why do people do this?

[Edited on August 20, 2013 at 9:36 AM. Reason : oops can someone move this]

8/20/2013 9:35:48 AM

i don't get it either. much rather run for someone who can't than to just be dirty or feel like a spartan all the make someone else rich.

8/20/2013 9:38:38 AM

why do people pay money for mud runs?

8/20/2013 9:38:41 AM

^
because they're fun i guess?

8/20/2013 9:51:21 AM

so that's probably the answer to your question

8/20/2013 9:56:45 AM

i guess. but do they know they're being used as free labor for a money-making organization? or do they think they're volunteering for some cause?

i wonder if best buy could con people into volunteering for black friday

[Edited on August 20, 2013 at 10:18 AM. Reason : .]

8/20/2013 10:15:34 AM

Is this one of those areas that are murky where "for-profit" simply means "not-non-profit"? What I mean is . . . how much money do they make on these things?

For instance, I always thought that "non-profit" typically meant the event was held for some charity and the profits went to a good cause. If you are just covering your costs and not actually making money, I think you might still be "for-profit".

---

EDIT (even though I haven't actually posted it yet):
Yeah, looks like they make enormous profits and fight dirty amongst themselves for these profits.
http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/multisport/Mud-Run-Wars.html

I agree volunteering is stupid unless you get ridiculous benefits.

8/20/2013 10:46:25 AM

Quote :

"Yeah, looks like they make enormous profits and fight dirty amongst themselves for these profits."

Exactly. Some of them actually donate a lot to charity, in which case asking for volunteers is fine. I think the for-profit ones piggy-back off that concept, even though they don't donate shit.

8/20/2013 10:48:43 AM

I believe that unpaid volunteers will actually man the stations and tents in these things. Or at least some.

The events have become shamelessly corporate. I've helped with charity races before, and I've ran countless of them. Doing one of the color runs when they had the DJ and an endless crowd, I just couldn't help thinking to myself "this feels so empty".

I think the branding and advertising has actually brought out dramatically more people than what normally do races. These themed runs should probably be classified as "mega runs". There are fewer of them, and each one has an insane number of participants.

Even some of the so-called not for profit runs are super corporate and shameless these days. Apparently Komen has gone so far off the rails they'll lobby congress against funding for cancer research when it doesn't fit their agenda.

8/20/2013 12:36:14 PM

It's ridiculous how many 'fun' runs have gained popularity over the past 5 years. There are a dozen each month.

Whatever gets the fatties off the couch, i guess.

8/20/2013 12:49:59 PM

its really the same as half-marathons, everyone wants to do it because they think they accomplished something

however, unless you finish at the top of the group you didn't accomplish anything. we need to stop praising people for their 3 hour half-marathon times, that shit is not impressive.

no one cares that you waded through mud for a little while, you couldn't even climb the wall you fat-ass

8/20/2013 12:58:26 PM

idk about all of them but tough mudder sent an email out saying if you volunteer one day you can run the other day's race for a large percentage off (so like $20 instead of $150)

8/20/2013 1:00:36 PM

Why do people care about what other people do?

Im Krallum and I ask the important questions

8/20/2013 1:01:58 PM

why do you care that other people care about what other people do? seriously?

8/20/2013 1:03:43 PM

^but why do you....

nevermind

8/20/2013 1:14:35 PM

This is the absolute worst thing other people spend their money on

8/20/2013 1:22:13 PM

Quote :

"Why do people care about what other people do?"

i dunno, why are people hypocrites?

to be clear, i'm not judging people for volunteering, i'm judging organizations for taking advantage of them

8/20/2013 1:27:51 PM

Quote :

"(so like $20 instead of $150)"

$150??? Good god, I never knew they cost that much.

8/20/2013 1:29:56 PM

some of them are absurd

i've done 2 and they were both around $50-60.

8/20/2013 1:31:18 PM

i can run the hills of my neighborhood/town at a 7:30 minute/mile pace, get my heart rate going like crazy every day for free. I dont have to pay any money or fill up peoples newsfeed with my "accomplishment." its all just a bunch of attention whoring that i take no part in

8/20/2013 1:32:04 PM

the later you register, the more you pay

initial registration was only like $40, but 1 month prior was like $85 per person for a 5k mud run

8/20/2013 1:34:38 PM

Quote :

"its all just a bunch of attention whoring that i take no part in"

Quote :

"i can run the hills of my neighborhood/town at a 7:30 minute/mile pace"

8/20/2013 1:35:25 PM

im just saying, people plaster their runs all over my facebook and they run their shit at 11+ min/mile pace. get real

if you do it without telling the whole world about it for weeks on end then good for you, no hate needed.

[Edited on August 20, 2013 at 1:42 PM. Reason : .]

8/20/2013 1:40:44 PM

not everyone does that. actually i dont know anyone who does that.

and the slow pace is because of traffic jams at obstacles

[Edited on August 20, 2013 at 1:42 PM. Reason : .]

8/20/2013 1:41:44 PM

here's a solution: unfriend them

8/20/2013 1:44:50 PM

but what if volunteers dressed up like zombies and chased you?

8/20/2013 1:46:37 PM

yeah i just block their posts. not a big deal. most of my friends who are fit and work out daily never post about what they do to stay in shape. most of the people that post about it every time they walk 20 yards are not in that great of shape and want to be perceived that they are for whatever reason.

8/20/2013 1:51:18 PM

8/20/2013 1:57:19 PM

ahahahahaha i want that sticker. seriously

8/20/2013 1:59:54 PM

Quote :

"its really the same as half-marathons, everyone wants to do it because they think they accomplished something however, unless you finish at the top of the group you didn't accomplish anything. we need to stop praising people for their 3 hour half-marathon times, that shit is not impressive. "

Even beginner runners, for some reason, want to build up to long distance.

Why? There's nothing wrong with a 5k distance. And you can keep working to lower your time in those races. Increasing beyond the typical cross-country distances increases injury risk and doesn't even make you look more attractive.

I expect some tiny fraction of runners to be into 10 mile + distances, of course. But everyone acts like it's a worth while goal. It was probably that god damn book about it...

8/20/2013 2:06:46 PM

i barely have the attention span to run 5k even with obstacles every 1/4 mile

8/20/2013 2:13:44 PM

Quote :

"EVIL CORPORATIONS BRO"

8/20/2013 2:24:51 PM

Quote :

"I always thought that "non-profit" typically meant the event was held for some charity and the profits went to a good cause"

Not at all. Common misconception and one that non-profits use in their favor when getting donations and volunteers. I'm not an expert but basically non-profit means it should exist for the greater good of the community and it can't exist for the purpose of making a profit. However you can pay salaries with it, provide benefits, etc.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/08/10-insanely-overpaid-nonp_n_3038162.html

8/20/2013 2:47:26 PM

lol "benefits"

8/20/2013 2:53:36 PM