Brittany… I can tell a distinct difference between the 2 groups. The pros will approach & race the event almost as if their lives depended on it & take it very seriously… Think of marathons like the ones in New York, London & even the famous “Hawaii Ironman” triathlon & how some will race just to say they’ve done them & finished, which, as you’d know, is a huge accomplishment.
…Then, you’d get the “fun run” group… Those who may turn up in bizarre costumes or with their families to run together & have fun without taking the event or themselves too seriously & it doesn’t matter to them how long it takes to finish. For obvious reasons, they start well behind the pros. We have a well known race here in Australia (in Sydney) called the “City to Surf” fun run, open for all to take part in & they have “staggered” start lines for various groups.
For a while here in Australia, those large scale events were strictly for the pros, but once the popularity of swimming, cycling & jogging took off, the popularity grew so much that organisers, due to overwhelming demand, allowed amateur athletes & the fun runners (in costume for charity) to enter, thereby creating the “staggered” start times, especially in the one I mentioned (City to Surf… A distance of just over 14Km). I like going in the events purely for fun with my friends.
Brittany… I can tell a distinct difference between the 2 groups. The pros will approach & race the event almost as if their lives depended on it & take it very seriously… Think of marathons like the ones in New York, London & even the famous “Hawaii Ironman” triathlon & how some will race just to say they’ve done them & finished, which, as you’d know, is a huge accomplishment.
…Then, you’d get the “fun run” group… Those who may turn up in bizarre costumes or with their families to run together & have fun without taking the event or themselves too seriously & it doesn’t matter to them how long it takes to finish. For obvious reasons, they start well behind the pros. We have a well known race here in Australia (in Sydney) called the “City to Surf” fun run, open for all to take part in & they have “staggered” start lines for various groups.
Those are definitely some great observations. It’s so great that there’s a place for every level of athlete in endurance sports.
For a while here in Australia, those large scale events were strictly for the pros, but once the popularity of swimming, cycling & jogging took off, the popularity grew so much that organisers, due to overwhelming demand, allowed amateur athletes & the fun runners (in costume for charity) to enter, thereby creating the “staggered” start times, especially in the one I mentioned (City to Surf… A distance of just over 14Km). I like going in the events purely for fun with my friends.
That sounds pretty cool