29 replies to this topic

[SlingRunner]

How far would you travel to do Fun Runs?

I am contemplating to run a 5k race next month, but I need to drive 400km one-way  :rolleyes:  . I am not intending to treat it as a weekend getaway at all. I plan to go there just for the run (stay overnight, morning race and then drive home).

Do you think the 800km return drive (for a 5k) is worth it?  :unsure:  

Also, interested to hear from other CRs on the furthest drive/travel in order to do short distance races?

Note: I'm not talking about marathons or ultra races. I've done interstate/overseas HM and marathon before. I think, the hard work required and the satisfaction of completing marathons fully 'justify' the cost of travelling.

[Iron Pete]

Wow! You must really need to run.

Like you, I have travelled interstate and overseas for long events. I travelled from Brisbane to Sydney (~960km one way) for the City to Surf... thats a fun run. Apart from that, nothing further than 100km from my front door for short stuff.

Cheers,
Peter.

[Dani California]

Hummmm that is a bit of a hike. But I too live in Perth and while WAMC have many races there are still a limited number here. Hey you could just do Asics Bridges!   :D    :)    :D

[JourneymanPhil]

800km return trip for a 5km fun run...Umm- I wouldnt!

[Sunni]

Which 5km is it? Is it a big one ie lots of participants? Are you expecting to do a personal best? Is it your only chance for a while to test out for a pb over that distance?

[Morley]

I've never run a 5K event but I would not be prepared to travel far for it. I have plenty of local races to consider entering and prefer at least a 10K event  :)  .

I have travelled 130 Km return to do a 26K training run through hills but wouldn't consider travelling much further. I is a 13K course and I go around twice to make it worth while travelling  ;)  .

[Virtual]

Here's a deal. If you put the money that you have spent on 800km of travel up as prize money. We'll come to you for a 5km race!

[Morts]

I couldn't justify travelling that far for a 5km run... Depending the type of car you drive, the total cost would end up being around $150.00.

I know you are a good runner, so you will probably complete the run in sub 20mins (unless it is very hilly)...

A 1/2 marathon or marathon, definitely as they are more memorable runs (in my opinion).  :P

[SlingRunner]

Alright, the 5k race is actually part of the WA Masters Games in Albany. I can do other events as well such as 100m, 400m, 1 mile or even long jump on a single day to make the cost more justifiable. If I decide to go, I would probably just do the 5k and the Mile race 'coz I'm not really interested in others.

[Peterhorse]

i'm the contrarian on this one...i might/would do it BUT...it would be all about the social aspects. If i was going with some friends, also participating, all hyped to chase their goal times, staying for a celebratory beers after, etc, then i would. as it happens a good mate of mine does decathlon, so i would be an interested spectator as well and join him for a couple of the running events. but without all that? nup.

(Being in Albany, you could always drop the family at the whale museum for the day?)
cheers
PH

[MPHinLondon]

That seems a bit keen to me, but they do say running is all about the journey, ho-ho...

Hmm, I will travel to the UK for a marathon, and would travel to anywhere in the world for an ultra, (more specifically thinking the US for Western States).

I have travelled to Gold Coast (from Sydney) for a 1/2, and would probably go as far as Sandown for a 10K. But I wouldn't go out of Sydney for a 5K, unless there was a chance of winning the thing or it had become some cult race, everybody should experience.

But if you've nout else on, why not, beats watching TV or mowing the lawn (sorry Gash).

Actually who am I kidding, I’d probably do it.

[IanKemp]

I once drove from Wollongong to Newcastle (300km) to run an 8km fun run.  Because I was bored and had nothing to do one sunday.  And I had a company car. :-)

[Owly]

Jen_Runs and I are travelling to Warwick Pentath-run for the 4.8k run... however it's a special occasion and not something I'd do every day.

Still, I did travel to GC for 10k last year...  :rolleyes:

[Slow Sue]

I'm off to Townsville in August just to do the 10! I've always wanted to check out new places and every year now try and get to a new place. Wonder if they have pancakes.......

[Mars]

quote:

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Originally posted by The Need To Run:

Do you think the 800km return drive (for a 5k) is worth it?    :unsure:    

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Personally I would say that's too far. But then again, I routinely drive 100k to do a mere 400m race in the summer.

So on a ratio basis, you are doing a much further race per 100k drive...

[SoLucky]

At the moment, looks like Slow Sue wins gold for longest travel distance to a 5 or 10k race. Probably about 4000k return, Melbourne to Townsville, depends on the intermediate stops, if any. Not too sure about good pancakes, maybe waffles with icecream and maple syrup? Also, can’t guarantee that bananas will be available up here, a lot of them were stolen by a character called Larry.

[Slow Sue]

LOL, Solucky, not happy about the banana situation, not good for all those folk up that way effected by the cyclone but I gotta say I love my banana's!
The kids have huge school camps this year so thought it might be a good opportunity to duck off for a farway getaway (run included) without them. Last year was the Gold Coast and met some great people as well as alot of other Victorian's that travelled up there as well. Today, with a running friend from work we started talking about Noosa for next year!

[djl]

quote:

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Originally posted by The Need To Run:
Alright, the 5k race is actually part of the WA Masters Games in Albany. I can do other events as well such as 100m, 400m, 1 mile or even long jump on a single day to make the cost more justifiable. If I decide to go, I would probably just do the 5k and the Mile race 'coz I'm not really interested in others.

