What is Your Event of Choice & Why

jeffontour

So, with the discussion in the ultra thread going off topic a little I thought it would be nice to open things up a bit. The OP in that thread asked why people run ultras, so I'm asking you what is your discipline of choice and why did you chose it?

My answer, taken from the ultra thread is below.

Personally I run ultras as I get a far greater buzz from them than the shorter races. I like the camaraderie and that you can have that whilst competing against someone due to the extended nature of the race. I like that it lets me cover more ground and see more in a shorter time. I like that I can go through all sorts of emotions during a race, deal with them and be happy that I have. I like that after doing some race of a weekend when I go to work on Monday I have gotten serious value for the hours in the weekend! But most of all I do it for the same reason anyone runs, I do it for the challenge.

pconn062

I generally run races of all distances from 5k to marathon but my favourite distance would be 5k or 4 mile, mainly because I like the speed of them and I really like the feeling of running fast (well fast for me!:D). But I also enjoy marathon because its a different type of challenge, becomes more about endurance than speed.

runfuj

Well I'm pretty new to all this, but I like to run 5k's as pconn062 said because of the speed of them, although I'm not really that fast myself... :rolleyes:

I've done a few 10ks and I like the feeling of having acomplished something that not 6 months ago I couldn't have dreamt of doing

ultraman1

jeffontour wrote: »

So, with the discussion in the ultra thread going off topic a little ...

a little?:eek:

jeffontour

ultraman1 wrote: »

a little?:eek:

So, what is your torture of choice then? When are you stepping up to 72 hour racing?

corny

Suppose its 5K for me too.

What i like about it? I like that i can just run hard and not worry about going too fast or too slow, which comes into play in the longer races (for me anyway). Its also the distance i want to improve most over.

TheRoadRunner

5k or 4 miles are my favourite distances. However I love the training, planning and big day atmosphere of a big city marathon even though relative to the shorter distances the marathon is not my strongest event.

I also love the marathon as it's the only race I can take a bit of grub on board (I'm going to try my best drag this one OT too

Krusty_Clown

I didn't think I enjoyed shorter races (5k, 10k) but I surprised myself recently, and really enjoyed the feeling of pushing myself, in a competitive environment. Long trail races are among my favourites, just as long trail runs rank up there among my top training sessions.

But... For me it's got to be the marathon. 3+ months of training culminating in a single event. Hard enough to challenge, long enough to cherish. Throw in a foreign city, historic surroundings, spectator support... It's got it all.

anymore

I started marathons last year and have five done and am doing a variety of shirt runs from 3 miles to 10 now.
None of then have the same sense of occasion and none of them provid ethe same mix of adrenalin and anticipation as doing a marathon. Cant wait to do another one and would love to train for an ultra. Pretty much anyone can do the shorter runs.

gerard65

anymore wrote: »

Pretty much anyone can do the shorter runs.

Pretty much anyone can do a marathon/ultra as well.

anymore

gerard65 wrote: »

Pretty much anyone can do a marathon/ultra as well.

As my kid said when he was aeound3/4 and I and asked him to do something " Well I dont think so ! "
Fact of the matter is many who would like to are too timid to try !

ecoli

anymore wrote: »

Pretty much anyone can do the shorter runs.

Shorter runs maybe but racing is completely different. I have been thrown in every distance from a 110 hurdles, LJ , HJ 4x100 to a half marathon and eveything in between. Among the most enjoyable disciplines I have found is

400m Hurdles Absolutely love this event as mixes strength with speed (sadly dont have enough of the second to warrant pursuing it)

1500m Short enough to push hard and hurt but not long enough to really bonk at. This uyear have raced it more and find it a race which is almost a perfect in between distance (again lack the speed to do anything major at it

3000m steeple Enjoyable again mixing strength with speed. Kinda takes the sting out of the speed demons somewhat and have always had an affinity to hurdle events

10000m Ran my first one on track this year and fell in love with it. An event which focuses on rhythm and one which i feel I am more naturally suited to than the shorter events. I feel more at home on the roads but like the track as well

Half Marathon Similar to the 10k will definitely be targetting more in the future with the long term plan being to step up to the marathon


I think people get too hung up on one or two events. Short stuff can compliment long distance runners much like longer events can build strength for shorter races. I have focused this summer on working away at the shorter events with the long term goal being using this extra speed to bring an extra gear in the longer distances. I would encourage people to use the spectrum of distances to benefit them. That is not to say jump in everything but provided you approach them sensibly they can have major benefits

Few examples of this

Mark Kenneally running 4-5 milers in build up to marathon
Sean Connolly running 1 mile-10k races in between marathon training
Ciaran O Lionaird running 5-10ks early season to focus on 1500 in summer
Mo Farah ran half marathon just before his summer track season where he has been running 3ks10ks

ultraman1

jeffontour wrote: »

ultraman1 wrote: »

a little?:eek:

So, what is your torture of choice then? When are you stepping up to 72 hour racing?

Any race that takes longer to compete than it takes to drive to the startî• ,.have something in mind,but for some hereit mite not be runnin fast enuf

pconn062

anymore wrote: »

I started marathons last year and have five done and am doing a variety of shirt runs from 3 miles to 10 now.
None of then have the same sense of occasion and none of them provid ethe same mix of adrenalin and anticipation as doing a marathon. Cant wait to do another one and would love to train for an ultra. Pretty much anyone can do the shorter runs.

Yeah pretty much anyone can do the shorter stuff but it comes down to how fast and well you can do them. Anyone can plod around a marathon as well even if it takes 5 or 6 hours.

anymore

pconn062 wrote: »

Yeah pretty much anyone can do the shorter stuff but it comes down to how fast and well you can do them. Anyone can plod around a marathon as well even if it takes 5 or 6 hours.

Well the same applies to marathons as reagrds speed and efficiency goes - even more so perhaps. Saw a post on some site regards the marathon - ' the marathon is over at 20 miles and the race begins' !
Very true i would say in my relatively little experience.
But to each thier own - for me there is so much drama in the marathon - if i could express myself better, I would probably be able to explain better. But at the end of the day, it is a personal experience.

jeffontour

Good to see the range of preferences but seems to be more responders into the shorter races. Which is interesting given the number of threads on here about marathons.

I'm thinking of picking a 5k to target for reasons along the lines mentioned by ecoli. To build a bit of speed to use at longer distances and mix things up a little. Essentially to kick on into some "real" training instead of just going for a run.

Anything involving hurdles will not see me involved though, I am not a man for running AND jumping!

shels4ever

3k, 2m and 5 mile would be the distance I'd rather race.

rainbow kirby

When I'm properly in shape for it, I think the half-marathon is a great distance to race. Long enough to feel like a long race, but short enough that the recovery isn't anything like as bad as it is for a marathon.

I think though that I'm going to have a bit of a soft spot for the next good race I have though, whatever it is - my last two races have been disasters so to have *any* good race would do me a lot of good.

tHE vAGGABOND

I have not actually run a marathon yet, but as of right now I have to say half marathons would win for me [hence why I have done 4 of them since April!].

I prefer the longer distances to the shorter ones..

That said, the specific focused training for and then running of Dunshaughlin 10k gave me the best sense of achievement I have had so far. [but I hope to blow that out of the water October 31st :cool:]

ocnoc

Off road unmarked mountain - long or short, don't care as long as its in terrain.

Long Distance Orienteering Races - 90min winning time. Flat out, **** loads of climb, **** loads of route choice - just awesome when your flat out and your brain is fried, your legs are cramping and your trying to squeeze out every last micro second...

Pure pain and suffering, pure bliss

(and no one here has a notion what I'm on about )

TFBubendorfer

I've done road races from 5k to 50 miles and while I can say I enjoy racing at every distance, I would not be a runner if it were not for the marathon.

Marathon or Ultra for me. I like shorter races, and 10 miles to half marathon is actually my stronger distance, but there's nothing like training for months for a single event.

jeffontour

Am I wrong in thinking people seem to nearly enjoy the training & planning more than the racing?

shels4ever

jeffontour wrote: »

Am I wrong in thinking people seem to nearly enjoy the training & planning more than the racing?

I think you kind of have to, Traning/planning would be most 90% of your running really. If I never race again I would still be running.

ocnoc

I think you have to enjoy training...
If you don't enjoy training, how are you meant to get yourself in top shape for racing?

You won't be happy with your race if your not prepared.

Timmaay

ocnoc is prob going to be shocked at my choice here (seeing as I'm a hill runner at heart and thats what I have traditional be best at), but I have to say 800m, which is new enough to me is a brilliant event! 2laps of shear guts, no place to hide on the track, its a great race to watch also.

gerard65

The mile is the perfect distance. Also love XC for the guts it takes. As for training over racing, no way, I train to race.

noeleoreid

I love triathlon because the variety of discipline's involved. I would get too bored being just a runner or just a cyclist, or just a swimmer.

Being in open water is more interesting than the pool as I have some interesting things to look at while im swimming even if it is just a compass jelly fish that will prob sting the sh1t out of me, on the bike I can go for a 60km cycle and see loads of nice scenery around connemera and other places, and on the run, I can let the road beat me up and feel exhausted at the end but with a huge smile on my face having done an enjoyable training session before i head off my for my weekend guilt free pints!!

Best of all worlds although training to get good at triathlon and get new PB`s can be very physically challenging.

jeffontour

Timmaay wrote: »

ocnoc is prob going to be shocked at my choice here (seeing as I'm a hill runner at heart and thats what I have traditional be best at), but I have to say 800m, which is new enough to me is a brilliant event! 2laps of shear guts, no place to hide on the track, its a great race to watch also.

I have not ran 800 since school, and that was just a couple of times for the summer sports. I wouldn't mind another go for the craic actually.

jeffontour

gerard65 wrote: »

Also love XC for the guts it takes.

I think I need to try XC this year, never have and think it might help spur me on a little for the shorter distances. The mud and slop might take my mind off the pain.

TheRoadRunner

jeffontour wrote: »

Am I wrong in thinking people seem to nearly enjoy the training & planning more than the racing?

