Ryan Hall's Blog, page 188

USA Foursome Sets World Best at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

Emma Coburn, Sydney McLaughlin, Brenda Martinez and Jenny Simpson lowered the world indoor best for the 4000-meter distance medley relay at the 22nd New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. Photo: Photorun.net

(c) 2017 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

An all-star foursome of American Olympians—Emma Coburn, Sydney McLaughlin, Brenda Martinez and Jenny Simpson—lowered the world indoor best for the 4,000-meter distance medley relay at the 22nd New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. Urged on by a raucous, sold-out crowd of 4,500, which rose to its feet on Simpson’s anchor leg, the team stopped the clock at 10:40.31, about two seconds faster than the previous best of 10:42.57 set on the same Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center track two years ago.

“It was a lot of pressure,” said a relieved Simpson who ran the anchor 1600m leg in 4:27.66. “I was really surprised earlier today how nervous I was getting.”

The team got off to a conservative start when Coburn, the Rio Olympic steeplechase bronze medalist, ran the 1200m leg in 3:18.40, three seconds down on the opening split of the previous record. Training in cold and snowy conditions in Boulder, Colo., Coburn admitted that she was not sharp and was hoping her strength would carry her through an uncomfortably short distance.

“I just wanted to give Sydney the lead,” Coburn told reporters, wearing a special white bow in her hair that the 17-year-old McLaughlin had made for each of her teammates. “Jenny made a really good point in our press conference (yesterday). After all four of us had the Olympics and a long season… it is weird to get back into race mode. She continued: “It was a bit of a harsh entry back into speedwork.”

Coburn accomplished her goal, giving her USA team a slight lead over the European team going into the second 400-meter leg. McLaughlin ran hard, but got a good challenge from Esther Guerrero of Spain who passed the teenager on the second lap, before McLaughlin retook the lead, 52.32 to 52.43.

“I got out pretty well,” McLaughlin told the media. “I knew that the European team was going to have a fast girl so when she came on me, it kind of pushed me to go faster. Coming down the backstretch I wanted to get that lead back for Brenda to give it to her in a good position.”

Martinez grabbed the stick and hit the gas, hard. Soon she was running alone, knowing the team needed to make up valuable seconds, even with Simpson on the anchor.

“Any time you’re on a relay team you’re trying to give your best effort, so sometimes you’re just racing the clock,” Martinez explained. “Sometimes you don’t even know what pace you’re going.” She continued: “We just gave it our fullest and our best today, and that’s all that counts.”

After Martinez handed the baton to Simpson—who admitted she hadn’t received a baton in a relay since college—the 2011 world 1500m champion just tried to keep her cool. Like Coburn, Simpson had been training in snowy Boulder and hadn’t done any speedwork. She didn’t want to try to crush it, fearing she might blow up. She ran cautiously, but was determined to bring the record home.

“It was so not about my running; it was about preserving what everyone had done up to that point and making sure we got the record,” Simpson said. “I went out really conservative, not what I would have done if I was on the starting line racing a group of 1,500-meter, 1,600-meter women.”

Simpson ran lap after lap, alone. Urged on by the public address announcer, the crowd got louder and louder and Simpson tried to stay focused and keep calm.

“I know I cut it a little bit close,” she admitted. “But, a lot of that was out of design, saying all we needed to do was be under 10:42.”

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Best of Competitor 2016 — Mountain West Region

Congratulations to all of the Best of Competitor 2016 winners for each of our eight distribution regions!

Competitor magazine is one of the world’s leading running and fitness publications. The free printed edition of the magazine is distributed nationally every month across the U.S. Check out this link to see where to find a copy in your region. The free digital version is available free through Competitor.com or on ISSUU.com, as well as on iTunes. More stories, photos and videos can be found at Competitor.com.

Every year, we ask our online readers and social media followers from around the country to vote for their favorite races, specialty shops, clubs, charity programs, coaches, products and more. Competitor is pleased to announce the 2016 winners for the Mountain West region.

Best of Competitor 2016 — Mountain West 

Best 5K/10K: (tie) Bolder Boulder 10K and Fort Collins Human Race

Best Half Marathon: (tie) Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half Marathon and Horsetooth Half Marathon, Fort Collins

Best Marathon: Colorado Marathon, Fort Collins

Best Trail Race: The Bear Chase Trail Races, Lakewood, Colo.