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Sounds good enough to me!  Road trips are great anyway.

I've been to the Gold Coast just for a 10k (but I'll take any excuse to go up there).

[SpartaJen]

quote:

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Originally posted by The Owl:
I did travel to GC for 10k last year...   :rolleyes:  

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I travelled to GC last year to cheer   :rolleyes:

[penny b]

Just do it I say. We live in a tiny town miles from anywhere (Woodenbong) and have to travel 200km to see another person in running gear let alone a race. So we happily travel 200km or so for anyrace most week ends plus sleeping over. Doesn't say much for our social life does it!!!!! I often giggle when reading cool running sightings as I'd have to strain very hard to see any cool running gear around here. Anyway, forget the cost and go and speed around that 5km track is my advice. Oh and we did condider, but decided against, traveling 200km each way for the beer mile.......not too sure about the economics of that on and think we probably missed out on a lot of fun!!!!

[lostboy]

Well said Penny! Life's short, & it takes whatever it takes.

But where exactly is that woodenwhatsetplace?  :unsure:

[Tiger Boy]

Earlier this month my wife had to drive our 14yo to Bendigo (approx 400km round trip), so that he could run in the 300m hurdles at Little A's State finals. Took him less than a minute, and it was a five hour round trip!

[KevinCassidy]

quote:

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Originally posted by penny b:
Just do it I say. We live in a tiny town miles from anywhere (Woodenbong)  

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Sounds like a timber object which allows you to smoke dope!!

[klakrman]

I would definitely be in favour of the drive. Having lived in Port Moresby for a number of years I would regularly fly down to Oz for races including the GC 10K.

Even managed to time a trip to San Francisco to do the Bay to Breakers one year, very much a fun run, although rather a large one.

I can understand the people that live in a place like Sydney saying they wouldn't bother. When you have the sort of choice of runs they get you don't need to, but when you live in a place that doesn't give you that variety then you need to make your own.

[penny b]

lost boy
'Woodenwhatsetplace' is a town of 600 people in the very north of NSW 15km (and a hilly run) from the Qld border.1 hour north to Beaudesert or 1 hour and a bit east to Lismore. Very beautiful town on the slopes of Mt Lindsay famous for Yowie sightings. The rabbit proof fence runs next to our town which makes for great off road running, very hilly. So there you are a bit of geography for the day!!! We, like you, were from CHILLY Victoria, but the cold got to us and we headed for the sun.

I haven't actually come across any wooden drug smoking devices since being here but there is a timber mill!!!!!!

[miners]

quote:

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Originally posted by The Owl:
Jen_Runs and I are travelling to Warwick Pentath-run for the 4.8k run... however it's a special occasion and not something I'd do every day.

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Certainly will be a special occasion  ;)  Aren't you going to back up for the 1500m main street dash on Sunday as well?

The furthest I've travelled for the littlest distance (if that makes sense) is perhaps to attend the Striders 10k races from up here at Port - perhaps 350-380kms depending on the particular course.  But that's due to the social attraction of the races rather than the 'need' to run an accurate 10k.

[Peterhorse]

Penny B
spent a wet and cool long weekend at Woodenbong with a group of fellow Uni students (a little while back that is)...stayed at one of thier friends place, playing the guitar, drinking by the fire place and played 2-up at the pub there (or RSL? can't recall) since it was also Anzac day at the time. fantastic place!
must be very pleasant running with the clear mountain air. As Darryl Kerrigan asks rhetorically "how's the serenity"?
i would travel there for a fun run for sure but make it a family outing these days.
cheers
PH

[edit: regarding those peace pipes, i'll take the fifth, what goes on tour....]

[Eagle]

I wouldn't do it unless it has avery very special appeal to you. Maybe a gold medal in an age group is enough incentive but its a long long way. It really is a matter that if you really really want to do it then no doubt rational evaluation of the +'s & -'s may not apply.   B)

[SoLucky]

Slow Sue, see if you can give yourself some “look around” time in Townsville, early August temperatures are generally pretty comfortable. Last year, on the Sunday morning of the Running Festival, it was 12.1 deg 91% RH at 7am and 17.8 deg 72% at 9am.


The Need To Run,  

quote:

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Do you think the 800km return drive (for a 5k) is worth it?  

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It seems to me that you are keen on running the 5k event in Albany. I guess that you have trained for it and that you are happy with your condition. So do it and do it well, while you can. Five k or fifty k, that’s largely irrelevant. With respect to Eagle, runners in the Sydney –Melbourne region have a different perspective on distance, and they have the option of many different races. Let us know how the Albany event goes.

[John Dawlings]

I fall into the completely nutty category.  I regularly travel to Bathurst and back for the Bathurst Jog (an 8 kms run) and the half marathon.  Mind you, I have friends nearby who I visit at the same time.  I've also been to Kobe (Japan) and Auckland for the world vets 10 kms championships - but again had a bit of a holiday both times.

I love the idea of going somewhere a bit different for a run - it gives a really good excuse for a day or a weekend away.  If I had limitless money and time (and if my family had a similar enthusiasm) I would do it a lot more.