Featured Running Event of the Week : The People of Endurance Running

So, this is more of a generic article about Endurance Events in general.  These tend to be known as 4-hour, 6-hour, 8-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour, 48-hour timed events.  The goal of these events is not get from point A to point B.  But, rather, how many times a person can get from point A to point B in a given time frame.

One beauty of endurance racing is that it is great for beginners, like even brand new runners, it's great for walkers, it's great for speed runners, and it's great for consistent-pace runners - and anything and everything in between.  Why?  Because a participant can complete 1 lap and stop or complete 120+ miles and stop.  However many they want to attempt, they can attempt.  However many they complete, they complete.   People can walk 30 minute miles, or run 10 minute miles.  It doesn't matter.

And that's because there are two major aspects of Endurance Running.  1) Challenging yourself - what can you do, what do you want to do, challenging your physical and mental and emotional being  and 2) the camaraderie.  And the camaraderie is the topic of this particular post.

All of these events have a "tent village" or "staging area" or "support area" (called different things).  This is where each participants sets up a "home base" - it's where their food and water are, it's where their support team is, it's where additional clothing is, and, in some cases, it's where they catnap or just sit down for a while.  This is one part of the camaraderie.  Everybody in "tent village" is there for the same common goal - endurance racing.  Doesn't matter WHY they are racing or what THEIR goals are - they all share the same common bond of challenging oneself.  But the talk isn't just about running this particular event, it's about other races, it's about horror films, it's about baseball or football, it's about music - you name it, it's being talked about - before, during, and after the race at various times in "tent village".

Then, there is the unique aspect of "on-course conversations".  Yes, even in street sprint races and marathons and trail races, runners talk.  But the sheer length of an endurance events, often times leads to 1-lap (3, 4 miles) conversations with "strangers" (for lack of a better word).  Someone may catch up to someone or happen to match a pace, and they talk the entire lap - about the event, about other events, about movies, about cars, or whatever.  After a few steps, there is always an introduction/exchange of names, and it goes from there.  Friends are made as the event is in progress.  Some people run/walk the entire event with a friend or friends as well.  It's a time to spend 4,6, 24 hours with friends.

Then there is the 3rd level of camaraderie - the unsung heroes - THE VOLUNTEERS and/or RACE DIRECTORS.  These are the people who learn your name and recognize you after 1 or 2 laps (or less).  These are the people that cheer you on as you pass by - or as you stop for food or water or both.  These are the people, that legitimately, 100%, sincerely ARE rooting for you.  They want to see you meet your goal - whatever it is.  And they will try to help you any way possible, within the rules of course.  They ask how you are doing - if you don't seem all peppy, if things aren't going well, they say "how can I help?" and they mean it.  They will pour a Ginger Ale for you, not make you pour it.  They will tell you what items are on the food table, and hand it to you, not make you grab it.  They will motivate you with sincere comments - or they may even suggest "it's ok to rest for a few minutes, then go back out and get it".  They will talk to you - and listen - and legitimately care about your race.  How are you doing?  What is your goal?  How close are you to it?  Etc etc.  Some endurance races have one manned station - some 3 or 4 per lap - it all depends.  But regardless, they are there rooting for the runners, not just guarding food and water.  They will joke with you and laugh with you, they will encourage you, they will cheer for you.  These are the totally unsung heroes, of which no endurance race would be worth attending, if these people were not there.

Speaking of the food - not all endurance races are the same - but they all try.  Some have a constant supply of pizzas brought in for HOURS, some have awesome restaurant hamburgers, some grill burgers and brats on the spot, some have various "wrap" sandwiches, some have the great PB&J, some have nuts and M&Ms, some have fruit and veggies and slices oranges, and cut up bananas.  There is SO MUCH effort that goes into these food stations - they just don't throw food out there and make the runners "deal" - this food is sliced and diced and wrapped and prepared and ready to grab and go!!!  Plus there is water, and pop, and gatorade (or similar) drinks.  Some even have music!!

As I mentioned earlier - two key aspects of Endurance Racing.  1) Challenge yourself  and 2) The People - the camaraderie.  And in my opinion, if #2 didn't exist, then there is no point of even attending the event.  Challenging oneself is great and important and tough and gut-checking and fun and exhilarating.  But without people and camaraderie - what's really the point of it all?