I want to do some more 5Ks, but I'm no pro but I'm fast enough that I don't want to crash a fun run and look like a showoff.
How do you search for 5Ks which are either bigger events, or more serious events? I'm in the Washington DC area, but this question about how to find them may have a universal answer. Thanks
Posted Sep 2, 2022, 6:59 PM UTC
Other people don’t care about your race times, they’re too busy being tired from their own race
Especially the folks who are in then”fun run” group. Literally just there for fun.
When I was a much slower runner, half the fun for me was seeing some seriously fast people at those fun runs! My first ever 5K was an out and back loop and seeing some guy just come flying back ahead of everyone before I got to the turnaround was honestly a huge motivator in me deciding to get serious about running
Hard way is digging through race results to find what you're looking for.
Can also look for local clubs, or see if specific running stores tend to put on events that fit more what you're looking for.
Unless you're signing up for a legit "fun run", and show up in 1" splits to run a 13 flat or something, I wouldn't worry about being a dick, but it is nice to check and see if you'll have people to race with.
Yeah. Look through race results.
It also helps to learn what clubs or companies sponsor each race. There's three clubs in my area that sponsor races. Two of the clubs sponsor more of the "fun run" type of events. However, one of the clubs regularly has people breaking 16 in the 5k and 32 in the 10k. Any race they put on is a "serious" race.
Results are the way to gauge race seriousness. Reno used to have a fun Reno 5000 monthly (I think), it brought in top HS and college kids and had times in the low 16s regularly. But it was one of few consistently serious 5ks I ever found.
I've won one race because it was fairly casual. 2nd place barely broke 20. Problem was I followed the bike, but the rest of the field lost visual on us. Probably messed up the logistics a bit.
Yeah when I was out of shape a few years ago, I won a 5k organized by my religious group with a >26 min time. It was super embarrassing to accept the award for a result that I wasn't happy with at all.
I came in second in my age group once because so many people messed up the route of the race and were DQed. I've never placed in my entire life, so I didn't stick around for the award ceremony and only found out when I got home later.
I’d love to show up to one of those runs and smoke everyone with what would probably be sub 22:00.
You’d be right behind me;)
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Yea as someone who in college had to help plan a triathlon race this exact thing happened on the bike and we were fucked because we only had one lead golf cart thing and this guy was out of second places visual field in the first couple miles.
Highly appreciated if you take stuff like this into consideration. I
Eh I did all I could. I emailed the race director my predicted time (sub 19) and they said no problem. Ran 18:20, second was 19:50. Course may have been short.
We fun run slow pokes won't even see you if you're fast. You're not offending me. Lol
It's about competition though, it's no fun to just smoke the whole field when you know you are a middling runner.
Ah, see, that's never even been a possible thought for me. I usually come in in the last quarter of the runners. Thanks for explaining.
No fun for you maybe😂😂😂
I really wouldn't worry about it. My local weekly park run has a best time of under 16 mins. At the other end of the spectrum there are walkers and pram pushers.
I haven't seen any negativity aimed at anyone. Fast or slow. If someone turned up and beat the best time I'm sure the majority of the runners wouldn't even have a clue it happened. Those at the faster end, I'm sure, would salute the winner. You have to be within a couple of minutes of someone to have any gauge of how they run.
I've seen some of the best runners in the country turn up for a park run. Not my local park run, but elsewhere. Some of them are effectively pros. It's something that is celebrated. Alex Yee ran 14:05 at a park run. I would of loved to be in that race and see someone of that quality.
BTW how fast are you?
Yes this 🙌 The faster runners have nothing but admiration for the slower ones who may be very over weight or have a pram etc, they’re still plowing along long after the fastest runners have finished. Sometimes even with the race slowly closing around them….. that takes some mental determination that even the fastest of runners will appreciate.
The slower runners will often be in awe of the faster ones and it’ll give them motivation to improve.