Best Destination Race: Dead Horse Trail Races, Moab, Utah

Best Women’s Race: Skirt Sports 13er, Superior, Colo.

Best Race for Kids: Rock Hawk 5K, Castle Rock, Colo.

Best Running Club: (tie) Revolution Running and Runner’s Edge of the Rockies

Best Running Shoe: New Balance Vazee Pace

Best Specialty Running Store: Runner’s Roost, Denver area, numerous locations

Best Running Store Group Run: (tie) Flatirons Running, Boulder and Runner’s Roost, Denver area, numerous locations

Best Charity Running Group: Running Start

Best Charity to Fundraise For: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Greenwood Village, Colo.

Best Running Celebrity: Scott Jurek

Best Triathlon: Ironman Boulder, Boulder, Colo.

Best Cycling Event: Colorado’s Copper Triangle

Best Obstacle Race: Tough Mudder

Best Race Swag: Chase the Moon Endurance Run, Lakewood, Colo.

Best Race T-shirt: Equinox Half Marathon, Fort Collins, Colo.

Best Outdoor Shop: REI

Best Cycling Shop: (tie) Lee’s Cyclery, Fort Collins and Boulder Cycle Sport, Boulder, Colo.

Best Triathlon Shop: TriBella Women’s Multisport, Denver

Best Triathlon Club: Revolution Running

Best Sports Massage: Chris Grauch, Boulder Deep Tissue, Boulder, Colo.

Best Health Club: (tie) Colorado Athletic Club, several locations, and Lifetime Fitness, Westminster, Colo.

Best Fitness Studio: Bodies By Perseverance, Denver

Best Spinning Class: EDG Cycle with Emily Booth at Lifetime Fitness, Westminster, Colo.

Best Yoga Studio: CorePower Yoga, numerous locations

Best Personal Trainer: Jennifer Samuel Bodies By Perseverance, Denver

Best Sports Rehab Center: Red Hammer Rehabilitation, Louisville, Colo.

Best Sports Medicine Doctor/Therapist: Dr. Heather North, Red Hammer Rehabilitation, Louisville, Colo.

Best Sports Supplement: Base Performance

Best Post-Race Restaurant: Southside Walnut Café, Boulder, Colo.

Best Summer Resort: Steamboat Springs

Best Winter Resort: Winter Park Resort

Best Active Lifestyle Vehicle: Subaru Outback

The post Best of Competitor 2016 — Mountain West Region appeared first on Competitor.com.

Best of Competitor 2016: Mid-Atlantic Region

Congratulations to all of the Best of Competitor 2016 winners for each of our eight distribution regions!

Competitor magazine is one of the world’s leading running and fitness publications. The free printed edition of the magazine is distributed nationally every month across the U.S. Check out this link to see where to find a copy in your region. The free digital version is available free through Competitor.com or on ISSUU.com, as well as on iTunes. More stories, photos and videos can be found at Competitor.com.

Every year, we ask our online readers and social media followers from around the country to vote for their favorite races, specialty shops, clubs, charity programs, coaches, products and more. Competitor is pleased to announce the 2016 winners for the Mid-Atlantic region.

Best of Competitor 2016 — Mid-Atlantic

Best 5k/10K: Across the Bay 10K Chesapeake Bay Bridge Run, Annapolis, Md.

Best Half Marathon: Philadelphia Love Run Half Marathon, Philadelphia

Best Marathon: Marine Corps Marathon, Washington D.C.

Best Trail Race: The North Face Endurance Challenge, Washington D.C.

Best Destination Race: Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon, Loudon County, Va.

Best Women’s Race: Perfect 10 Miler, West Windsor, N.J.

Best Race for Kids: Tri The Wildwoods Kids’ Splash & Dash, North Wildwood, N.J.

Best Running Club: Ashburn Area Running Club

Best Running Shoe: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 17

Best Specialty Running Store: Potomac River Running

Best Running Store Group Run: Potomac River Running, Leesburg, Va.

Best Charity Running Group: Team in Training

Best Charity to Fundraise For: Ainsley’s Angels

Best Running Celebrity: Michael Wardian

Best Triathlon: New Jersey State Triathlon, West Windsor, N.J.

Best Cycling Event: Bike MS: City to Shore Ride, Cherry Hill to Ocean City, N.J.

Best Obstacle Race: Spartan Race

Best Race Swag: Philadelphia Love Run Half Marathon, Philadelphia

Best Race T-Shirt: (tie) Philadelphia Love Run Half Marathon, Philadelphia and New Jersey State Triathlon, West Windsor, N.J.

Best Outdoor Shop: REI

Best Cycling Shop: Action Wheels, Wenonah, N.J.

Best Triathlon Shop: Transition Triathlon, Leesburg, Va.

Best Triathlon Club: DC Triathlon Club, Washington D.C.

Best Sports Massage: Shanti Huber, Herdon, Va.

Best Health Club: Lifetime Fitness, Reston, Va.

Best Fitness Studio: Orange Theory Fitness, Sterling, Va.

Best Spinning Class: Tom’s River Fitness, Tom’s River, N.J.

Best Yoga Studio: Pure Om, Fairfax, Va.

Best Personal Trainer: (tie) Adam Lee, Ashburn, Va., and Dawn Bryant-Kuhar, Vineland, N.J.

Best Sports Rehab Center: Fast Track Sport And Endurance Center, Merrifield, Va.

Best Sports Medicine Doctor/Therapist: Dr. Aleck Wong, Sterling, Va.

Best Sports Supplement: Base Performance Electrolyte Salt

Best Post-Race Restaurant: District Taco, numerous locations

Best Summer Resort: Ocean City, N.J.

Best Winter Resort: Camelback Resort, Tannersville, Pa.

Best Active Lifestyle Vehicle: Subaru Outback

The post Best of Competitor 2016: Mid-Atlantic Region appeared first on Competitor.com.

Family Runs to Support Team Peri at This Weekend’s Miami Marathon

Peri Finkelstein, 17, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at four months old, but continues to diligently train with her gait trainer five days a week. Photo: Courtesy of Team Peri

No matter your age or physical ability, running a marathon is hard. And that challenge, the idea of doing something she was told she could never do, is what drives Peri Finkelstein, a 17-year old from West Hempstead, New York. Finkelstein, an eleventh grader, is in the National Honor Society and likes to bake, read, watch cooking shows and dream about where she’ll go to college and graduate school. She also has muscular dystrophy.

When she was just four months old, Peri’s parents, Lori and Paul, were told their daughter’s condition was “hopeless and that physical therapy was pointless.” Peri has been on a ventilator since she was two. Yet she walks, and others in her family run. Seeing what her parents and older siblings could do is what inspired Peri to participate in the Miami Marathon.

“Tell someone that they can’t do anything and what do you think happens? They go ahead and prove you wrong,” says the 51-year old mother, Lori, of her youngest’s desire to participate in a marathon.

In 2015, Peri was pushed along the course in a jogging stroller, stopping just before the finish so she could walk across the line. Her goal for 2016 was to walk 1,000 steps. She ended up walking more than 1,400 steps to cross the finish line. This year, Peri and her family are returning to Miami once again for the Miami Marathon and Half Marathon on Jan. 29, where she plans to walk the final mile of the race.

The entire Finkelstein family, including brother Joel and sister Katy, runs with Team Lifeline. Team Lifeline, a fundraising-through-sport division of Chai Lifeline, raises money to support the nonprofit, which provides services to children with life threatening medical conditions and to children fighting cancer. So far, Team Peri has raised more than $150,000 for Team Lifeline via the 2017 Miami Marathon. The family, who fell in love with Miami and the event after their first race, return annually with more family and friends in tow every year.

According to her mom, Peri wants to give back to Chai Lifeline, an organization that’s truly been their lifeline since Peri was a baby. “She is determined to make a difference in this world and determined to help out as many children as she can by supporting CLL and bringing awareness of what they do and how they make the lives of the children, siblings and parents so much better,” Lori adds.

This past summer Peri had an internship with Team Lifeline. She wrote runner spotlights for social media and was also responsible for getting a celebrity involved in the program. Several years ago, Peri connected with former New York Mets pitcher Nelson Figueroa when she gave him a bracelet at a Mets game. She reached out again. Figueroa is now accompanying the Finkelstein family and Team Lifeline to Miami. He plans to run the half marathon and will be there to cheer on Team Peri for the teenager’s 1-mile walk.

Peri does physical therapy three times a week at home while using a ventilator. Photo: Courtesy of Team Peri

To prepare for the challenge, Peri walks in her gait trainer five days a week. She has physical therapy three times a week at home and additional sessions at school when it works with her schedule. She also lifts leg weights. Peri doesn’t have the energy to both train and wean herself off of her ventilator. She recently announced to her caregivers that walking was more important to her than increasing spans of unassisted breathing, so that is her focus.

For the 2017 Miami Marathon “Team Peri” will include Peri’s mom Lori, her physical therapist, her counselor from Camp Simcha (which is run by Chai Lifeline), a cousin, and several family friends, including Figueroa. Her race kit includes a Team Lifeline jersey and headband, New Balance shoes, Team Peri bracelets, and a blue and yellow tutu.

If you happen to see Peri making her way through Miami, cheer for her all you want, but please don’t tell her she’s a hero. While her mom realizes she is a source of inspiration to many, she says her daughter wants to be seen as a person “just like you and me” who likes to push herself. She just happens to be in a wheelchair and on ventilation for life support.

“My job is to help her maximize her potential in life, and make sure she has the skills to do that for herself as she gets older,” Lori Finkelstein says of her daughter. “She has the drive, the determination and the bravery. She just needs the physical help to get there.”

RELATED: Runner with MS Attempting to Run 7 Marathons on 7 Continents in a Year

The post Family Runs to Support Team Peri at This Weekend’s Miami Marathon appeared first on Competitor.com.

Shoe of the Week: Skechers Performance GoMeb Razor

The signature training shoe of elite marathoner Meb Keflezighi, the all-new Razor is a lightweight neutral cushioned shoe engineered to run fast or long. Have a 15-miler on your training schedule today? No problem. Have a tempo run tomorrow? Yes, this is the tool you need. Want to run 6 x 800m on the track? Yes, that too. The bottom line? Even though someone like Meb wouldn’t race in this shoe, it’s a great choice for longer racing distances, too. In other words, there isn’t much the Razor can’t do.

The Razor is built on a semi-soft and very responsive single-density midsole and features a new multi-segment flat-knit upper. The Razor is more cushioned, more supportive and more comfortable for long training runs than the GoMeb Speed 3 racing shoe. It has a surprisingly supportive knit upper engineered with multi-density thread in appropriate places and a molded internal heel counter for stability and support. Plus, an an air mesh tongue for extra breathability and comfort and reflectivity details for safety.

This is the shoe for you if … you’re looking for a lightweight training shoe that’s versatile enough to run shorter, faster workouts and longer training runs. 

Price: $110

Weights: 7.7 oz. (men’s size 9.0); 6.3 oz. (women’s size 7.0)

Heel-toe offset: 4mm; 18mm (heel), 14mm (forefoot)

Info: Goskechers.com

RELATED: Shoe of the Week—On Running Cloudflow

The post Shoe of the Week: Skechers Performance GoMeb Razor appeared first on Competitor.com.

9 Ways to Improve Your Fitness for the Year

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Now that the “New Year, New You” buzz has quieted, it’s time to focus on realistic ways to make lasting, positive impacts to your fitness. Luckily, small changes make a big difference. And it all begins with being honest about what does and doesn’t work for your training style. But it’s also good to try new things! Choose one or two changes at a time and commit to them for at least a month to get an idea of what works for you.

1. Track workouts

Start by recording your workouts. Seeing your daily, weekly and monthly accomplishments in one place helps you to make sense of progress, or lack thereof, and can expose strengths and weaknesses. It may be as simple as logging miles in your daily calendar or as detailed as creating a spreadsheet to track workouts, sleep, resting heart rate, how you feel and more. The Believe Training Journal by Lauren Fleshman and Roisin McGettigan-Dumas includes plenty of space to track your sweat effort, with room to log weekly and monthly reflections and set goals.

