I don’t think that is the case in my part of the World. I don’t know of any runners in my region who haven’t done at least one parkrun. Local parkruns have bigger numbers than almost all other races in these parts.
In the ultramarathon subreddit I see increasing numbers of “oh hey I have my first race - a 50k/50mi/100mi - in like 2 weeks. What should I eat for it? Gels make me barf”
I think a lot of it has to do with our culture of instant gratification - working your way up through the distance ladder takes time, and folks just want the medal on the wall or buckle or the adulation from their friends they imagine they’ll get from something bigger right now.
That said, I ended up running a road 5k recently (with Ontario Blind Sports as a guide) and it was a nightmare of dodging people, which is way bloody harder when you’re trying to help a blind person maneuver through the melée as well. Definitely made me appreciate the laid back vibes and smaller fields of trail and ultra, and of course I went out for another run later in the day so I could get some distance in that’s meaningful for my own training..
There’s something to be said about that, for damn sure
You’re never really “made your bones” until you’ve had an Epic DNF or DFL; I have a hard time with people who’ve done their one & only 26.2 in 6 hours or so and said “it was an amazing experience!!!”
If it was that amazing, I’d want to do it again & again, not sit on just the one, thinking ‘that’s as good as it’s gonna get’
I ran the 5k in highschool. I still like running it now, but given the shape I’m in, I’m happy to get a time in the low 20s. In highschool I could do it in 18 minutes.
Call it a mental block or whatever but I think I’d rather run a slow half marathon or marathon than a slow 5k. Like 16 year old me would be judging me for it!
I’ve run 20+ marathons, several 50k trail races, and a couple 100 milers and never done a 5k race. I think the main reason is the cost and hassle of going somewhere just to run 5k. Although, I am thinking about doing one this year as I would like to officially run sub 17 for 5k before I get too old (52).
That is sort of the thing with modern culture. The distance is the challenge and the recognition they crave. I’ve never approached a distance event and thought the distance was the challenge. The challenge was how fast I could do the distance. I personally despised longer events because they felt so slow to me. Even my best marathon was just waiting around for two hours until my body fell apart. I stopped them 20 years ago.
Not saying this applies to you, but anyone who says “just a 5K” seems to be missing the point. But then, I can’t think of anything I would rather do less than run slow for 50K.
Let us not forget that are are people who suffer significant challenges - physically, mentally, psychologically, spiritually, ecumenically - for whom completing “Just a 5K,” even by walking, would be a tremendous achievement
An Artist friend of mine did a 5K yesterday, then worked her booth at the New Jersey Punk Rock Flea Market, and again today
