Running can be FUN!

When it comes to running 5k, 10k, half marathon or full marathon, majority of us will take the race too seriously and forget how to have fun during the race. Sometimes we wonder how seasoned marathon runners enjoy running the full 42.195 km distance, Easy! They have fun and enjoy their long run via engaging with other runners on the road by chit chatting or they engage with the race it terms of taking pictures of the marching bands, runners, backdrops or cam whoring when the situation presents itself. So what do you think about entry level races like the 5k or 10k runs in our country? How do we ensure that the 10k runs are fun for those who are new to running and for those who are screaming in their head on when the race will finish because the finish line doesn't seem to be near?

COSTUMES!

Yeap! That's my theory.. My first 10k wasn't fun at all. I remembered running with my ipod and just seeing waves of runners.. Nothing interesting except for the water stations (when you are dead thirsty) and the bands who will bang their drums hard and trumpets blown hard to motivate you to the finish line. I was surfing running sites and realised that running events overseas like marathons, half or 10k does have their fair share of runners running in costumes. Isn't it entertaining to be running beside an Ultraman or instead us being the ones who don the costumes to motivate and entertain the 10k runs in Malaysia (I feel that the 10k runs in our country is always very serious somehow compared to the other countries thus losing the retention of runners for future races). Let's see how it will look like to run beside some of the costumes or us donning the costumes!

Ultraman - Maybe he will protect us from the bad guys

Happy Shark - Run faster of i'll bite your limbs off!

Angry baby - Stewie Griffin wannabe "Victory is mine"

Giraffe - Advantage to see elevation or water station ahead so he/she can strategise on the pace 

Hulk Hogan - What'cha gonna do brother when Hulkamania runs wild on you?

The wedding couple - What happened to the car?

Running nuns - Escapee from the nearby convent

Avatar (Neytiri) - Running in the city instead of her habitat. Perhaps looking for Jake Sully..

Darth Vader - Running away from the Jedi's or chasing after them.. Oh yeah.. we can hear you breathe from a mile away (Vader's mask breathing effect)

Leia, Luke Skywalker and Stormtrooper - Yup, it's confirmed that they are chasing Darth Vader

 Batman - After 1km he shouts "Where is my batmobile? I'm tired.. Alfred, if my batmobile is not here in the next 5 minutes, then you're fired! I need to finish first!"

Doraemon - Shall i use my gadget propeller and fly to the finish line instead?

Asian Minnie Mouse - A mouse running with 2 legs instead of 4? Boy oh boy..

Aladdin - Hey, maybe he will lend us his magic lamp and we will be granted 3 wishes

(Note: All of the pictures were taken from various sites at Google Images)

There you go.. I know given the hot weather in our country it will not be possible doing costumes in half or full marathons. But what about the entry level 5k and 10k's? It'll be so much fun to participate in those races knowing that there will be fun characters to run with and first time runners will find it entertaining and will return for future races (i know i will run the next 10k cause i want to see which character I'll meet next!)

Who says running is torturous? Running can be so entertaining and fun!