What are your dream races?

--amadeus--

I have a stack of paperwork to do and I'm trying to avoid it

Spinning off from Mick's "What's next?" thread I was wondering what are peoples dream races? the ones that they may not be doing now but they want to do at some stage.

For me there are two. First is the Sahara Marathon. The whole ethos of teh race appeals - flying out and staying with the refugees, getting to know teh locals and the history of teh people the race supports would be a life changing experience. And 42.2kms through the Sahara, point to point to the three refugee camps is a challenge. It's not even that expensive. I'm still too busy chasing times ("You can run long forever, but you can only run fast for a while") but as soon as I start to slow down that race is #1 on my to do list.

And the biggie, the one I have been wanting to do for about five years is this one, the Addo Elephant Trail Run. The race has changed from when I first started tracking it - it used to be 100 miles with those finishing under (I think) 24 hours receiving a silver belt buckle. It's now down to "just" 85kms but through a wildlife reserve. Again once I start to slow down I'll start to run long and then I am there...

TFBubendorfer

Badwater.

Not that I really think I will do it one day. For a start I would not want to inflict the crewing on anyone I know, but if, somehow, by some miracle, I have the option of doing it, I'd be there in a flash.

ecoli

Considering that my longest distance has been half marathon these are gonna seem pretty out there

1. Marathon de Sables - http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/

2. Comrades Marathon - http://www.comrades.com/


two trues tests of characters though will be 10-15 years before i consider them:p

RoyMcC

Boston Marathon, though it will remain that, just a dream

hunnymonster

I'd happily volunteer to crew this for you if you ever consider it.

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Badwater.

Not that I really think I will do it one day. For a start I would not want to inflict the crewing on anyone I know, but if, somehow, by some miracle, I have the option of doing it, I'd be there in a flash.

christeb

My loftiest dream right now is Comrades, I've some family in Johannesburg and would love to get back down to SA and do the race while there. Don't fancy inflicting it on my body before I'm 35 though (27 now).

asimonov

christeb wrote: »

My loftiest dream right now is Comrades, I've some family in Johannesburg and would love to get back down to SA and do the race while there. Don't fancy inflicting it on my body before I'm 35 though (27 now).

hey christeb. a friend of mine is just back from his 3rd comrades; he did it in 6:5X ...he's 28. you're in the zone.

my dream race is one of the international ekiden relays in japan.

Gringo78

www.sixfoot.com

Six foot track marathon in Australia....always have wanted to do this since I saw it years ago and thought it would be a major challenge....not so over awed by the challenge of it any more by it but would still love to do it. >1500m of climb in it.

MrCreosote

I'd love to do the Jungfrau marathon:
http://www.jungfrau-marathon.ch/ws2/en/marathon2/

Maybe someone on here has done it?

Gringo78

asimonov wrote: »

my dream race is one of the international ekiden relays in japan.

Would you not do the marathon relay in Cork boy? Only difference like is in the name and a pint of murphys instead of Saki like.

asimonov

Gringo78 wrote: »

Would you not do the marathon relay in Cork boy? Only difference like is in the name and a pint of murphys instead of Saki like.

Sorry gringo, I lost the run of myself there- what was I thinking? My *dream* race is of course the cork city Marathon relay :-)

ultraman1

the Hugh Hefner Half marathon...anyone wanna do the relay

wgtomblin

Comrades for me also. I definitely plan to do it, and take in a holiday in that part of the world afterwards.

Boston (for history) and Big Sur (for location) would also be on the list.

aero2k

+1 on Boston.

Also this: Bigsur. The other side of the US, and spectacularly beautiful. Other years they were a week apart and you could do a combined entry, but they're 2 weeks apart in 2011.

New York is also a must do, or so at least two people have led me to believe.

wgtomlin, you beat me to it!

TFBubendorfer

hunnymonster wrote: »

I'd happily volunteer to crew this for you if you ever consider it.

You never know, one day I might just take you up on that offer.

Btw, since it's been mentioned here a few times, I was planning on running Comrades next year, but unless I win the lottery it's not going to happen in 2011. I definitely want to do it on an up year; maybe 2013 then.

jeffontour

Badwater, Western States, any US trail ultra really I suppose and God knows how many others. I'm lucky in that I've done a few of my dream races already in Comrades and West Highland Way.

I've got too many others though to even begin to list them. My current fascination is this. Discovered it a few weeks ago and it's kinda been gnawing away at me since.

2011 may involve some cold weather training in a supermarket walk in fridge somewhere!

shels4ever

Would love to get into shape to do the inter clubs XC some day.

ecoli

jeffontour wrote: »

Badwater, Western States, any US trail ultra really I suppose and God knows how many others. I'm lucky in that I've done a few of my dream races already in Comrades and West Highland Way.

I've got too many others though to even begin to list them. My current fascination is this. Discovered it a few weeks ago and it's kinda been gnawing away at me since.

2011 may involve some cold weather training in a supermarket walk in fridge somewhere!

Can you even call that a race thats more like last man standing only two left in the 350 miler the rest DNF haha best of luck on that one dont forget to pack the wool socks
Training might look a bit like Sanka in cool runnings sitting in the freezer in the ice cream van:p

Peterx

My dream race is/was the Turas Beag one day adventure race in Kerry. I'd love to see it on the calendar again.

My actual dream race is very like the Turas Beag but includes a rock climb up to the abseil, more MTBing, 500m river running and features a later start so we can get a good night's sleep beforehand (and some dreams

Peckham

Ultimate dream - Olympic Marathon (am still a bit off the qualification times though, and age/ability isn't on my side)

Realistic dream #1 - Boston. Have got the qualification time, I just need to use it sometime.
Realistic dream #2 - Bringing up the back of the field in the Inter Club XC with Shels

hot to trot

Comrades and a 24 hour race for me.