2. Mix it up

When it comes to fitness, doing the same thing you’ve always done, doesn’t necessarily deliver the same results. In fact, your body is able to adapt to workouts after six to eight weeks, resulting in a training plateau. To keep your body primed, switch up your running routes, vary your pace, add speed drills, hit the track and be sure to treat recovery runs with the respect and slower pace they deserve.

3. Cross train

As important as it is to mix up your runs, the same applies to workouts. Yes, you love running, but have you considered how fun it would be to augment running with workouts that make you a more balanced athlete? Good options are cycling, swimming and pool running (no joint stress!), working out on an elliptical machine or an ElliptiGO, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing.

RELATED: 4 Awesome Cross-Training Workouts for Newbies to Elite Runners

4. Add hills

A training staple for decades, striding it out on hills once or twice a week is an efficient way to improve strength and cardiovascular fitness. As important as they are if you are training for a hilly race, they are also key for helping you to become a more fit runner overall. Choose hill repeats (short runs of one to four minutes uphill, followed by a recovery walk/jog back down the hill), training runs on a route that includes rolling hills or even short, fast, hill sprint repeats to give your running a boost.

5. Stretch and roll

Stretching and mobility work is essential to staying flexible, which is the secret sauce for making runners less prone to injuries in the long term. The long-hold static stretching you used to do before workouts in high school is best done after your run or throughout the day. Although, if those stretches are still your favorite, a 2012 study review published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that shorter holds (less than a minute) are fine before exercise. However, dynamic stretching—think high knees, butt kicks and high legs—gets your body warmed up before a run. Rolling is also a necessary evil. Make a post-run date with your foam roller; even five minutes of work will make a big difference. Hitting the yoga mat—for a class, not a nap—one or two times a week is another way to stay limber.

RELATED: 3 Foam Rolling Techniques for Runners

6. Start lifting

Improving your fitness by adding power to your stride and preventing injury can be as easy as incorporating one to two weight lifting sessions to your weekly training plan. You don’t have to become a dedicated body builder to experience the benefits. Instead focus on a couple quick sessions per week, with heavy weights and low reps to build the most transferable power, according to a 2008 study from the Journal of Applied Physiology.

RELATED: Strength Training is Good for You, Runners—Here’s Proof

7. Hire a coach

If your workouts have become stale, you’re training for a goal race or you aren’t seeing the improvements you think you should, it’s time to hire a coach. No, coaches aren’t just for elite athletes, they are for anyone who wants to get better in their sport—and that means you! Between apps, online coaching programs or meeting with a coach in person, you can tailor the experience to fit your budget and expectations. And if you think “coaching” means top-down mandates and yelling at you from the sidelines, think again. Coaches succeed by helping you succeed and reach your goals—which means lots of open communication, feedback and honesty. Sure, they may push you, but it’s for a reason!

RELATED: Do You Need a Running Coach?

8. Get a massage

For all you demand from your body, showing it some love is a smart idea. While a relaxing Swedish massage is nice, what you need to help with running fitness is a sports massage. It may not be relaxing, or even enjoyable, but think of it as preventative medicine for your body. “The net physiological effect of routine sports massage is an increase of function and performance, more consistently and on a higher level,” says Shawn Hadley, a cyclist, surfer, skier, hiker and soft tissue rehabilitation specialist based in Aspen, Colo. A skilled masseuse will use elements of active release therapy, stretching and deep tissue massage to identify tight areas and help correct misalignments. (Editor’s tip: wear clothes, ideally exercise clothes, for your appointment.)

9. Schedule workouts

Consistency is essential when you are striving for improvements in fitness. But when life gets in the way, exercise is often one of the first things to go. Instead of simply squeezing in workouts when you can, add them to your daily calendar, and treat them as a “can’t miss” appointment.

RELATED: How to Maintain Training and Balance When Life Gets in the Way

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7 Popular Obstacle Races in the U.S. Worth the Mud

Spartan Race, Photo: Courtesy of Spartan Race

Built on the notion that everyone likes to play in the mud and maneuver through obstacles like they did when they were kids, obstacle racing has exploded in recent years. Despite attrition of some smaller races and races series in recent years, the sport continues to grow and become more organized in the U.S. and around the world. Here’s a rundown of some of the best events in the U.S. in 2017.

RELATED: The Wackiest, Wildest and Weirdest Fun Runs of 2017

Spartan Race

Multiple dates/locations

Spartan.com

Spartan Race has established itself as the leading race series for competitive athletes and participants interested in timed events. With more than 50 Spartan Sprint, Super and Beast Races across the U.S. and Canada on the schedule in 2017, chances are there is an event (or several) in your region sometime this year. Sprint races are relatively short, while Super and Beast events take longer. The 2017 Spartan U.S. Championship Series is a five-race series (Seattle, Salinas, Calif., Palmerton, Pa., Asheville, N.C., and Glen Jean, W.V.) between April and August that will be televised on NBC Sports. The Spartan Race World Championship returns to Squaw Valley Ski Resort in North Lake Tahoe, Calif., on Sept. 30, where the world’s top obstacle racers will compete in the World Championship Beast as well as a 26-mile Ultra Beast. Every Spartan Race in the U.S. also features a Spartan Kids Race for ages 4 to 14.

Tough Mudder

Multiple dates/locations

Toughmudder.com

Tough Mudder has made its mark by creating challenges for all levels of participants for all levels of intensities. Its main events are the Tough Mudder Half (about 13 obstacles over a 5-mile course) and the standard Tough Mudder (20 obstacles on a 10–12-mile course). Toughest Mudder events are competitive, 8-hour through-the-night challenges that take teamwork, mental stamina and personal grit to extreme levels. Four Toughest Mudder races will be held in the U.S. (Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago) between March and August and will be featured on CBS Sports. The series’ premier challenge is the World’s Toughest Mudder, a 24-hour competitive challenge on a 5-mile course near Las Vegas in late October. That challenge is open to athletes of all abilities, but 25 miles must be completed to be eligible for prize money at the 2017 Toughest Mudder event. Every Tough Mudder event features a 1-mile kids’ race known as the Fruit Shoot Mini Mudder for youngsters ages 7 to 12.

Zombie Mud Run

Multiple dates/locations

Thezombiemudrun.com

Zombies are all the rage and these 5K obstacle runs entail competitors being chased by post-apocalyptic zombies. You can sign up as a human competitor or as a zombie. Humans run with a flag football belt that carry flags representing your brains, heart and entrails while zombies stationed along the course try to capture your flags. If you finish the race with one or more of the flags still attached, you’ll be a survivor. If the zombies capture all of your flags, well, you’re deemed to be infected with the “living dead virus” and, well, not a survivor.

 

Warrior Dash, Photo: Courtesy of Warrior Dash

Warrior Dash

Multiple dates/locations

Warriordash.com

Warrior Dash events are aimed at building fun and camaraderie while tackling 12 obstacles on a 5K course. Obstacles range from mud pits and cargo nets to a barbed-wire crawl and the “Warrior Roast” fire jump. There are more than 20 U.S. events planned from February through Octobers and each includes a post-race festival with a live deejay, sponsor giveaways, Maverick’s Grille, beer garden and numerous challenges (hot wings eating contest, best beard competition and a dance-off).

Ultimate Challenge MudRun

May 20, Columbia, S.C.

Ultimatechallengemudrun.org

This team-only race (no individual competitors, only two- and four-person teams) has a military training demeanor and honors U.S. Marines and other veterans. But, as the race organizers say, you shouldn’t be fooled by the name; this is no ordinary 5K with a couple of mud pits and a few cheesy obstacles. This is as real and rugged as it gets. Challenging hard-corps types since 1993, this is a full-on obstacle race with 36 military-style obstacles spread over a 10K course, and Marines are there to motivate competitors every step of the way to the finish line.

Camp Pendleton Mud Run

June 10–11, Oceanside, Calif.

Mccscp.com/mudrun

One of the original mud runs that was a precursor to modern obstacle racing, the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Mud Run features 5K and 10K distances at Camp Pendleton. The 10K course is pitted as one of the most challenging mud obstacle races in the world (including features known as “combat town” and “slippery hill” and perhaps the muddiest finish line pit in the entire sport). The 5K course is a more toned down affair, but it still includes nine obstacles. A kids’ race with six obstacles and plenty of mud is also a big hit.

