking than any other species. Well, some of us are.

So how do you run like a Tarahumara? Only eat complex carbohydrates, don’t train, and smoke and drink before races. See, you can do that. To be exact, a diet of the Tarahumara consists of about 80% complex carbohydrates, 10% protein, and 10% fat. They primarily use their livestock for manure to grow corn and other plants to eat. Runners should remember that carbohydrates are our friends. I eat tons of carbohydrates because my body needs them from running long distances. After losing 30 pounds, I then began running longer distances and began feeling fatigued. The nutritionist I was dating at the time told me I should add some more carbohydrates to my diet of canned tuna and chicken. Genius! So I ventured out to consuming cans of Spaghetti O’s to get some carbohydrates. The point here is to feed your body what it needs. Don’t worry about each and every thing you put in your body, counting calories and tracking which ones you burn, just give your body the energy it needs to work. Get your energy from a can like me and Popeye!

Also, don’t train, like the the Tarahumara Indians. More specifically, don’t over think your running. The Tarahumara Indians do not teach their children at a young age how to run, they just begin running. Running farther and farther as their life goes on, learning techniques and becoming more efficient every time they run. You don’t need to over think about your technique or efficiency, just run. Focus on that. Simple enough?

Lastly, drink, smoke, and avoid contact with the opposite sex before a race like the Tarahumara Indians. I know, usually the drink leads to your contact with the opposite sex but use your best judgment, or your best judgment at the time, and avoid this contact before a race. The point here is not that you necessarily need to smoke or drink before a race, but that you need to relax before a race. I once had a friend tell me that because a race start was pushed back 15 minutes he became de-hydrated during the race. He was at a perfect hydration level for the normal start time. Does that 15 minutes really matter? Do those two beers you had 48 hours or even 24 hours before the race really affect your running? Does that pack of cigarettes you smoked the day before a race matter? Well, probably, but most likely more so because you already smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for a month prior to the race. The point is, don’t sweat the little things. Just run your best and don’t think about anything else you may have done prior to the race like the Tarahumara Indians do. Just run your best.

Get back to the basics like the Tarahumara Indians. They’ve survived for centuries for a reason, because they run.

Posted in Motivation, trail running, Uncategorized | Comments

Running On A Boat

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

Get your towels ready. It’s about to go down! Forget land, you’re on a boat (be advised there are some curse words in the link to this song but it’s still funny nonetheless)! You’ve got your swim trunks and your flippy floppies but make sure you bring your training plan and make some extra copies…in case there’s a dolphin splashing and getting everything all wet or something.

As summer approaches you may have plans to travel on a cruise boat. I know, you never thought you’d be on a boat but this is as real as it gets. Just as real as maintaining your running habits and training prowess. It can be difficult to keep up with your running while vacationing on a cruise boat. Not only do you have less time and less surface area to run on but you also have all the food you can eat, 24 hours a day. I suggest you take advantage of the abundant food and making sure you offset it by continuing to run your training plan. Here are some ways to help you do that:

Run at Port: This makes sense right? You are traveling on a cruise boat so you can visit a different places so why not take your own running tour? Typically the areas closest to cruise boat ports are geared toward tourist so get off the beaten track and get a real feel for the area and the culture. However, be very careful. Do not run alone. Run the whole time and do not stop in area where there are no other people around. Do not run at night. Unfortunately cruise port areas typically have high crime rates.

All Feet on the Deck: Most cruise boats have a small track on one of the upper decks. It is usually about 1/4 of a normal track loop so be prepared to do a lot of rotations. A great running work out I came up with so I didn’t have to do as much distance on the small track is called the Starboard Sprint. It is an interval run in which you sprint when you are running straight into the wind and then jog the rest of the loop. It’s a great work out and it allows you to enjoy the cool sea breeze. Finally you can use trade winds to your advantage! Toss your head back and forth, let your hair down, and extend your arms straight out like Leo for full effect.

Treadmill: More like dreadmill…seriously though, it is a viable option to keep training when you’re on a cruise boat; however, it isn’t the same as running on a treadmill on stable land. The boat has a lot of movement which can make it difficult. Try running on it at times when the boat is not swaying very much; like when it is close to port.

Get your run in and maintain your figure and training while on vacation. After your run sit back and relax. Take a picture. You’re on a boat! Like Kevin Garnett, anything is possible!

Tags:training log, treadmill, vacation
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

B.A.R.E. – Bare Your Hide 5K Run & Walk

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

B.A.R.E. or Butts A’runnin Race Enterprises is starting their new 2009 Bare Butt Chasers East Coast Race Series on May 16 with the Bare Your Hide 5K Run & Walk. There will be a special prize at the end of the season but you must participate in at least 2 races to qualify. Run this race and set the tone for your naked domination…of the race series. This race takes place at the beautiful Carolina Foothills Resort in Chesnee, SC. Come up the day before the race to do a warm up jog on the trails or just enjoy relaxing with your naked body.

This race starts on gravel roads, then through wooded trails, ending at the terrific finish line on the lawn beside the clubhouse. Don’t worry, the only spectators for this event will be the members, volunteers, participants, and guests. So make sure you bring guests who don’t mind seeing your body bouncing up and down on the trail. Strollers and pets (even if they are participating naked) are not allowed on the race course. Participants must be 21 years or older so this isn’t a young family event; however, if you have a 30 year old son still living at home then bring him along! Race entry fee gives you access to the resort for the day but the price for one guest is $15 and the regular resort fees apply to each guest thereafter. In order to provide the most accurate timing for the race series they will be using ChampionChip. Don’t worry, you can attach it to your shoes.

Remember, you can run this race fully clothed or nude. I personally am not a nudist, but have run one of these races before and still talk about it today. Someone once told me that success is measured by how many cocktail party stories you have. If that’s true, I want to be more successful than that Ted Turner fellow! If this is your first time visiting a nudist resort the only thing you need to remember is to bring your own towel to sit on. It’s nudist ettiquette.

Race registration is $25.00 by May 8th and will be $30.00 after. Go online and register today…wait, you’re already online. You can also print, fill out, and send in your registration form. Either way you can register naked! Next up, running a 5K naked!

Tags:5k, naked running
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Avoiding Human Obstacles while Running

Monday, April 20th, 2009

No matter where you run you have to avoid obstacles, but what do you do when that obstacle is a human being? You want to stop for the least amount of time possible, but you have to be careful not to offend them or hurt their feelings. I saw one runner forced to stop and see a newborn about 20 meters from the finish of a 5K the other day! It was horrible. I’m was very sorry that she was not able to avoid that human obstacle. That is why I am sharing with you some tactics to help avoid human obstacles.

Cross the Street: The most effective way to avoid stopping to talk to someone while running is to keep running. There are many variations of this technique. If you are able to spot the potential human obstacle quick enough, you can run to the opposite side of the street as if that was your plan all along. However, if you aren’t careful, it can be very obvious that you are trying to avoid the human obstacle. Remember, human obstacles are very sensitive. With the high level of risk, only use this tactic if you don’t care about potentially offending your obstacle.

Wave and Run: This is a popular move and can be used for most of your human obstacles. If you have a close relationship with the person or they are a runner too, they will understand that you need to continue your run, but they still want to be acknowledged. Give them some eye contact, a wave, and maybe a smile then continue on your run. Your obstacle will feel good and you’ll be on your way!

Keep Jogging in Place: If you get stopped by a human obstacle don’t give up. Let them know that continuing to move is important to you. As you converse, keep jogging in place, bouncing up and down as they try to hold a conversation. Most human obstacles will get the hint and keep it brief. If not, they’ll eventually get annoyed trying to maintain eye contact with your bouncing body.

Don’t Catch Your Breath: Try not to catch your breath. You want to make your human obstacle know that they are stopping you in the middle of an intense work out. Keep emphasizing your breathes and breathe as hard as you can. They may understand or they may just get frustrated with talking to a heavy breather. Either way, you win!

Check Your Pulse: If you are trapped by your human obstacle the best way to get out of it is to start checking your pulse by pressing two fingers against your neck and counting softly. This will show them that you are serious about your run. Your human obstacle needs to know that every minute they keep you from running is a decreased heartrate and a lessened work out for you. If they still don’t get the hint, put two fingers against their neck and check their pulse. Start talking about the differences in your two pulses to show them that you are in the middle of an intense work out.

People are important, but runners are people too. We just need to be aware of each other’s interests. Feel free to share any other techniques you use to avoid talking to people while running. It feels good to share.

Tags:obstacles, tips
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Is Running a 5K Road Race Serious Running?

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

I ran the Sweetwater 420 5K today. It was the first time in a long time I had raced a 5K. I finished 3rd overall, 18:30 on a difficult 5K course (Although, I didn’t know there could be such a thing). I think I’m going to run more 5Ks. Running this race made me realize that the 5K is an entirely different race than anything 10K or higher. There are more sharp corners, short and steep hills, and it is a quicker mental race. A 5K can be serious. Dude, I’m serious, listen.

Right Hand Turns: Quick right hand turns are tricky. There is a technique to running them. The first right hand turn of this race was about 400 m from the start and I ran around it like I was rounding 1st base on a triple. I could literally hear the people behind me licking their chops thinking, ‘I’m going to pass this idiot.’ On a quick 90 degree turn you have to make smaller steps. Hit the corner at the closest edge and pivot. Keep your arms out for balance. A 90 degree turn running a 6 minutes mile pace is serious.

Short Hills: This I didn’t mind as much but it was different. In longer races the routes to try to avoid drastic changes in elevation; however, 5Ks pay less attention because they are shorter in distance. You are forced to use bursts of energy and then turn it off on a steep downhill. More strategic running than a long distance race.

Competitors: Often the fields of local 5ks are made up of predominantly people who run 10 miles a week who are there to have a good time. There are usually only a small portion of runners who are competing. Less competition the more you have to push yourself; race against yourself. I lost the race today against myself. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow. I need a day to reflect.

Quicker Mental Race: In a 5K you don’t have much time to strategize. You must be able to react quickly. In the beginning of the race you have to make sure you stick with your competition. If they get away you have less time to fill the gap. When you get to a hill or see your competitor getting tired you have to decide if you want to make your move. In a 5K you really only have one chance to make one big move. Use it wisely.

Try your local 5k. It can be a lot of fun, challenging, and a great way to compete!

Tags:5k, race director, race planning, tips
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Trim the Fat. Run a Cheap Local Race.

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

lower-cost-of-5k-resize

I was talking to some friends last night about the economy and the fear of many individuals about losing their jobs. I told them a penny saved is a penny earned (I came up with that). If you aren’t earning as many pennies as before, then save the pennies you’ve got. Don’t spend and you won’t need money. Even Americans are saving! This from a country that consumes probably about 110% of their income. In last quarter disposable income dropped by 1.5% but people have increased their savings by 11%. How can they do this? By not spending. However, if you must spend, buy running shoes or purchase a race entry.

Your local 5K and 10Ks should spend less to stay profitable as well. Smaller, local races are a lot of fun for all participants. They are a great way to bring a community together, try to run a PR, and keep you motivated, but they should stay in that niche. People run these races for different reasons than they do larger races and marathons, so why try to offer the same product? In order for small races to maintain their revenue stream in a poor economy they must lower their entry fees. Lower entry fees? Wouldn’t that decrease revenue? Maybe, but these small races need to understand their demand is elastic. As people decrease their discretionary spending, running a local 5k road race is one of the first things to go. It makes sense. Running a 5k really isn’t a necessity, even for the most avid runner, especially when there is an almost perfect substitute available, running 3.1 miles on the road…for free. How do you compete with free? Get as close to it as possible. Cut costs and offer a cheaper product, Sam Walton.

T-shirt: Why does every race offer a ‘technical’ T-shirt these days? I personally like to receive them but I can’t imagine these T-shirts being cost effective. If your race relies on sponsorship logos on your T-shirts, then use the traditional cotton T-shirts. They’ve sufficed as fine clothing for about 90 years. If you don’t have sponsors donating to cover T-shirt costs then think about cutting out the T-shirts all together. Trust me, runners have enough T-shirts.

Accurate Timing: I’m definitely into accuracy. I like to know exactly what time I ran…plus or minus 5 seconds. However, these smaller races don’t need chip timing. I know it is more convenient for compiling and distributing race results, but you can do this manually like it has been done for 80 years. The main benefit to chip timing is accounting for the difference in the race clock and your actual time. In smaller races this is usually within 5-10 seconds if you are a serious runner. It is already an unwritten rule, faster runners start close to the start line, slower runners line up in the back. Look, your runners are already lining up in order of preference for an accurate time! Without you saying or doing anything. Now, that’s an efficient market!

Food and Beverage: This can be minimal. Some bagels, bananas, Gatorade and water. Try to find somewhere that sells older baked goods for cheaper priced bagels. Runners don’t care, they are just trying to replenish their energy. If you live on a tropical island, climb a tree and get some bananas for free. Ok, so really I don’t know how to get cheap bananas other than by climbing ladders and jumping barrels, Donkey Kong. However, you can also save money by making Gatorade in large coolers with the mix. You can even make money on your refreshments by serving and charging for a recession proof product: alcohol! Everyone will remember your race as a good time for sure! Well, hopefully they’ll remember.

It’s time to streamline. Become more efficient. Create value. Trim the fat and run a cheap 5k. You’ve got this runner’s support.

Tags:10k, 5k, economy, recession
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Serious Running Blog