100/100 Grand Finale Virtual 5K

Triathlon Forum
1

Here are the details (as they emerge) about the virtual 5K that we’ve discussed a little on the main 100/100 thread.

I’m willing to do the organizing and play online RD, unless somebody else really wants to do it. I’m going to outline my basic ideas and throw it out for discussion.
At some point during the final days of the 100/100, participants will time themselves on a 5K course, measured as accurately as possible. You will allow yourself ONE attempt: that is, you make the decision before you start that this is the race. No do-overs if you’re not happy with how it’s shaping up.Running on a track (indoor or outdoor) is permitted.Outdoor (non-track) courses can be loop or point-to-point. Courses should ideally minimize crossings of busy roads - I don’t want anybody to get splatted on account of trying to save time. Ideally your selected course should be as flat as possible. Large losses in elevation on point-to-point courses are NOT permitted. You may select your route based upon prevailing conditions for the day (e.g. choose your direction on a point-to-point course based upon wind direction). You may feel free to run uphill on a point-to-point, but if you do, you’re just showing off. No credit will be given for this. It will be assumed that everybody’s results were achieved on the fastest route that could be arranged.
Treadmill runs are NOT permitted. Sorry. We’re trying to replicate an actual race as much as possible.The logistics of this event are up in the air at this point, and largely depend upon how many participants there will be. If it’s small, everybody can just PM their results to me, and I’ll post them sometime around March 25th. If it’s bigger, I’ll probably have to work out something like Google Docs to keep track of everything. (I don’t think that this sort of thing can be set up just like any other challenge on the training log.) If interest in it is HUGE, then maybe we can convince Slowman and the development team to put a new template on the training log that will allow for future virtual races, time trials, etc. (Virtual race series here - how cool would that be?)

Finally, as with any other aspect of the 100/100 challenge, this all relies completely upon the honesty of the participants. I believe that it can work - after all, we are men and women of honor here. Of course, if anybody is actually caught cheating on this thing, he or she will be ridiculed here to the fullest possible extent of the law. (The law, in this case, being what Slowman and the other administrators will put up with.) In other words, Florida Finman will be allowed out of his box and will be told that he doesn’t have to be the Gimp anymore.

As I mentioned, I’m trying to get a feel for how many people want to participate, so if you’re interested, please leave even a very short reply. At this point, I’m thinking that it will be open to both participants and non-participants of the 100/100 challenge.

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My proposal is any road course must be a loop course to ensure that head and tailwinds even off and elevation gains and losses also even out.

For the Ottawa version, I am willing to stand around with my crutches at the track at the dome and be official smackmaster and timer.

Dev

3

Yeah, I’ve thought about that, too. Only reason why I was thinking that a point-to-point with a tailwind should be permitted would be to equalize some of the (assumed) advantage of running on a track. I don’t know whether the track advantage would be enough to justify this, though. Am certainly willing to listen to some expert input on this.

I’ll bet you can really motivate people by waving crutches at them. Long reach makes up for limited mobility, in my experience.

4

i like this idea
i’m already seeing improved race times, so i’ll be interested to see how my 5k speed looks at the end of the challenge.
i think it would also be cool, honesty permitting, to have people submit their previous 5k PR’s so we can see who has benefited the most from the 100/100 challenge. of course, someone already in good run shape wouldnt improve on their already superior times as much as some fat idiot (me) who decided to give this a whirl and has not yet become injured.

in other words, i’m in…thanks for being the VRD (virtual race director)

5

I’ll probably post the results in a thread of their own. This will provide a convenient place to discuss improvement in times since the outset of the 100/100, along with anything else of interest. Also, if you’re doing the Virtual 5K as part of a 100/100 run, this might give you one last chance to qualify for the Ridiculous Run Reward.

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So basically, I’m running a 5K on my own and calling in the results?

I would recommend a time frame. Maybe make it a certain day or a certain week.

Bernie

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Yup, that’s pretty much it.

The 100/100 ends on Tuesday March 24, so I’m thinking that the time frame will be Sat. Mar. 21 until the 24th. Ideally I’ll be able to figure out some way to collect the results, then post them all at once after everybody is done. It would be best if we could keep participants from seeing others’ results before actually doing the race.

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Another thought I just had - perhaps participants would want to record their virtual race courses (complete with elevation profile) on the “routes” feature of the training log, for review by the others? Not that I’d require anything like this, but it might be a good way to provide bona fides. Maybe do something like naming your route “xraycharlie’s virtual 5K” or “slowbern’s virtual 5K” or “stateyourusername’s virtual 5K” so that it could be identified on the list of public routes.

