[QuixoticNotions]

Do you prefer large or small races?<br><br>
I have to say I prefer smaller races. The largest race I do, Peachtree, I don't even really think of as a race or even a run-- more a moving party. It's fun, but I wouldn't want to do it all the time, or for a longer distance.<br>
I love running and really think that's enough reason to be out there... don't really need too much so far as distraction goes (though encouragement is nice)<br><br>
My marathon (okay, the one I've done twice and have no intention of ever skipping in the future- best. race. ever!!!) had 482 participants this year, far more than last year, and I found myself hoping it didn't get much bigger.<br><br>
I'd say 75-500 participants depending on the distance is my favorite.<br><br>
(Plus I like not having to pay obscene amounts like you do at the mega races.... Chickamauga, for example, was $35 and included chipped timing, an ASICS tech long sleeved shirt, a NICE medal, and no aid station debacles)<br><br><br>
What about you-- and why?

 

[JamesV]

I like small races for the better chance to place (in my age group) and they usually have better food and freebees at the end. And I know the entrance fee is going directly to a good local charity. I like the big races for the party aspects as you described.

 

[QuixoticNotions]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Sad"> Threads get more attention in the PRT.

 

[rhody92]

For short races like 5Ks, I prefer smaller events. For longer races, I prefer larger events because I like to see other runners. I ran a small half marathon this year, and I basically ran the whole thing by myself. No one passed me and I didn't pass anyone for many miles in the middle.

 

[Nettie]

I prefer long distance races to be smaller because I am easily annoyed when people are right on top of me. For 5K, 10K, I don't mind a greater number so much as it's over quickly.

 

[Hippo]

With the exception of JFK, very few of the longer races are over 400 people, so that is what I'm comfortable with.<br><br>
I'm OK with marathons up to about 10,000 as long as they're run well, but I don't really see the advantage of anything over 1000 or so. Trail races over a couple of hundred basically suck because it's just too hard to pass.

 

[roots]

For marathons, I like 1500-3000. Large enough there's plenty of runners around, but small enough you can enter the start area in the final minutes before gun. At larger races, waiting around in a crowded start corral is a huge turn-off to me.

 

[mykemp1971]

I run larger races sometimes, but generally, I prefer smaller races because it's easier for me to get in my groove, and find my rhythm faster.

 

[equinox marathon 43]

I've only run a couple of big races, two 10Ks, and one 5K.<br><br>
I don't enjoy the big races. Too crowded and too hard to get out of the pack.<br><br>
The Equinox usually has between 500 and 800 runners between the marathon and the relay. Bay State had 717 finishers this year, so probably 800 marathoners. Of course they also have a half at Bay State and the start can be a bit crowded.<br><br>
I was going to do a race today (Thanksgiving Day), and one of the factors that pushed me to not do it (besides it didn't fit into my goals), was the size of the field. 5000 runners. I'd rather do a race with 100 runners.

 

[Floridaboiler]

I don't really have a preference either way. I like the idea of the larger races since you will probably find someone to chase or push you along the run. The smaller races are fun if you are running it with people you know. Then you can make your own party at the end.

 

[JohnnyB]

Yeah, what Roots and Equi said. I don't want to lose minutes off my time because of wading through giant crowds.

 

[tpenn40]

I think I should try a small marathon now that I've done CMM and MCM which were both pretty big "moving parties" (although after mile 20 or so I wasn't really in the party mood). I enjoyed both marathons, but water stops were quite an adventure, especially during the first half of MCM.<br><br>
I'm about an hour from Chattanooga - how was Chickamauga?

 

[willamona]

I have done both the smaller and the larger type. I prefer the smaller races. The large one I did was well organized, but it would have been a huge pain if I had been trying for a BQ. I guess I will stick to the smaller stuff until I get to start in the front row. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy">

 

[QuixoticNotions]

Chickamauga is an awesome, awesome marathon. Check out the reviews on marathonguide.com .

 

[fox-runr]

I prefer midsize, if they get too small and obscure, I might find myself in front and lost.

 

[Flounder]

I'm with roots - If its a fast time your after - I like the 1,000 - 3,000 type - Not just for the crowds during the race, but for the difficulty to navigate the city, hotels etc.

 

[theia]

I agree with Rhody. In a short distance where I might possibly place (5K or sprint tri/du), I want a smaller crowd of competition. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"> In a long distance, though, I love the energy of all the other runners, the crowd, the scenery, etc.

 

[Complete Pete]

Small to medium. First marathon had about 7,000 runners, but a big chunk of those were relay teams. I'm guessing the starting corral had about 2500 people and we had thinned out within a few hundred yards of the start. Most of the better HMs I've done have had 200-750 runners. I've never raced in a really big race like Chicago and don't really have any interest in even trying.<br><br>
Until I qualify for and run Boston, that is.