Which Is Better: A Large Urban Event Or a Small Low-Key Race?

It all depends on what you're looking to get out of your run.

The more, the merrier!
By Megan Hetzel

My first marathon was a small, local affair and it was wonderful. But after running multiple large road races since then, I have to say that you just can't go wrong with a big-time race with thousands of runners. Here's why:

Large events have the capability to truly showcase the city in which they're held. How often do you get to run down the middle of a street in downtown Chicago or tour Washington D.C. on foot? Did you know they only shut down New York City's Times Square for two events? New Year's Eve is the obvious answer, but the other is the NYC Half, which boasts a field of 20,000 runners. And let me tell you, that stretch down 7th Avenue is worth every penny of the higher-than-normal entry fee.

Speaking of that fee, sure, it's not ideal to empty your wallet for a race. But big events pay that cost back in dividends. Think expos that could double as shopping malls, frequent aid stations, porta-a-potties for days, and more. Yes, sometimes more people means more hassle, but many big races have event weekend operations down to a science. Expect the crowds and go with the flow. In fact, make friends with the other runners while you wait in line!

Did you fly solo throughout your training? Well, the throngs of cowbell clanging spectators and packs of fellow participants will more than make up for your loneliness. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say the Boston Marathon is a 26.2-mile block party. It's absolutely breathtaking watching the road, filled to the brim with a colorful stream of runners, wind its way though towns of cheering people. You really are a part of something much bigger than yourself, and that's an inspiring thought when you're racing. You don't get that during the empty, lonely stretches of a smaller, local race.

And with the ever-growing size of big, urban races, getting the chance to even run the race is becoming a novelty. Which is all the more reason to splurge a bit and make a vacation weekend out of it!

When it comes to races, bigger isn't better.
By Robert Reese

People talk about the glitz and glamor of running a big city race, but there's nothing glitzy or glamorous about waking up at 3 a.m. so you have time to catch a subway to a ferry to a bus, only to sit around in a cold staging area for hours before starting your run. Not only is that a nuisance, it sets you up for a lousy race; your typical pre-run nutrition routine is easily thrown off, and if it's a cold or rainy day, your muscles can tense up because of the extended wait.

And let's talk about bathrooms for a minute. What's one thing that pretty much every runner has to do before a race? Poop. Guess what happens when 40,000 runners all have to go at the same time? You get some ridiculously long porta-potty lines. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not have to wait in a stinky line for 45 minutes just to find out that there's no toilet paper left.

So far, we've just been talking about the warm-up, but let's get to the race itself. Small town races have a huge advantage over their big city counterparts in that you actually have the space to run your fastest. Training hard to get into peak P.R. shape doesn't help much when you have to wait for minutes just to cross the starting line only to get stuck in traffic in the opening miles. Dodging the slower people who lined up in front of you wastes energy and adds distance to your race, but staying behind them can seriously mess up your splits. There's no good solution (well, except for running a smaller race).

If you somehow manage to run a fast time in a big race – and you're not a professional runner – it will likely go unnoticed. Times that are good enough to win many local races won't even crack the top 100 in these big mega-races. Sure, there's something to be said for lining up against the best, but sometimes it's nice to get a little recognition of your achievements, too.

Despite all these drawbacks, big city races typically charge more, not less, than their small town counterparts. Seems counterintuitive, right? Spending more to get less? Keep that in mind next time you're planning out your race calendar. Bigger isn't always better.

Your Response

We tallied up your votes and found that most of you – 66% to be exact – prefer small-town races. 1,280 voted small town, 653 voted big city.

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