I’ve done many many races over the years. All distances up to ultra. I’ve come near the front in a few or done well in my age category, I also come last in one that took me over 12 hours and all of my stubbornness not to quit! And been near the back in a few, and everywhere in-between.
The running community is generally a very inclusive and awesome bunch. Most people know that everyone’s running their own race (more often than not against themselves, rather than others).
TDLR- running people are generally awesome and just want other runners to hit their goals. If you’re the fastest or the slowest- just get out there and do a race if you want to :)
I'm a better than average runner but always stick around as long as I can to cheer on the people that come in much later. It is, after all, a much bigger achievement for most of them.
Yes same, in races I’ve been toward the front I always try to cheer people in. Sometimes I’ll grab a massage in the running village or eat a meal etc, then there are still people running. Makes me so proud of they’re perseverance. I once ran a HM with a friend who is battling cancer, her only goal was not to come last. Took us 3hour 45, 2 hours longer than I’d usually run it in. We didn’t come last and got her goal 💪 you never know what peoples motivation to race is.
I'm no pro but I'm fast enough that I don't want to crash a fun run and look like a showoff.
I have been on plenty of "fun" 5Ks, and *that* (spoiling the other's fun by being too fast) is not a thought that would ever have crossed my mind.
That said, check out this https://race-find.com/us/races?query=&state=48&date=&type=2 (first google hit for "5k race finder"). You can click through the results and will get a quick impression whether they are "earnest" or not.
Another idea would be to look for "park runs", they are a brand (?) that seems to operate in many cities. While they usually have no medals etc., I believe they are a very good avenue for enthusiasts. I am very sure that you will not be #1 there. ;) Also, at least those I know happen literally every single weekend...
Yeah at all the 5ks I’ve done, even small town ones, there are people who are miles ahead of the pack (literally and metaphorically). Often high school/college track and XC athletes, or just fast adults. I’m realistic about my own pace so having them there doesn’t diminish my experience at all
I think it's cool to witness just how fast they are
I find it inspiring, not discouraging, and I don't feel like they are 'showing off'
Same here! I almost exclusively walk or run/walk races and I really admire the fast people and think it’s cool to see them! Especially on an out-and back course, it’s always so amazing to see how fast they are getting back!
One 10k race I try to do every year is an out and back and it's always jaw-dropping to see how early in my runs the elites start coming back the other way, especially as my own training and times improve. Has such an impact seeing how much ground they cover with each step when you're just a few feet away going as hard as you can too haha
OP's in the metro DC area and I checked the latest College Park, MD parkrun results. 16.xx (1), 17.xx (4), 18.xx (3). So that might be a good choice. I also live on the east coast of the US, but the one near me rarely even has a single runner go sub-20.
I'm in the same area, and there is no shortage of very fast runners in the metro DC area. Most any decent local 5K will have a few, or sometimes many, runners under 20. There are a lot of very dedicated amateurs and sub-elites around here.
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Are you from the US? Is OP from the US? As far as I can tell parkruns are much more of a European thing and not very common in the US at all.
But agreed that OP won't be spoiling the fun (unless he were actually a pro, then it might feel weird, but he said he's not).
They are a thing in the US, and I believe they are getting bigger.
They are much more of a "thing" in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, but getting more established in some other European countries... Slowly.
For the US though it likely depends on where you are, but DC is one of the areas with several events well established, and one of the bigger North American events in College Park. I know for certain that they would welcome any speed of runners or walkers with their course record being sub 15 and them very much encouraging every pace however far behind that.
European hère, absolutely no clue about what is a parkrun
That's because it's not really a European thing but a British thing.
If you don't live in a city that organises them, I don't think you're that likely to know that much about them.
They are fun though, if you ever get a chance to participate in one on a trip or vacation or something.