I’m hoping to do my race on the track at the middle school, provided that it isn’t a sea of mud.

9

I would be interested in helping to fill out the trailing end of your virtual race, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to pull it off. I’ll be traveling for business, leaving on the 21st. Since I don’t know the layout of the city where I’ll be, I was hoping the hotel’s “fitness center” would have a treadmill to complete the challenge. If I do manage to find a reasonable 5k route, I’ll see what I can do, but no guarantees.

10

Why “replicate” race conditions? You know…there are enough 5ks around that everyone should be able to find one VERY close to the end date and VERY close to wherever they are located.

For instance, there is one local here in Charleston, SC…on the Thursday of the last week of the challenge. Pretty simple.

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Tribriguy, yes please do feel free to enter a real race :-).

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For next year I think it would be cool to have a “start 5k” and a “finish 5k” so that people can
see the solid benefits that the 100/100 brings. Even for slow people like me.

-Jot

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What?? If I compete in a real race then there will be an actual, verifiable time for people to see. At least in a virtual race I can break 20 min. :slight_smile:

Seriously, I thought the same thing as you. There is the St. Patrick’s Day 5K in a few weeks. That’ll be my test.

14

Any willingness to extend the deadline to a few days after the 100/100 ends? There is a 5k on 3/29 that I have run the past 2 years (in virtually the same time) and am planning to try to run again this year.

15

I should think the “event” whether real or self-timed ought to occur with the timeframe 1 week before to one week after the end date for the challenge.

That should offer ample chance to find a real race for the majority of runners. And otherwise…to find the RIGHT time to do a self-timed trial.

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Why “replicate” race conditions? You know…there are enough 5ks around that everyone should be able to find one VERY close to the end date and VERY close to wherever they are located.

For instance, there is one local here in Charleston, SC…on the Thursday of the last week of the challenge. Pretty simple.
Okay, just got back in from shoveling a buttload of snow.

Funny that you should mention the idea of running an real 5K, 'cause I was just thinking over this whole plan while I was shoveling. In particular, I was probably getting ahead of myself, and thinking about the possibilities of doing an actual series of races (possibly with slight changes in instructions and specifications) if things go well with this first one. I was actually just thinking that in most cases, an actual real-life 5K should be an allowable substitution.

In this case, I’m “replicating” race conditions because I don’t know of any real races in my vicinity during this time frame, and I’m working one of my typical 25 hour weekends on the 21st and 22nd, which keeps me sort of tethered to my home town. In other words, it’s my challenge, so I get to make up the rules. As Dev says, though, feel free to do a “real” race and enter your time.

Speaking of which, if there are any geographic clumps of 100/100 participants, it would be cool to have several mini events as part of the virtual race. Looks like there will be an Ottawa event on an indoor track, with Dev providing timing services. I’d love to see similar events in other places.

And as for the time window, I haven’t made a final decision on that just yet. I’m inclined toward allowing a fair amount of leeway before March 24th, especially for those who are going to do an actual event. If so, please try to keep your finish times under your hats until the announcement of the official results. As for the deadline, I haven’t made a decision just yet. Largely depends upon how antsy everybody is for the announcement of results. I’d love some input on people’s preferences.

Also, I’m still soliciting expert opinions on the validity of point-to-point courses with a tailwind, and whether that’s a fair equivalent to an event on an indoor track.

17

Perfect!

I am actually running in a flat, fast certified 5k on March 22nd and I had already planned to hammer the thing!

(I’m also one of the race directors so if I don’t like my time, I’ll use my influence to get it… “adjusted”…)

18

All right, we’re getting some real heavy hitters in the virtual race. Might make it easier to find some virtual sponsors.

So how does this sound to everybody for the time window: Friday March 13th (an auspicious day for an event) until Sunday March 29th, with all results due on Monday March 30th? This provides two weekends before the end of the 100/100 and one weekend after, which should provide some options for those doing actual events. Those competing in strictly in the “virtual” race are highly encouraged to make their attempt as close as practical to March 24th, for the sake of solidarity with the other virtual competitors.

Does this sound okay, or have I watered it down too much now?

19

Im in and going 21 min or less! or I will eat these virtual words !

20

I really think it should be before March 24th, but this is your virtual race, so you set the rules. My 2 cents as part of licensing the 100/100 brand, but unlike WTC, I’d never chase other event directors with lawyers for extending the reach of the brand (also, it does not help that I have not registered the brand etc) :slight_smile: