Not long ago, organized racing belonged to competitive runners. Now a variety of fun runs and adventure races offer novice runners the chance to compete in a friendly, social environment. So whether you are a hardcore runner looking to break up your routine or have never run a mile in your life, here are four reasons to try a themed run this summer:
Take the fear out of running. If you are new to running, a social 5K offers a less intimidating introduction to the sport. Many races are untimed, so you can focus on fun instead of speed.
"We see people go from doing one little fun race to three or four a year…to eventually doing a half marathon," says Mallory Jones-Fiske, race director at Mellew Productions Inc., which organizes the Jalapeño Half and more than a dozen races in North Texas.
Find a reason to run. Themed runs cover almost every interest imaginable from warrior dashes to nighttime glow runs. Do you like to dress up, get dirty or solve puzzles? There's a run for that.
Make running a team event. Gone are the days of having to lace up your sneakers for a solo run. Several events encourage team sign-ups so you can compete together with friends or family.
"It's all team driven," explains Jones-Fiske. "It's a chance to get a bunch of really cool pictures together, have a good time, listen to some music and have a beer."
Enjoy running again. If your running routine has become stale, a themed race is the perfect way to remind yourself how enjoyable it can be. Fun runs not only offer distractions along the course, but also post-race entertainment in the form of live music, beer gardens and family activities.
Running may be good for you, but there's no reason you can't also have a good time doing it. You may even catch yourself looking forward to your next race.| by Jessica Llanes |
HappeningThis Month
