The Fun Run Concept

  Has anyone else noticed that quirky themed 'fun runs' have become about as synonymous with the fall season as Miley Cyrus has become with power tools.

Tis The Season Fun Run 2008

  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the fun run concept. In fact, I'm quite in
favor of it.

  I can say for a fact that if you tell me I have to spend $25 to $50 to wake up at 6 a.m. just to put on a pair of spandex shorts and a t-shirt so I can go out in to the cold and run a 5k, I  will most likely throw the nearest thing at your head. FYI - you will only find a radio, a tv remote and a smartphone on my night stand. I'm just saying.

  However, if you throw some costume at me and tell me every one else is dressing up in costume for some specially themed 5k then you have a much better chance of getting me out of bed. Especially, if I get a cool event t-shirt or hat at the end, just for participating.

  Another factor that makes fun runs so much better than other running events is the fun names. I would much rather participate in the Ugly Sweater Fun Run than the Gatorade 5k. The ladder even sounds boring. In researching this post, and by that i mean just Googling the phrase 'fun run', I came across dozens of listings for upcoming runs just in Wisconsin alone.

  Here's a sample of some of the names I found. Paws Fur A Cause. The Bunny Hop 5k. Shamrock Shuffle. Abominable Frostbite.  Schoolhouse Rock and Run. Mudchug Wisconsin 5k. The Cupcake Run. Wisconsin Zombie Mud Run 5k. Run Turkey Run. The Santa Hustle. The Jingle Bell Run.

  Honestly, I would run in anyone of those. In fact, I even marked a few that I will mostly likely try to talk some people into doing with me. Can I just say, the Cupcake Run is probably my favorite. Mostly, because I am picturing a person running backwards in front of me holding a fishing rod with a cupcake dangling from the end of it.

  The only negative thing I can say about the fun runs is that themes seem to get repeated quite a bit. I found at least five fun runs with a Santa theme just in Wisconsin alone. There were three turkey themed fun runs and seriously, the amount of zombie fun runs is literally untrackable.

  With so many themes starting to repeat themselves. I thought I would offer up a few suggestions of my own.

   1.  The Bun Run  -  I figure by now people have to be tired of dressing up in spandex shorts or ugly sweaters and in a few cases, Speedos. So, I figure, why not wear something that just screams summer fun...buns. That's right buns. Dress up as your favorite food. Anything is acceptable as long it comes in a bun. Some people might dress up as a hamburger or a chicken sandwich. There might even be a few sub sandwiches. I, however, will be going with the classic Chicago style hot dog.

   2.  The Godzilla Dash  -  I think just the name alone gives you a major hint as to what this run is about. Ever since I was 10, I have been in love with the Godzilla movies. Seriously, what's not to love. Giant monsters doing battle and destroying major cities and countries in the process. And best of all, there is always that one scene where Godzilla or which ever monster first enters the city then they quickly cut to people in the street just losing their shit. I have always wanted to be that one guy out of the mob who stops right in front of the camera, puts his hands on his cheeks and screams.

   3.  The Constipation Run  -  It may not be a pretty picture, and I'm not really sure one needs to be painted for you. I find at the mere mention of the word, constipation, peoples minds already begin creating all sorts of images. All of which, I'm sure, are way worse than anything I could come up with. The concept of this run is so unique, I challenge anyone to find anything similar already out there. For this run, you can wear anything you like. Shorts, jeans, sweat pants, a snuggie...its all gold. There are only two requirements. First, you must wear a pair of boxers around your ankles. This will help to create that  And the other is you need to carry a roll of toilet paper as you run. The special thing about this race is that there is another element. At the end of the 5k is a giant blue porta-potty. The first person to make it to the porta-potty gets a $50 gift card to Taco Bell.

  There you go. Three great ideas on how to put the fun back in fun run. Will anyone ever use them? Who can say. I realize some of the ideas may be a little powerful and new, but imagine the fun people would have. To attract new people to running, you have to not only show them that it can be fun, but that it is daring and a alive. If we refuse to do this, who else do we have to blame but ourselves, when people decide to start walking.