The Running Bubble Has Burst

[Run Amok]

I suspect more than a few people will see this as a positive thing:

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/11/05/sports/ny-marathon-running.html?referer=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com

[Coyote Mas Loco]

My friends in the business have been saying participation has been gradually declining for the past three years. Wouldn't mind seeing more of a back to basics movement with less expensive race fees. 

[Richard21142]

I guess the allure of an ugly t-shirt and getting trampled at the start of a race simply isn't worth the high fees.

[Rochey]

My friends in the business have been saying participation has been gradually declining for the past three years. Wouldn't mind seeing more of a back to basics movement with less expensive race fees. 

Yes yes yes yes yes. 

$40 for a 5k is criminal. 

[SnarlyMarly]

I think competitive running has burst, it's more about participation more than anything.

[caito]

I agree that the road race market is over saturated & overpriced.

What I don’t agree with in the article 100% is that Finish Line selling their run specialty group is a sign of the times. I worked for that run specialty group and it was horribly mismanaged from the corporate level. They bought up great local stores & then ran them into the ground. Ohhhh the stories I could tell.

[Coyote Mas Loco]

I think competitive running has burst, it's more about participation more than anything.

More of a long deflation of competitive running. That's been ongoing for 30 years.

[SnarlyMarly]

More of a long deflation of competitive running. That's been ongoing for 30 years.

But then there was that build up period where water stops appeared and timing chips.   You have to like the good 'old days of the popsicle sticks where you can take 3rd place but the 5th place person has a better time than you🤣🤣🤣

[Ice Cream]

Yes yes yes yes yes. 

$40 for a 5k is criminal. 

$$$ is why I do not do races in the USA anymore.

It also encourages bandits at races.

[Run Amok]

My friends in the business have been saying participation has been gradually declining for the past three years. Wouldn't mind seeing more of a back to basics movement with less expensive race fees. 

Definitely. My favorite races are small local races where it's basically a timer, maybe water stations, maybe some community supported snacks at the finish line. I hate the medal, mandatory t-shirt and hullabaloo.

[Rochey]

A lot of the races here have become expensive because of all the after-race crap.  I don't want beer or vodka after a race.  I want to be able to get some water, maybe a snack, get done with awards, and leave. 

I did a 10-mile race yesterday that was actually 10.2 and cost $65.  I was there until after 11 just waiting around.  I won, and I don't really like skipping out, but sakes alive, I don't have all day.  They had all the age group winners congregate for a picture, so by the time they called OA, there wasn't even room for me (was called last), so I kicked the dirt and left. 

The same race had a 15-miler and the lead bike missed an almost 3-mile out-and-back.  The most vocal about the screw up was a guy who had his bib comped.  Not cool. 

[SnarlyMarly]

A lot of the races here have become expensive because of all the after-race crap.  I don't want beer or vodka after a race.  I want to be able to get some water, maybe a snack, get done with awards, and leave. 

I did a 10-mile race yesterday that was actually 10.2 and cost $65.  I was there until after 11 just waiting around.  I won, and I don't really like skipping out, but sakes alive, I don't have all day.  They had all the age group winners congregate for a picture, so by the time they called OA, there wasn't even room for me (was called last), so I kicked the dirt and left. 

The same race had a 15-miler and the lead bike missed an almost 3-mile out-and-back.  The most vocal about the screw up was a guy who had his bib comped.  Not cool.

No beer???

Race wouldn't last around here.

[Fred]

Back door brag

Way to sneak that in

You won the race overall beating any and all males?

[Coyote Mas Loco]

You won the race overall beating any and all males?

Good to see you Fred! Hope that you are running some, and the birding is good.

What do you think about Kevin Castille and his results?

[Fred]

John Trautmann ran a 4:12 mile at age 46. He was an elite runner and beat Bob Kennedy.

Castille ran 14:11 after age 45.

So, it is certainly possible to do that with elite talent. 

[Suesquatch]

Fred! 

[Fred]

Fred!

Hi Sue.

[Fred]

13.1 @ 4:52 at 45 plus, training at ocean level is suspect. Eddy ran 2:12:xx on EPO and whatever else post 40 years old training at altitude.

[Coyote Mas Loco]

Castille destroyed the masters field at the Tulsa 15 last month. He's super lean and slight and doesn't look older than an elite 35 year old runner. I give him the benefit of the doubt, and figure he'd probably been a 28 flat or so 10K runner at his peak. So what he's doing at 45 isn't too far off. But yeah, I gave Eddy the benefit of the doubt (maybe some more doubt) before he got busted.

[SnarlyMarly]

 
Fred??