Published in the April 16 – 29, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Paul Rakitin
Paul Rakitin
I stood there at the local Fourth of July 5k in my junior high school PE shorts, raggedy cotton white T-shirt and my Saucony Jazz running shoes, what is now considered a retro or old school shoe, awaiting my first real road race. The year was 1990 and I already had more than 25 cross country and track races under my belt, but nothing where I actually ran with adults and on the street.
What if I couldn’t finish the entire 3.1 miles? What if I got hurt, how would I find my parents? I continued to run that race throughout high school. Back then there were no mud races, color runs, urban or Spartan races. Kid’s fun runs had not become popular either, and triathlon as a sport was just in its infancy. Fast forward almost 25 years and you can find an event to run, swim or bike almost every weekend anywhere in the country.
While the 2014 race season is well underway in Northern California, both new and veteran runners can be overwhelmed by the variety of events. Gone are the days when it was easy to choose. Will it be a 5K, 10K or full marathon? As more unique events are created by the endless list of growing race event companies, the bigger question now remains this: Is crawling under barb wire, running away from “zombies,” or dashing through a cloud of colors your thing? Are themed events just a trend or a growing desire by athletes to participate in something other than the annual local 5K or Fourth of July run? Most sports evolve in some way or another and spawn from a combination of many. The next big thing in racing can only be left up to the imagination.
Many alternative events have become more of a social gathering where competition isn’t the main goal as much as the camaraderie of participating as a team or individual. On the other hand, women specific races are very competitive and have also gained enough popularity to implement a lottery system just to have the opportunity to run. The Nike Women’s Marathon series has become one of the fastest growing races in the country along with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon series. These races draw crowds reaching the thousands, complete with race expo events that participants can spend hours viewing countless vendor booths and special events. Some large races, of course, have their own challenges besides the actual race itself, like navigating the crowds during the race, finding parking or, even worse, waiting in the restroom line.
Despite these minor inconveniences, runners will continue to flock to these popular races for the simple fact that they are fun. I mean, who wouldn’t want to battle “zombies,” climb walls, splash through puddles of mud or listen to your favorite song being played by a live band as you run by? The small local runs will still be around, but the fun factor of this new breed of events are difficult to pass up if you’re looking for a great and healthy way to spend the weekend with family and friends.
Paul Rakitin is the owner of The Running Shop, 16999 Monterey Road, Suite D.
