Not to be confused with the title of this blog, adventure racing and adventure challenges have quickly grown into a “sport” that can no longer go unnoticed. When the term is used, it conjures up images of men and women covered in mud, wearing horned hats as if they just left Fred and Barney at a Water Buffalo Lodge meeting. The Spartan Race, Tough Mudder and Warrior Dash are just a few of the events on the ever growing list of neanderthalic activities. The question we have to ask ourselves is, “Are these legitimate races for runners?” In a word, no. I am not going to tell you that these challenges are not fun or physically demanding but they definitely do not qualify as events in which runners should participate. First and most importantly is the risk of injury. Do you really want to jeopardize losing your racing season or worse? If you run 5k’s or marathons you are taking a calculated risk but when confronting an array of dangerous obstacles, your risk for breaking an ankle or tearing a ligament rises substantially.
Do these events have any merit at all? Absolutely! I’m not going to downplay the physical and mental ability it requires to finish most of these challenges. If these events are your “cup of tea” and you have no ambition to take running seriously, good for you. Be proud of what you do. But unfortunately, I find more and more of my fellow runners being lured into a sport that I believe to be a fad, filled with unnecessary risks.
© Copyright 2012The Hornet, All rights Reserved. Written For: Adventures In Running
Whoo Hooo! I am totally with you! These things are very popular, but I can not figure out what being dunked into ice water has to do with challenging yourself…except for torturing oneself.
SO many people do get hurt running these things, for me, it will never be worth the horned hat.
100% in agreement. I’m not knocking it, but I’m not chancing it. I’ve heard too many “almost injured stories” and runners that tried it once and won’t do it again. Trail running is about as risky as I want to get
I agree. These events are not for me, but I applaud those who decide to participate. Too much risk for injury for me.
Hmm. If I were a sponsored, elite runner whose livelihood depended on it - sure. I’m not, nor are 99% of the other runners I know (actually 100% of the runners ‘I know’.)
If you’re bored with the same old racing format, enjoy doing something different, and are ready to accept the risk of injury it’s fun to do these. Trail runners face a much higher risk of injury also, but one they’re willing to take because of the joy the get from the trails vs roads. If you’re that worried about injury better not play any non-running sport - racquetball, touch football, softball, etc.
They are a nice break from training or road racing, but they, like every physical have a degree of risk. If you’re constantly trying to set a PR and as such, constantly trying to avoid any risk of injury, you’re in for a pretty boring life.
Racing is never boring! If you train hard, race different distances, meet new people, and try new races in different towns, it NEVER gets boring! If you are a true, passionate runner to your core, then your focus is not to finish an obstacle course event and risk injury. It may be something to say you did once but doesn’t fit into a racer’s program without risk.
LOL. I live in one of the Tri meccas in the USA and none of the sponsored, pro athletes I know have ever done any of these events. I think they just cater to a different population, that of the weekend warrior.
the only way i’m running through and over an obstacle course, climbing under barbed wire, through the mud and avoiding live electrical wire is if the cops are chasing me. Not planning on that happening anytime soon.
I’ve thought about doing one of those challenges just to be able to say i did it. They look fun to me. I am not just a runner. I enjoy challenging myself. I love lifting weights, pain is nothing to me, it passes. Pretty much everything we do in life is risky. Being a female runner, leaving my house before the rest of the world wakes up is risky. You may get hurt but these challenges aren’t gonna kill ya so if you are up for the challenge, I say go for it.
I’m in the minority, but I love mud runs. Yes, the risk of an injury is greater, but funny enough, the only running injury I’ve ever had came from turning my ankle in a pothole on an easy road jog. Go figure! That said, I definitely do not have the courage to do Tough Mudder. I would injure myself doing that for sure!
I hear what you are saying but I’ve run a few of those races and they are really fun!! Luckily I’ve never gotten hurt.
I am always open to constructive criticism and other points of view. With that said, my posts can not be so long that people will lose interest. Can you site examples of my “leaps in logic”? I would very much like to know what you are referring to.