Well i just check the parkrun situation in France, look like they try to import the concept, but they abandoned cause they are unable to get the minimum legal sécurity requièrement in race organisation in France ( each runner must have a médical certificate that authorize them to run in a race)
Édit : source in french and english
No one cares what anyone else's time is. I could not even remotely tell you who's been the winner of any race I've ever done or what their time was.
There are plenty of people who care, though they’re generally at the pointy, more competitive part of the running scene. That’s probably difficult for a mid-packer to understand as it’s a world as far-removed from them as elite-level competition is to club runners, but humans are amazingly varied in their motivations.
I have a hard time believing you got upvoted for this answer.
As someone who wins a lot of races, some pretty big, I'm way way way farther from an elite level runner than I am a mid packer.
Given the context is OP not wanting to look like an ass at a local fun run I don't think that was a statement about all of mankind's thrust for athletic greatness. It was a comment on people at fun runs really not caring.
I've literally walked 5k's (people I was with didnt wanna run) and seeing the runners fly ahead was always exciting to see.
all fun runs are for everyone, fast or slow
The simple answer is to target big events where you will be competing against very good people.
It sounds like you want more of a challenge. See if there are adult running groups/teams in your area. The head of my local running group and owner of the local running shop won the city's half marathon this year.
There are also team running events (long distance relay) that are fun and competitive.
I’m a slow runner (around 35-37 minutes for 5k)… I think it’s awesome when there’s fast runners like that at the runs… is cool to see their times… we don’t think you’re showing off
Nah man go cream that boy scout 5k
Edit: ya ya ya poor choice of words
How fast are you running? Most local 5ks are decently fast in bigger cities, where people are pretty close to breaking 15 and sometimes under. I ran a 30:59 in a 10k at a local race over the summer(in san diego) and only got 3rd place lol
Incredible time! Congrats. Was it a PB?
It was a PB, but it was a road race after my track season. I didn’t run a 10k during track. I was right around 29:50ish shape during track tho. I ran a 14:32 5k
Username doesn't check out, that's pretty impressive!
How fast are you? There are usually a few/bunch of "sub-elites" in any 5k bigger than a few hundred people, probably depending on where you are.
Check previous race results.
I’m the opposite! Where at the races with fewer serious runners? I’m just trying to finish in the top 25% of the field. In all seriousness, I find the 5K slowest when there is a 10K at the same event, and the 10K slowest when there is a Half at the same event. Look for the opposite. What are the biggest 5Ks in your area where there is 10K or 5K option, and the challenge is running faster and not further.
Buddy, sign up for the races you want. If you crush it; you crush it.
That was like a 5k I did with some family. A few Ethiopian elite or sub elite guys came out and ran in the 14s. My mother (not a runner) thought that this was unfair for them to enter this particular 5k for some reason...
I was glad they were there. It was awesome to see some great times and they earned the wins. If you are good there's no shame in showing up and proving it. The work was put in and the rules are set. For OP I imagine it's not fun to blow the entire field away which is understandable but a probably I will never have haha.
Look for races that give monetary prizes and usatf points. Those will attract more serious runners and people at the front will be racing.
If your main concern is just not looking like a douche, don’t worry about it. I’d honestly love to see someone show up and drop a sub-15 minute time. If you’re wanting competition, I’d try to find a track invitational or perhaps be willing to travel to more prestigious road races.
Fun run participant here. No one gives a hoot about you.
This is the epitome of r/runningcirclejerk
Most of the local fun runs around me still attract serious runners who finish sub 18 min. The standard announcement is fast runner close to the starting line, casual runners further back.
Dunno if sub 18 would be considered serious - most Parkruns in UK cities get sub-18 runs nearly every weekend. At my local one in Glasgow, 17 minutes flat would only be good for 5th or 6th most weeks
I recently attended a 5K Park Run here in Sydney, and the person who came first was a 12 year old boy who ran 16 minutes 45 seconds.
That feel when you're doing a park run and a guy overtakes you with a pram :'(
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