Id want to get running more loops down in Portumna though to even get looking down this road. Join all the bravehearts down there

Would be great though

Enduro

Peterx wrote: »

My dream race is/was the Turas Beag one day adventure race in Kerry. I'd love to see it on the calendar again.

My actual dream race is very like the Turas Beag but includes a rock climb up to the abseil, more MTBing, 500m river running and features a later start so we can get a good night's sleep beforehand (and some dreams

Yeah, the Turas Beag was definitely the best one day solo race we've ever had in Ireland. Nothing else has come anywhere near it since.

My dream race was Primal Quest Utah.. a nine day full on adventure race in the American Desert. Reality if anything exceeded expectations on that one. (I do have a tendency to just get up and enter any of my dream races).

It would be good to give one of the classic American trail ultras a go alright, but rigth now I'd say the UTMB is the one that's on the Dream Race list. Maybe next year!

Highway_To_Hell

--amadeus-- wrote: »

For me there are two. First is the Sahara Marathon. The whole ethos of teh race appeals - flying out and staying with the refugees, getting to know teh locals and the history of teh people the race supports would be a life changing experience. And 42.2kms through the Sahara, point to point to the three refugee camps is a challenge. It's not even that expensive.

I had planned on doing this race next year but due to injuries I haven't run for 6 months, had to postpone my Conn ultra entry to next year so if I can get back running decent distances I will try and get the Ultra done in 2011 and then the Sahara Marathon in 2012.

I have also started applying for a NY lottery entry based on not getting the entry until 2014 which would mean running New York a month before hitting the big 50.

Also plan to get an IM done as some point but haven't decided which one yet.

oldrunner

olympic 800m final in London (well you did say dream)

8ofSpades

have not even got around dublin yet but montblancmarathon looks amazing
Need to get 1 or 2 IMRA races in first tho I think

ecoli

hot to trot wrote: »

Comrades and a 24 hour race for me.

The 24hr does have an apeal to me like Le Mans only on foot

myflipflops

2 weeks back running (well, plodding) again after the guts of 5 years getting fat. http://www.volcanorunner.com this is the immediate goal for the end of November. Slow 5.5 km runs at the moment is a long way from 13.1 miles in Montserrat though.

gerard65

After reading 'Feet in the clouds' a few years ago the 'Bob Graham Round' would be my dream race.

aero2k

Peckham wrote: »

Ultimate dream - Olympic Marathon (am still a bit off the qualification times though, and age/ability isn't on my side)

If only myself and Krusty (and Misty!) could have kept up the improvement rate of approx 23 mins per year, we'd be fighting it out for a place on the 2012 squad!:D

MrCreosote

8ofSpades wrote: »

have not even got around dublin yet but montblancmarathon looks amazing
Need to get 1 or 2 IMRA races in first tho I think

Looks great! Might have to add this to my own wishlist too.

IF we're including multisport I'd love to do the NZ Coast to Coast race. Need to learn how to kayak first but it's a fantastic event.

http://www.coasttocoast.co.nz/

hunnymonster

MrCreosote, if you're up our way (Cobh) we'll take you out paddling.

BeepBeep67

Always fancied that midnight marathon in the north of Finland or somewhere like that, the thoughts of heading out at that time during the 'white nights' season would be fun - at the mo I'll settle for a sub 18 5k anywhere on this island.

Dotcomdolly

Well completing any marathon would be a dream but this one look amazing

Great wall marathon

RacoonQueen

http://www.mattmahoney.net/barkley/

Just because...

madon

Its a bit different but hopefully one day myself and my running partner will go!
http://www.tropdesmon.org/images/stories/tdm2010d_v1.jpg

shanagarry

--amadeus-- wrote: »

And the biggie, the one I have been wanting to do for about five years is this one, the Addo Elephant Trail Run. The race has changed from when I first started tracking it - it used to be 100 miles with those finishing under (I think) 24 hours receiving a silver belt buckle. It's now down to "just" 85kms but through a wildlife reserve. Again once I start to slow down I'll start to run long and then I am there...

My friend won it this year! Have you heard about the Puffer? The same guy broke the record for this last year. I just nod and smile and think he's crazy

n-dawg

http://www.nxtri.com/

If were allowed include tris!

shotgunmcos

n-dawg wrote: »

http://www.nxtri.com/

If were allowed include tris!

+1

The course profile is emmm hilly!!! :eek: Jump off a Ferry in the dark into Fjord 400m deep with jellyfish and a current. 1250m to climb in the first 40km of the bike alone. 5 proper mountains on the bike course and then scale a 2,000m one for the run. Only get to scale to the top of it if you are in healthy shape and weather permits.

All for a T Shirt!! and only the first 160 get a black one.

Oh and bring your own crew cause no support on the bike or run yikes! Backpacks mandatory. Winning time usually 11+ hours :eek:

The support crew have to walk back down the last mountain. I suppose part of teh challenge is getting a some bodies mad enough to come to Norway with you and fit enough to support you!

ecoli

shotgunmcos wrote: »

+1

The course profile is emmm hilly!!! :eek: Jump off a Ferry in the dark into Fjord 400m deep with jellyfish and a current. 1250m to climb in the first 40km of the bike alone. 5 proper mountains on the bike course and then scale a 2,000m one for the run. Only get to scale to the top of it if you are in healthy shape and weather permits.

All for a T Shirt!! and only the first 160 get a black one.

Oh and bring your own crew cause no support on the bike or run yikes! Backpacks mandatory. Winning time usually 11+ hours :eek:

The support crew have to walk back down the last mountain. I suppose part of teh challenge is getting a some bodies mad enough to come to Norway with you and fit enough to support you!

You mean more than this actually survive the race:eek: