The Bulletin, 2/24
When 5Ks no longer cut it
By Jen A. Miller
For a lot of experienced runners, a standard road race does not cut it anymore. Challenge races - those designed to almost guarantee you will not set a new personal record, or that stack races up against one other - are becoming increasingly popular among runners who have done it all and are craving something new. "People who are high achievers, once they've made this determination that they've mastered some sort of task, it's no longer a challenge and it loses some of its motivational qualities," said Jeffrey Martin, professor of kinesiology, health and sports studies at Wayne State University. Thrill seekers might look for "an element of danger and excitement" in these races, while older athletes who cannot realistically hope to chase a new personal record anymore might find renewed motivation from the novelty.