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Comical Look at the Secret to Decoding Race Course Descriptions

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I’ve made two repeated mistakes over the last 15 years of racing….

  1. I don’t bother to read the course description at all. Leaving me with a stomach in knots the week prior as I realize it has 623 hills.
  2. I TRUST the race description.

Turns out race directors are a lot like real estate agents. You know the cozy house on a corner lot, which is actually a house built for small children on a busy road full of blaring horns.Hilarious and true look at race course descriptions, don't be fooled

Decoding Race Course Descriptions

Because I know I’m not alone in finishing a race and wondering if I missed something on the website, a little laugh for you today…and possibly a little life saver next time you pick a race! If you’re really setting out for a PR, checkout this post on picking the right race.

Let’s be clear, these aren’t all bad things! They’re just the little nuances that we sometimes don’t pick up on until it’s too late.

Gently rolling hills (lots of hills)
I can’t count the number of times I’ve found myself mid-race thinking gently rolling?! Which of course is because they may not be big but as your legs get tired all those rolling miles add up.Hilarious look at race course descriptions, click for more

Cool temps (It will be frigid at the start)
Arizona was a test for David…he thought it was the desert, must be warm. Errrr…nope. After busing to the start line we had an hour in just below 40 degree temps with a breeze. At which point, I smugly noted he should be glad I packed the throw away clothes he swore he wouldn’t need. :)photo by Janet Thompson

Post race party on the beach (during race sweatfest in the heat)
While I adored all of the post race parties when I lived in Miami, the truth is nearly any race by the beach means tropical weather and you’ll be paying for that post race luxury during the race.

And it’s also super important to know if the FINISH line is on the sand!

That happened during the Zooma FL race and it really threw a bunch of us for a there goes my PR loop.are beach races really that great?

Beginner-Friendly (we’d like to increase our numbers please don’t be afraid)
There are a lot of ways to take this description…could be a flatter course or it could be hard as heck and they just have a generous time limit to ensure you have the chance to finish no matter way.

Scenic (expect no spectators and often feeling like you’re running alone)
Hey I love a solo run, but if you thrive on the ambiance of race day…just know that’s probably not the case here. And I’ve seen many marathon runners on the road solo during scenic races because far more people are doing the half.

Nice Sea Breezes  (winds to knock you over)
A little breeze is great in hot weather for staying cool, but if you’ve ever run in to a stiff headwind you know that it feels like you’ve come to a grinding halt! Here are some tips for running in the wind.Fast downhill course (your quads will hurt and there’s a hill at mile 25)
It tends to surprise runners time after time that an “all” downhill courses ends up hurting more than those rolling hills, but it’s true. Read more on dealing with downhill running pain and of course check that elevation chart because many NET downhill races still have a number of good hills.

Never be caught off guard again, what those race course descriptions really mean (hilarious) #bibchat Click To Tweet

Limited vehicular traffic (ahh the sweet smell of exhaust)
A closed course usually means you won’t be running near any cars, but many smaller races only close one lane which means you still get to run with plenty of cars and all the fumes they leave behind.

HAHA ok your cars might not look like this but still haven’t you ever wondered about the cars right in front of the lead runners…ick.Admittedly, I pay little attention to descriptions and I absolutely NEVER preview the race course. I figure I’ll know when to stop because there’s a big line that says finish…everything before that I have to complete regardless of whether it’s easy or awful.

Have you ever had a course turn out to be different than expected?

Do you study the course description?

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Posted by amanda Categories: Funny Running

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lesley says

    October 10, 2017 at 11:04 am

    I look at the race course to see where the water stops are, and how frequent they are. I need to know whether to bring my water bottle with me to have in between water stops. I’ve only needed a first aid station to get Biofreeze, but those locations are nice to know too.

  2. Marcia says

    October 10, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    I am that runner who studies course descriptions, maps and elevation charts before signing up. In this flatlander’s experience, the terms flat and fast are tossed around way too liberally!

  3. Nicole says

    October 10, 2017 at 1:41 pm

    HA well done. This is all so very true.
    Also, another one “Great course to BQ on” = Lots of very fast, very anxious people in singlets will be hustling at the starting line.

    • amanda says

      October 10, 2017 at 2:11 pm

      hahaaaa yes that is so true too!

  4. MCM Mama says

    October 10, 2017 at 9:36 pm

    I’m guilty of not really reading the course description and then being surprised at how hilly it is LOL. Of course, I seem to have the magic ability to always choose the hilliest courses, so now I just assume I’ll be running hills.

  5. Rachel says

    October 11, 2017 at 1:25 am

    This is hilarious!
    I’m always one for checking the description AFTER I’ve already signed up for the race – oops!
    Had one at the weekend described as a scenic trail but I’m pretty sure it was a fell run :D
    I’ve never taken on an all downhill race – sounds painful!

    Coffee & Avocados

  6. Deborah @ Confessions of mother runner says

    October 11, 2017 at 6:13 am

    obviously no one can predict weather conditions but those hill profiles never seem to match my experience!

  7. Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says

    October 11, 2017 at 6:52 am

    You nailed it! I kind of hate RDs sometimes. I mean, I know it’s a tough job & I’m thankful for them, but at the same time they lie.

    My coldest half ever so far still remains Las Vegas (also my first). Yup, it’s a desert and it can even snow there.

    Although I have done a couple of net downhill races now and I freaking love them. I just love a downhill. Rachel trained me well for them and nothing hurt (other than normal) afterward.

    • amanda says

      October 12, 2017 at 1:24 pm

      YES!!! I was so shocked in LV, i was picking up clothes that runners were tossing off, ha!!!

  8. vicki says

    October 12, 2017 at 9:21 am

    Oh, that hill one is soooo true!

  9. Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says

    October 12, 2017 at 11:42 am

    Oh yeah, rolling hills are always steeper than expected!!

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Amanda Brooks : Run Coach
HIT THOSE HIPS!!! I’ve given you a couple hip mo HIT THOSE HIPS!!! I’ve given you a couple hip mobility workouts, now we add strength!
//
🥳For the next 30 days in the Virtual Run Club we’ll be going hard on all the pre-hab work for hips, glutes and abs. Because running isn’t just about the miles.
//
That’s one of the reasons I’ve been consistently doing @insidetracker bloodwork since 2015.
.
It’s helped me identify low Vitamin D causing fatigue or catch my wayyy high cortisol to embrace easy runs as key part of the process.
📌 (Save this post because the last screen has a 25% off discount code and you can get free access to the 30 Day March Challenge.)
👉LINK IN BIO FOR BOTH
✅✅✅✅
3 CORE MOVES
|||
You can use these as a progression or do all three, they’ll target the hips, glutes and core in different ways with each variation.
 
Aim for 15 reps prior to a run or do multiple rounds as part of a workout!
 
1️⃣Side Plank Kneeling Hip Raise - Really focus on your core engaging to raise up and keeping your elbow under your shoulder.
 
2️⃣Side Plank Kneeling Leg Raise - Again core should be tight to keep hips lifted, not sagging towards the ground. Then focus on your hip and glute to raise the top leg.
 
3️⃣Straight Leg Side Plank Leg Raise - Engage the core to keep hips high and press the bottom foot in to the ground to really engage your glutes. Slow and steady to remain stable while raising and lowering top leg.
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Who’s in for 10 min a day in March?
Who’s gotten blood work to improve their health?
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Let go of the pace.
Let go of the distance.
Let go of HR for a day.
Just run.
We GET to.
 
Where in the world are you running today?
.
I’ll be embracing one warm day before snow here in Boulder, CO.
EMOJI POLL: Round or no? ⏰ give me whole numbers EMOJI POLL: Round or no?
⏰ give me whole numbers
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||
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Super impressive for all those who go out no matter what and choose to never utilize the treadmill, but it doesn’t make you more of a runner to do one or the other.
 
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BAD RUNNING CHOICES🤦‍♀️🤦‍♂️ ❌ BAD RUNNING CHOICES🤦‍♀️🤦‍♂️
 ❌I ate fried catfish the night before my third ever half marathon.
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