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Is A Boring Race Better Than No Race?

7 watchers

Damian Mar 2015 5:04pm, 1 Mar 2015 38 posts	Quote Pin Damian I've just read this article on the BBC News website “Hong Kong compete in 'boring' ultramarathon”, bbc.co.uk and as someone who's three marathons were all single lap events, and who is looking to make the move up to an ultramarathon it begs the question:- Is a boring race better than no race? Isn't it better that organisers put on boring races rather than not staging them at all? Of course it's better if the race can be beautiful and picturesque, or well supported or flat or whatever floats your boat, but isn't it better to have a "poor" race than none at all? I think boring is better than none. What do you think? Also, which was the most boring race you've ever done?
FenlandRunner Mar 2015 5:06pm, 1 Mar 2015 4,502 posts	Quote Pin FenlandRunner Depends on how you define boring? As a social fun runner even the most boring course can be enlightened by amazing company.
Crooked-smile Mar 2015 5:13pm, 1 Mar 2015 2,495 posts	Quote Pin Crooked-smile I would rather run an aesthetically "boring" race with loads of crowd support than a stunning but isolated race. I know many people are the opposite but that's just what does it for me!
idio Mar 2015 5:23pm, 1 Mar 2015 24,292 posts	Quote Pin idio 25 laps would do my head in i'm the complete opposite of Crooked-Smile.
oi you Mar 2015 5:23pm, 1 Mar 2015 271 posts	Quote Pin oi you I've run 10k on the track (25laps) - no cheering crowd, no chatty co-competitors, no goody bag - though I did get a medal for being 2nd (of 2) M60s. Now that's dull, so dull in fact I've done it twice as I didn't believe it could possibly be as bad as I recalled. Never again.
Ultracat Mar 2015 5:26pm, 1 Mar 2015 11,144 posts	Quote Pin Ultracat I once ran the same 1.5mile lap for 24 hours, didn't find it boring at all. There are some 24 hour races run on a 400m track.
Surrey Phil Mar 2015 5:32pm, 1 Mar 2015 737 posts	Quote Pin Surrey Phil I'm in the throws of organising my first 10k event this July (not yet on Fetch). Even though the route is varied, I've not been allowed to use what would be an interesting final section due to building work taking place in the area. I'm now getting concerns that some runners would not appreciate the course despite the efforts and hard work it has taken to get it off the ground.
Surrey Phil Mar 2015 5:36pm, 1 Mar 2015 738 posts	Quote Pin Surrey Phil With regards to boring races I've done, any race of three or more laps are tedious. Out and back courses are OK as you're facing a different direction.
Damian Mar 2015 5:48pm, 1 Mar 2015 39 posts	Quote Pin Damian Idio "25 laps would do my head..." or does this sort of thing create mental-stamina?
Damian Mar 2015 5:56pm, 1 Mar 2015 40 posts	Quote Pin Damian oiyou - I've never really done much track work, but an hour running round it can't be that bad can it? And congrats for coming second (or commiserations for coming last ) Untracat - How many laps did you do in 24 hrs? and how did you keep your head together for that time? SP - good luck with getting your event going - Out and backs are like a single lap race so are good. The most boring "race" I’ve done is the Braunstone Parkrun, but that's probably got more to do with the fact that I've done 44 Parkruns there and it's a two lap course so = 88 laps