March 14, 2013 (Updated December 1, 2022)

What’s the Wackiest Race You’ve Done?

by Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

32 comments

Good morning, friends!

Only 2 days to go until my 5th half marathon – the Rock N Roll USA here in DC! Exciting. More on that and my goals tomorrow! This morning, I got in my last run before the race – 4 early morning miles with friends Turner and Karen.

morning_run

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I didn’t sleep all that well last night so I was feeling it this morning – I was glad I had buddies with me or I would probably have stopped (or not gotten out of bed in the first place)! We met up in the city at 6:45 a.m. and it was still pitch black – daylight savings fail. We did get treated to a beautiful sunrise near the end of the run, though – wish I’d gotten a photo!

Splits:

  • Mile 1: 9:05
  • Mile 2: 9:02
  • Mile 3: 8:29
  • Mile 4: 8:39

We kept it casual on pace per my request to save my legs for the weekend. The first two miles were slightly uphill but then we were able to turn back and cruise for the last two! Spring teased us this past weekend but winter is sadly back – it was about 30 degrees and windy this morning. Weather for race weekend is looking warmer but rainy… fingers crossed it holds off!

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Speaking of racing, I was thinking this morning that now that spring and summer are approaching, I need to sign up for some fun and wacky shorter races! I’m loving all the unique races that seem to have popped up all over the place lately. All of a sudden in the past couple years we have mud runs, zombie runs, water fight runs, color runs, glow in the dark runs… the list goes on and I just love it. You guys know I’m all about making exercise fun (and acting like a kid again), so themed races are right up my alley. In the past couple years I’ve done the following themed races:

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Above Photo credit: Jack at pixelwiremedia.com / rtbrelay.com

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I haven’t done a color run yet, but that, a Tough Mudder, and some sort of water fight run are all on my fitness fun to do bucket list. 🙂 Which is where Blood, Sweat, and Cheers comes in! Blood, Sweat, and Cheers is a cool newsletter that shares activities, events, workouts, and gear that make life more exciting. If it’s fun, active, and social, BSC is writing about it! Sounds awesome, right? I already signed up for their e-newsletter and I’m excited to see what they hit my inbox with. I’m also loving their website – it has listings of a bunch of cool themed races, great workout mixes and fitness apps, and more. I’m definitely going to check it out for some cool races to sign up for this summer!

Even better? If you sign up for their e-newsletter you’ll be entered to win a GT Performer BMX, and one lucky second place winner will receive a $150 Lululemon gift card. Um, awesome. I’m pretty sure all of us want that second one. 🙂

prizes

If you’re interested, here’s the link to sign up for their newsletter. Have fun!

And now, time to get back down to work! Lots of side projects to work on and I’m also having my first AnneTheRD in person client meeting today, so that should be a nice change of pace from Skype and phone sessions. Have a wonderful day, everyone!

What’s the wackiest or weirdest race you’ve participated in?

—

FitFluential LLC compensated me for this campaign; all opinions are my own.