Muckfest MS

July 15, Parker, Colo.

Main.nationalmssociety.org

The annual MuckFest MS south of Denver it is built for laughs and mud mayhem for all types of competitors, but the event is part of a serious mission to end multiple sclerosis. Competitors encounter about 15 obstacles in a challenging 5K course and then gather for more fun in the post-event MuckFestival. Teams run in the same wave so you can experience all the muddy shenanigans, epic spills and thrills together.

RELATED: 19 Challenging Yet Stunning Trail Races to Run in 2017

The post 7 Popular Obstacle Races in the U.S. Worth the Mud appeared first on Competitor.com.

The Wackiest, Wildest and Weirdest Fun Runs of 2017

Competitors make their way up the hill at Red Bull 400, in Park City, UT, USA on 24 September, 2016. // David Martínez Moreno / Red Bull Content Pool // P-20160926-01454 // Usage for editorial use only // Please go to www.redbullcontentpool.com for further information. //

Red Bull 400, Photo: Red Bull Media House

You ran a holiday 10K while sporting a Santa hat? Wild stuff, but it might take a little more than that to make an impression at this collection of unusual events. From a humans-vs.-equestrians adventure in the Arizona high country to high times at the 420-themed pot-awareness games, these contests offer serious, and not-so-serious, running fun. Now get on out there, you crazy kids.

RELATED: 7 Popular Obstacle Races in the U.S. Worth the Mud

Murder Mystery 5K

Jan. 7, San Diego

March 18, San Francisco

Murdermystery5k.com

Ever do one of those murder mystery dinners? In this unique event in downtown San Diego, you’ll have to solve a mystery as you navigate 3 to 4 miles around the crime scene gathering clues. This team event involves solving riddles and collecting information around the route, and dares must be accomplished if you’re unable to decode a riddle.

 

Insane Inflatable 5K, Photo: Courtesy of Insane Inflatable 5K

Insane Inflatable 5K

March 4, Sarasota, Fla. (plus 120 locations nationwide)

Insaneinflatable5k.com

Get more bounce to the ounce with these 5K runs featuring numerous inflatable obstacles. The emphasis is definitely on fun more than competition for these un-timed “races,” but with multiple climbs and sliding descents your heart will still be pumping.

420 Games

April 1, Santa Monica, Calif.

July 15, Denver

Aug. 26, San Francisco

420games.org

The 420 Games promote the healthy and responsible use of cannabis. In 2016, events were held in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington—something must have worked because pot-friendly legislation at the state level is on the rise. The festivities include a 4.2-mile run course, as well as educational speeches and music.

Bronx Zoo Run for the Wild

April 29, New York City

Bronxzoo.com

In the heart of New York City’s concrete jungle, the Bronx Zoo hosts this annual fundraiser event for the Wildlife Conservation Society. The popular celebration also features a silent disco, face painting, an artificial rock climbing wall and a beer garden.

Legacy Health Starlight Run

June 3, Portland, Ore.

Starlightrun.com

There’s a great satification to running for a cause and having fun doing it. This Portland 5K combines a small-town feel with a big-time emphasis on costumes and fun. The charitable beneficiary, Playworks, is a nonprofit that reaches kids throughout the region and makes a perfect match for this family-friendly event.

Burning Man 50K

Aug. 28, Black Rock City, Nev.

Burningman50k.com

If the thought of running an ultra in the desert in the middle of a world-famous festival while occasionally being chased by partiers waving bottles of whisky seems appealing, then this is your race. The event is free but you will need to purchase a ticket to Burning Man.

 

Beat the Blerch, Photo: Courtesy of Beat the Blerch

Beat the Blerch

Sept. 16–17, Carnation, Wash.

Beattheblerch.com

Inspired by a comic about running, Beat The Blerch features 10K, half- and full-marathon distances. The Snoqualmie Valley trail is a great running venue, and the races feature plenty of unusual features, such as aid stations that serve cake and multiple couches placed along the course.

Red Bull 400

Sept. 27, Park City, Utah

400utah.redbull.com

A 400-meter race is usually a full-on sprint … but not when it sends runners straight up a ski jump. There are other Red Bull 400s events, but this one, held in a facility where Olympic ski jumpers train, has the added distinction of being the highest, with the start line at 6,870 feet. It’s a near-vertical and flat-out grueling.

 

Man Against Horse, Photo: Jordan Kordish/AZ Cowgirl Photography

Man Against Horse

Oct. 7, Prescott, Ariz.

Managainsthorse.net

Can you outrun a horse? This is your chance to find out. This longstanding event pits horses and their mounts against runners on looped courses of 50, 25 and 12 miles. Most of the course is on mountainous trails and back roads through the tall pines of Mingus Mountain, with racers reaching a highpoint of 7,600 feet.

Denver Gorilla Run

Oct. 23, Denver

Denvergorillarun.com

Now it its 14th year, this is a 5K race in which everybody dresses up in gorilla (or banana) costumes in a fun event that raises money for the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund. Don’t have a costume? Don’t worry, the race provides them for everyone and you get to keep it when it’s over. You can register as an individual, a team or a family and everyone is invited to the Silverback After Party.

Swim Run NC

Oct. 29, Hanging Rock, N.C.

Swimrunnc.com

New to the U.S. in 2016, swim and run racing includes teams of two (for safety and camaraderie) racing together and carrying all the gear they need for the duration of the event that includes a variety of segments in water and on land. Enjoy the magic and challenge of about 14 miles of running and 3k of swimming broken up into 11 runs and 9 swims, plus a lot of elevation gain for some added fun.

SkyRise Chicago

Nov. 5, Chicago

ric.convio.net

Welcome to vertical running. In this event, you’ll sprint, jog or walk fast to the top of Willis Tower in the world’s highest indoor stair-climbing race. From the start line, you’re just 2,109 steps and 103 floors away from SkyDeck Chicago, which features amazing views of the city and panoramic views of up to four states on a clear day.

A Christmas Story 5K/10K

Dec. 25, Cleveland

Achristmasstoryrun.com

A must-do for enthusiasts of the classic “A Christmas Story” movie, this charity race uses the featured Higbees Department Store building and a museum dedicated to the movie to demarcate the (roughly) 5K and 10K distances. Look for costumed “leg lamp” and bunny suits among the homages.

RELATED: 25 Fun Half Marathons You’ll Want to Run This Year

The post The Wackiest, Wildest and Weirdest Fun Runs of 2017 appeared first on Competitor.com.

Competitor Running Is Looking For An Editor-in-Chief!

Are you a strategic thinker?

If so, we’d like to meet you—because we’re always looking for talented individuals, especially the ones with experience leading an effective team, a strategic thinker and someone with the ability to make the Competitor Running brand profitable!

Competitor Group is the leading global media and event entertainment company dedicated to promoting the active lifestyle to our audiences in the sports endurance industry, while continuously delivering extraordinary service and spectacular events!

Competitor Group fosters a positive work/life balance, and is in tune to what’s important to our employees. We’re proud of our employee-friendly culture and upbeat environment, which supports recognition and rewards.

If you share the same passion and possess the right credentials, you may be a welcome addition to the team. Click here to read the full job description. 

Not the right fit? We’re also looking to fill an Associate Web Editor position, and another Editor-in-Chief position at Women’s Running.

The post Competitor Running Is Looking For An Editor-in-Chief! appeared first on Competitor.com.

Running Gear That Stops The Stink Before It Starts

When it comes to running clothes, we expect a lot of them—comfort, performance, moisture-wicking capabilities and they definitely shouldn’t stink. But, due to the petri dish mix of sweat, heat, bacteria and soap or oil buildup on fabric, that’s a constant battle. Whether your running togs have their own unique odor or smell fine until you add heat and sweat, the stench is real.

Clothing manufacturers have your back, though, and have been incorporating new types of odor-control technology into apparel. From treating fabrics with forms of silver or making garments from naturally anti-microbial fibers, like wool and bamboo, the future smells fresh. But, you still need to properly wash and care for your clothing for it to work. If you insist on wearing the same shirt several days a week or leaving it balled up in your gym bag between uses, chances are it will still smell a bit ripe. The technology is very good, but it’s not magic! Check hang tags as you shop to know if the gear you’re considering will stop the stink. Click through the gallery below to see some of the best anti-stink products available now.

 

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