If running in circles is boring, here’s a few unique running events I’d love to see at a real meet.
In high school, we had a track meet that featured a relay event where the shot putters ran a 400 and the anchor runner had to eat a banana after crossing the finish line. Very exciting and loaded with potassium. Another high school had a track meet with unique running events, like mixed relays, relays with different lengths and even a mascot race.
I love stuff like that. It’s different, exciting and can bring together runners from different events. Here’s my ideas for a few unique running events.
The Thunderstruck Run
ACDC’s song “Thunderstruck” is 4:53 long, and features driving drums, urgent guitar and howling vocals that make me want to hit my VO2 max whenever it comes on my running playlist. In this event, runners see how far they can get on a track before the song ends. The runner who ran the longest distance is the winner, and has been (drum breakdown) Thunderstruck.
The Basketball Mile
Each runner has a basketball and must maintain a dribble over the course of a 400 meter race on a track. The runner cannot go outside his or her lane and cannot interfere with other runners. If a runner looses their dribble or travels, they are disqualified. First runner to cross the finish line wins.
The Wolfpack Challenge
A team of four runners must run in a row with a leader setting the pace. At random intervals during this 5K race on a track, a whistle will blow and the runner at the back of the pack will run to the front and lead. Runners in the pack cannot fall more than three feet behind each other, or the team is disqualified. The team who finishes first at the end, wins.
The Egg Scramble Event
In this relay event, each runner on a four person team must run a mile. But instead of a baton, the team is given a raw, uncooked egg. The team must not break the egg, or they are disqualified. First team to finish with a whole egg wins, and can victoriously spike said egg onto the infield.
Speed Golf
It’s golf, but fast. Instead of the lowest score winning the event, the fastest time through 18 holes wins. Each golfer must hit the ball into all 18 holes, but can take as many strokes as they want without penalty. If you lose a ball, you have to start over at the tee box. The golfer with the fastest time wins through all 18 holes wins. No carts allowed. WARNING: the golf elite will not like this abomination of their game, so be prepared!
Operation: Operation
This is an 400 meter run and will probably reduce America’s supply of Operation games. At the 100, 200, 300 and 400 meter mark, each runner is required to pull one bone out of the operation game in order to advance to the next checkpoint. If a runner gets the buzzer, they must go backwards to a previous checkpoint and pull out a piece, then continue back to where they started. A runner can keep hitting the buzzer and must keep going backwards until they finally pull out a bone. The runner who completes a net positive 400 meters, wins.
Simon Says Run Faster
The classic game of Simon Says is played during a mile run. Mess up Simon’s commands and you are disqualified. The first runner to cross the finish line is the winner.
The Hot Mic Karaoke Run
In this track relay event, each team gets a microphone connected to the PA system and must sing a song playing on the PA system while running. If the runner does not sing or drops the mic, they are disqualified. Song choices could include Bohemian Rhapsody, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Don’t Stop Believin’ and Call Me Maybe.
This wraps up my formal request to the IOC to spice up the Olympics a little bit with some off-the-wall vents. I look forward to their feedback. In the meantime, I’m going to respectfully hit up my local track and become elite at at least one of these events.
Have any events you’d like to see? Holler at me in the comments.