- anne

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32 comments
  • Jane @ Not Plain So Jane
    I haven't done one yet! I want to do a Ragnar Relay race in the near future! Seems like a fun team event to do with friends! Good luck at the DC half, I did the full last year & it was a fun race! Metro is going to be a madhouse, they never open up early enough for races.
    Reply
  • Lara ZP
    Tough Mudder Mid Atlantic, 19 Oct 2013...or bust!!
    Reply
  • Taylor @ Liftingrevolution
    A tough mudder is on my list for the year too. These are great because my husband hates to run but loves mud runs so it's fun to do something together. I have a color run in 1 week!
    Reply
  • Annie
    I did the Color Run which was a blast! The colors permanently stained my friend's blonde hair pink, though, which she wasn't too excited about. What will they come up with next, the tar'n'feathered run?
    Reply
    • Anne P
      I heard that happens! There was a color run a month before our wedding and I didn't do it exactly for that reason. Tie dyed hair in wedding photos? That would have been a fail. :)
      Reply
  • Rebecca @ Runner with an Appetite
    I recently did Cupid's Undie Run, which required the races to run around in their underwear. It was for a great cause and I can't lie, I can't wait to do it again next year. Nothing feels weirder than entering a bar (pre-race location) and everyone is in their skivvies, but it was a blast!
    Reply
  • Kim
    I ran the Color Run in Philly in July 2012. I loved the experience so much, I'm signed up to run colorful again this year! I want to try a Ragnar Relay.
    Reply
  • Amanda @ Run Principessa
    Dude! You've done such awesome races! I've done a color run but that's it. I have so many on my list, but they tend to be a tiny bit pricier. Nuts!
    Reply
  • Nicole@TheKidlessKronicles
    Not really wacky, but we did a glow-in-the-dark race in Winston-Salem. It was kind of awful though. Too dark, course was NARROW, ugh. And we did the New Years Eve midnight race through the Christmas lights out at Tanglewood. I would highly recommend that. The Kidless Kronicles
    Reply
    • Anne P
      The Christmas lights run sounds magical!
      Reply
  • Kelly @ Cupcake Kelly's
    I've done a Spartan and a color run. I'd love to do the Spartan again since it was one of my first races. I'd love to see what is easier, what is harder and what stays the same.
    Reply
  • Jess @ Blonde Ponytail
    You have done some FUN races. I love what BSC is doing--I hope to find even more events to participate in as a result! Especially, after I have this baby! :)
    Reply
  • Tina @ Best Body Fitness
    I so love the idea behind Blood Sweat and Cheers. Fitness should be fun! There are so many cool race ideas out there now. I'm signed up for a color run this summer and still have to do a mud run someday!
    Reply
  • Shel@PeachyPalate
    To Hell and Back! a 10k run with 10ft walls, a mini mountain, swamp, river, running up the side of a mountain carrying a brick, then under barbed wire..crazy stuff! I was in agony for a full week after it!
    Reply
    • Anne P
      That sounds EPIC! Well done!
      Reply
  • terri d.
    I'm doing the Hero Rush in May; it seems like a beginner tough mudder race...shorter course and less mud, which is good since I'm not quite sure about the whole mud thing... Here's hoping it's fun!
    Reply
  • Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie
    Such a great idea! My fiance and I are moving cross country, so this sounds like a great way to find out what's going on in a new area!
    Reply
  • Aurora@Fitness is Sweet
    I did a Santa Run this last December where EVERYONE dressed up as Santas. they were trying to set a record! I'm dying to do a color run though, and there's one coming up nearby me!
    Reply
  • Shay @ Whine Less, Breathe More
    A mud run is on my to-do list. I am doing a color run this spring. Cannot wait! And I'm doing a race with a diva theme this month.
    Reply
  • Jen@HealthyFoodandFamily
    I just signed up for that site earlier today, I'm excited to see what kind of theme races are in Michigan. Right now I have a Memorial 5K for my Dad in June and then have my sights set on a color run in August.
    Reply
  • Jan @ Sprouts n Squats
    I really want to do a colour run and hoping this year is the year. They only brought it to Melbourne, Australia here last year but it sold out so fast. Apart from that tough mudder doesn't really appeal and they don't really do any wacky races here like they do over there. It is more they will give out prizes for the wackiest outfits within normal races.
    Reply
  • T.G.I.F!!! (the goal is fitness)
    I've never ran in a marathon before, but love hearing preping tips I'm in DC this weekend and will enjoy watching the Marathon from my hotel room. Good luck tomoorrow...and be sure to fuel up with lots of yummy pasta tonight! (that's what I'm hitting for dinner! :-) TGIF!!!
    Reply
    • Anne P
      Thank you! Cheer loud if you see me! :)
      Reply
  • BAMSCAT
    The Krispy Kreme Challenge at NC State every February--just under 5 miles and a dozen donuts at the 2.5 mile mark-- is a lot of fun. The Anything is Possible 5K begins at 1:50 a.m. on the Sunday morning in November when the clocks are turned back an hour (at 2 a.m.). Even slower runners like me finish the race before they start! Good luck tomorrow Anne.
    Reply
    • Anne P
      I heard about that Krispy Kreme Challenge - totally should have done it while I was in NC! And that is so awesome about the race where you finish before you started. :)
      Reply