If I could get away with it I would do limited training and just race all the time. Absolutely love racing and while I do enjoy training it can never come close to prerace butterflies and post race elation if you've ran a good race.

firemouth

definitely the half marathon,nice stretch of the legs without the need for a lot recovery time

TFBubendorfer

jeffontour wrote: »

Am I wrong in thinking people seem to nearly enjoy the training & planning more than the racing?

I think you're wrong, but I admit I did phrase my own reasons badly. The long race is the culmination of months of training. Training has to be fun or else you won't last, but it's definitely the race that counts.

Bugsy2000

jeffontour wrote: »

Am I wrong in thinking people seem to nearly enjoy the training & planning more than the racing?

If you completely missed out on your target time after 3 or 4 months of enjoyable training how would you then feel?

For me it's about the racing. Whilst I do enjoy training there is always an aim or goal in the back of my mind spurring me on.

jeffontour

Bugsy2000 wrote: »

If you completely missed out on your target time after 3 or 4 months of enjoyable training how would you then feel?

A lot better than if I had hated every bit of those 3 or 4 months. It's important to enjoy training. Something doesn't have to be easy to be enjoyable.

I think if you're not enjoying training, missing out on targets and subsequently being frustrated by that then you need to change focus for a while to freshen things up. My experience is people can slog on a bit too much without freshening things up at intervals.

I asked the question regarding enjoying the training more than the racing as I was pleased to hear people enjoy the training and did not bury themselves in a cycle of training with only the output of the race to look forward to. I think that is a recipe for disaster. Progress is not only measured in one race result.

Bugsy2000

jeffontour wrote: »

A lot better than if I had hated every bit of those 3 or 4 months. It's important to enjoy training. Something doesn't have to be easy to be enjoyable.

I think if you're not enjoying training, missing out on targets and subsequently being frustrated by that then you need to change focus for a while to freshen things up. My experience is people can slog on a bit too much without freshening things up at intervals.

I asked the question regarding enjoying the training more than the racing as I was pleased to hear people enjoy the training and did not bury themselves in a cycle of training with only the output of the race to look forward to. I think that is a recipe for disaster. Progress is not only measured in one race result.

Point taken & I agree with a lot of what your saying. You'll see in my own post that I've said I do enjoy the training element too (regardless if I find it easy or hard) but it still stands for me that the main basis for my training is to improve on race day.

That said, I'm no great shakes on race day so maybe I need to revaluate :rolleyes:

jeffontour

Bugsy2000 wrote: »

That said, I'm no great shakes on race day so maybe I need to revaluate :rolleyes:

Setting a target is the important thing. Some on here can aim to compete in the overall field, most however simply chase our personal target. Such is life, not everyone is a winner!

ecoli

jeffontour wrote: »

Setting a target is the important thing. Some on here can aim to compete in the overall field, most however simply chase our personal target. Such is life, not everyone is a winner!

Even the ones at the pointy end of the results sheets have one arch rival........ The Watch. I have yet to meet a runner who didnt aim to break their own PB, Course record, NR or even the odd WR.

Think this is why runners always appreciate other runners achievements as everyone is in the same state of mind usually

jeffontour

ecoli wrote: »

Even the ones at the pointy end of the results sheets have one arch rival........ The Watch.

Very true.

ecoli wrote: »

Think this is why runners always appreciate other runners achievements as everyone is in the same state of mind usually

Again very true. Nothing better than crossing the line and sharing handshakes with those just either side of you over the line. Now if only I could manage to be the one who is shaking hands with only people behind me, just once!

ecoli

jeffontour wrote: »

Very true.



Again very true. Nothing better than crossing the line and sharing handshakes with those just either side of you over the line. Now if only I could manage to be the one who is shaking hands with only people behind me, just once!

I know that feeling i dont think I have ever won a race in my life. Always attracted to the faster races damn my competitive nature:D

PositiveNegativ

For me nothing matches a well planned Sprint Orienteering course. 15 minutes plus of absolute concentration at max speed through a city centre, village or university campus.
Of course it helps that invariably my better race days have ended with pizza, beer and ice cream consumed while comparing routes/splits in some sun kissed piazza in Italy, Switzerland or Slovenia.

Slogger Jogger

Something between 10 miles and half marathon distance in the hills, mainly off-trail, is probably where I enjoy my running most. Theres usually lots of pain and slogging involved but an equal amount of adrenaline burst on the downhills to make up for it. What I'm probably describing probably best matches some of the IMRA Leinster Champs or Irish Champs races in recent years e.g. Galtees, Ballybraid, Powerscourt Ridge.. that sort of thing.

jeffontour

PositiveNegativ wrote: »

Of course it helps that invariably my better race days have ended with pizza, beer and ice cream consumed while comparing routes/splits in some sun kissed piazza in Italy, Switzerland or Slovenia.

Similar to people nearly enjoying the training more than racing, you seem to be leaning towards the post race adventures in this case.

PositiveNegativ

jeffontour wrote: »

Similar to people nearly enjoying the training more than racing, you seem to be leaning towards the post race adventures in this case.

WMOC2012 is in northern Germany. What chance of a sunny platz to enjoy the beers?
The sprint map samples have my pulse up 15 beats and stomach set to churn.