Fast Running Blog 5 Miler

[Marion McClellan]

Any ideas for the technically under developed?

[adam]

One course over and over can get a little boring, especially an out and back course or a one big loop course.

Some of these smaller cheaper races like Sasha mentioned in Europe are usually multiple loop courses which allow for greater spectator and runner interaction. If turnout is low, you can still keep your competition in view or a goal in view. If turnout is high, you have more spectator support and it makes for a fun race. That's one thing that's not so fun with the out and back courses. A fast runner with no competition ends up tempo'ing the run solo because they know by the first mile (or half mile in some cases) that no one will catch them, and if they are in good enough shape, they can relax the rest of the way and pocket the money every week. Put the same runner on a multiple loop course and he can still interact with the other runners on the course (passing them, trying to catch them, etc).  Have a couple of fast runners that day, and everyone can watch them roll (spectators and slower runners). So you end up getting a little more for your money. Usually these courses are in a park, or on forest roads where the starting point can be shifted to completely change the direction and type of course (ie, left side trail is a 2k loop with hills, right side trail is a 3k loop with gravel/road mix).

8 1ks, 4 2ks, 2 4ks, or something like that. 8 1ks sounds a little dizzying...

That being said, Sasha's out and back course is pretty flat can be quick. First half out is slight downhill, the other half back is a little uphill. Can't get lost unless you decide to go swim in the river or go hop into a farm. The turnaround at 2.5 miles is a gate, which might cause a little congestion though if there are a lot of people grouped together...

[Steve P]

Cool idea. And that's going above and beyond to offer prize money. I used to dream about doing something like this, but you are making it a reality. This type of thing is needed, in my opinion, to counteract the trend toward commercialization of races. I don't have a problem with paying to run a good race, but it's also nice to have this...people getting together to have a foot race.

For a future race, you might also consider doing it at a park and making it a cross-country race (similar to what high schoolers do). I went to high school in Provo and can give you ideas for courses if you want. Or even a track meet (e.g. 5000 meters on the track).

[Burt McCumber]

I would much rather do a free accurately measured 5 miler than another poorly organized 3.02 mile 5K.

Oh, man Dallen, that was so funny.  We've all been there.

[Christi]

What a great race! Wish I wasn't so far away so I could do it.  You guys have FUN!! Thanks Sasha for putting this together

[Cory Birt]

I applaud this concept and your efforts, Sasha.  I'm in Houston or else I'd be running with you Saturday. 
There are a couple similar events here in my area which I really enjoy and many of the locals do too.

First, there's the Run The Woodlands 5K which is held the second and fourth Saturday of each month.  The entry fee is $1.  The course is a certified 5K loop.  There are no bibs but results are timed.  Numbered popsicle sticks are handed out at the finish to record the order.  There is usually an amateur photographer on the course snapping shots which get posted on the web ... free.  The event gets anywhere from 25 - 100 runners.  It has a real grass roots feel.  I like to use it as a fitness test at various points during a training cycle.  Here's the site http://www.runningintheusa.com/rtw/.  A local running store, Luke's Locker, sponsors but there's really no commercial aspect.  They just supply the electronic timing equipment and usually bring a few items of stale inventory to award in a very low-key drawing following the race.

The other local event which draws quite well is the Tour de Bayou, which is a five-race series of various distances between 3 - 6 miles.  The races are on consecutive weeks on a weeknight evening.  Entry is free.  The event moves around to various city parks.  The courses aren't certified and usually involved cross country style racing.  Standings for the series are kept and the event has become very competitive.  The site for this event  - http://www.harra.org/955dir/Competitions/tourdebayou.html.

Your race on Saturday and similar "true" running events are what it's all about.  Again, I applaud your efforts and wish you great success.

[Paul Petersen]

Sasha - if your race in Provo goes well, perhaps consider starting similar FRB races in other areas and other states. This would be one way for the FRB to have nation-wide relevance and impact on local running scenes everywhere, not just central Utah. Of course it would have to be grass-roots, led by the people for people, with different "race directors" for each city. But if people are really onboard with it, you should get all the help you need, and it could spread out.

But for now, starting local is the way to go, and slowly grow from that starting point. Best of luck in the endeavor.

[Sasha Pachev]

Race results are available at

http://fastrunningblog.com/reg/show_results.php?race_id=138

Thanks to everyone who ran and/or helped. The race went fairly smoothly with a couple of minor non-fatal glitches. Nobody got lost on the course. We even had a clock at the finish thanks to Colonel-Lieutenant Ted Leblow and BYU ROTC. Everybody's time got recorded with my hack of a timing system - a $99 wireless barcode scanner talking Bluetooth to an internet tablet to get the finish order, two Palms, master and backup, to time + some black magic, the whole project was a lot of fun .  Josse's stepfather took some pictures, so we might be even getting the pictures as well. In the next couple of weeks I will code up the certificate of completion feature in the registration system, so runners will be able to print their own certificates of completion possibly with a picture (if I get that ambitious), and frame it however they please.

Jeff McClellan, Mary Ann Shauerhamer, and Melanie Burnham qualified for money awards and received their checks immediately after the race. Congratulations to Melanie on losing her amateur status. I qualified as well, but I just get to keep the money. Steve Cuttitta and Julie Crossley ran good races and were close. The standards were not as easy as they might appear. That course looks flat in the profile and on visual inspection, but it does have something to it that makes it relatively slow. So to be close to the money standard is an honor, takes solid training.

We have a unique distinction for a non-collegiate race. 21% of our runners broke 30:00. So it took a very solid performance to finish in that low of a percentile. I hope it is not going to be a deterrent for some people future races. If it is, though, let it so be.

Next race is planned for July 11th. Same course. Details and the registration form will be posted shortly.

Regarding where this whole thing is going to go. I want to perfect a system to put together a simple but decent race that can afford no more than minimal entry fees (<$5), and then spread that system across the country. If we succeed we might start seeing 200 people or more a year under 2:20 again.

[Adam R Wende]

Paul, I think a grass roots effort like in Fight Club would be great.
Sasha, Looks good. I like the idea and was bummed that I couldn't swing it today. I hope that more people (including myself) can make it to the July 11th race.