Small-scale races offer a sense of intimacy and spontaneity that just can’t be found at major marathons.
For many, the marathon dream often crystalizes on the first Sunday of November: the day of the annual 26.2-mile race through New York City.
You might watch from the sidelines as participants trudge through all five boroughs, with a smile on their faces. Maybe you see inspiring videos of people from all walks of life, from young adults to 80-year-olds, embarking on the same challenge together. Or, you might read about the staggering 55,000-plus participants who cross the finish line and think: “I want to be a part of that.”
It makes sense. Major races like New York, Tokyo, and Chicago are a mixture of exhilarating, gratifying, validating, and humbling. But all the glitz, glam, and clout that comes with running a high-profile race shouldn’t stop you from also participating in smaller or lesser-known races, says Evan Wood, a Precision Run Coach who has run the New York City Marathon 11 times, completed a few other majors (including Boston and Berlin), and raced countless smaller-scale and shorter-distance events.
At 5Ks hosted by local run clubs or marathons held in tiny towns, the focus isn’t on clinching a PR or earning a “26.2” sticker to slap on your bumper and humble-brag about. “It's not necessarily about ticking off a box,” Wood says. “There's something that’s so much fun about just being in the mix. It's [about] being among other runners, chatting with people during the race, grabbing a cup for somebody, and getting to know where someone came from early in the morning, when you're waiting for the race to start — it's all a part of the experience. The smaller the race is, in a way, the more that you're able to give.”
Especially if you’re running in your own backyard. The baristas you see at the coffee shop every day may be jogging at your side. Your neighbors might be parked on the sidelines, passing out homemade baked goods and cups of water. The people you wave to on the trails each morning may be cheering you on at the finish line. There’s a sense of spontaneity, too, says Wood. A group of runners who’ve bonded over those miles might decide to grab a drink or a meal together after the race.
“You're not just getting an extrinsic reward, like a shiny metal or a personal best time. You feel like you're giving back to the community in a way,” says Wood. “A lot of these races also really do benefit the communities — they do bring in people from outside, and they do get people spending money and going to local businesses to eat a delicious recovery meal afterward.”
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Massive races, however, can lack this type of intimacy. As you cross the finish line with dozens of other runners, you’re generally “corralled” through a staging area. There’s not a moment to celebrate with the friends who trekked all those miles with you or the family who’ve been chanting your name since mile five. “It kind of becomes hard to find them and to support [other runners] as they come in, as well,” he adds.
In comparison, Wood’s first race as a 15-year-old — a half-marathon of just 20 or so people in the Bahamas, with no mile markers — was a display of genuine camaraderie. “You finished [the race], and then every time somebody else came in, the crowd of people that were there to welcome them got bigger and bigger…It was really cool how we all stood around that finish line and we got to high-five everybody,” he recalls.
Simply put: “With smaller races, the beauty of it is that you're not just one of, you know, 50,000 people — although that is really cool,” he says. “When you're one of a few hundred people, you really feel like this is your special day, and not necessarily, like, this gigantic machine where you're kind of replaceable.”
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You don’t have to race in your own town to experience this sense of warmth and togetherness. Take a road trip across your state for a half-marathon and spend the weekend adventuring through the city. Sign up for a marathon in a state you’ve always wanted to explore. Participate in a turkey trot while visiting family across the country for the holidays. Minor-league events are everywhere — you just have to keep your eyes, ears, and mind open.
“I've made so many friends over the last 10 years just doing random, small races where I didn't necessarily have an agenda,” says Wood. “Yes, you want to show up and give it your best, but the real rewards at the end of the day are the connections that you make doing these things. You're much more likely to forge those connections doing smaller races than you are at the big ones.”