Is a running event any more enjoyable when you call it a “fun run”?

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 06:37:49 -0400

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2017 6:49 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 06:49:46 -0400

no you have to actually do something to make it fun, but look at the growing popularity of things like tough mudder, and warrior dash with the right group it can be turned into a "fun run" also the hash house harriers if your not afraid to let you troops have a couple of beers on the run it also adds elements of competition, even the hashing your chasing someone.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2017 8:11 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 08:11:54 -0400

To me, "fun run" typically means there's no winner. I think color runs fall into that category. I enjoy racing because I enjoy the competition. Somebody has to win. If you want to make a race more enjoyable make it family friendly, with stuff to eat/drink/etc. Having things for kids to do also makes it better.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2017 8:47 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 08:47:42 -0400

A Halloween Fun Run in costume or a Santa Fun Run can be fun.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2017 9:00 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:00:15 -0400

There's nothing fun about running...

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jul 6 at 2017 9:07 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:07:33 -0400

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jul 6 at 2017 9:08 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:08:18 -0400

No its more enjoyable when its fun, and challenging.

Grinding though a 15 in pace 4 mile "run" with the Division leadership leading the way is challenging only in that one must mentally choose not to quit and smile and just finish.

Having your fit company commander tell you "1SG, grab the HQ crew we are going for a run after formation.. ...and yes, we are going for a RUN" F*%# ya, lets do this....its going to hurt, its going to stress, its going to challenge ..the guy often tried to kill an old infantry 1SG with his Friday night fights, his long HQ runs and his last minute, "we are not waiting on BN trans to get their shit together, we are walking home from the range" decisions.... was ultimately what allowed us to bring more folks home alive from a deployment that was anything but easy......

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jul 6 at 2017 9:35 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:35:11 -0400

The only thing "fun" about running is when it's OVER! Incidentally, if you see me running now, you better be running as well because it means something bad is coming.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Jul 6 at 2017 10:06 AM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 10:06:19 -0400

No. Just like mandatory fun day (aka organizational day) isn't always fun. I don't find running fun anyway. Jogging is ok.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jul 6 at 2017 12:12 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 12:12:27 -0400

Nope. Running is running no matter what you call it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2017 12:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 12:26:35 -0400

absolutely not !!

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Jul 6 at 2017 12:57 PM

SGT Christopher Hayden — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 12:57:21 -0400

Calling it a "Fun run" makes it even worse.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2017 1:23 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 01:23:54 -0400

I kind of enjoyed the Battalion runs, and the Brigade run was interesting. It was slow but if you had good people calling cadence it was alright. Only downside to a Brigade run is how early you have to start to get all those people in place.

Response by SGT Robert Wager made Jul 8 at 2017 1:22 PM

SGT Robert Wager — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 13:22:17 -0400

There is nothing fun about running in formation.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2017 2:44 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 02:44:13 -0400

My experience has taught me that anytime the word "fun" is associated with anything in the Army it'll be usually 2 things...

1) Mandatory or "highly encouraged"
2) it will be the most backwards, unorganized set up imaginable, and will lead to excessive drinking that weekend

Response by SSgt Holden M. made Jul 10 at 2017 8:32 AM

SSgt Holden M. — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 08:32:37 -0400

It was fun back in tech school when we would be calling out jodies but other than that the typical air force "fun run" isn't fun. Running in formation trying not to run on top of the guy in front of you or get ran over by the guys behind you. It's probably one of the many reasons why my knees are bad. You can't get a real stride so you half way jog/walk/run

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2019 1:22 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 13:22:21 -0400

"Fun runs" are only fun if you like acting like a massive slinky..... jogging one second. Dead sprint the next because no one can keep their cover and alignment, people fall out so others have to fill in. And hello shin splints

Response by SGT Mathew Husen made Oct 25 at 2019 3:21 PM

SGT Mathew Husen — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:21:23 -0400

At Camp Arifjan, my commander would run us by the reservist, and guard tents doing cadence loud as possible early in the mourning. Best runs ever.

Response by SFC Robert Walton made Nov 29 at 2019 11:32 AM

SFC Robert Walton — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 11:32:38 -0500

Well if your not into having that many people running with you and having fun then why did you enlist?

Response by SSG John Jensen made Nov 29 at 2019 6:40 PM

SSG John Jensen — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 18:40:45 -0500

a long time ago there were fun running cadences - some were really horrible for racism, sexism, X-rated, drug and alcohol use - I really wouldn't have minded getting rid of some of them - but, boy, they were fun. Then at some point in the early '80's the Army stopped them all. We're running along someone starts a cadence and the CO shouts "you can't sing that"!, starts another cadence with the same reaction, and again , and again, and again. Until we get to something so bland, it's not worth it. Some of those cadences I could really do without, and probably really un-printable, but others I though were just fine that were now on the prohibited list. Soon after saw a letter to the editor of the Army Times complaining about the change; the official response was not 'those songs are terrible, and we are better than that' the official response was 'those songs never existed'. I'll now risk one "I can run to LA just like this, drink a keg of beer and never have to piss"! BANNED!

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Nov 29 at 2019 8:30 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 20:30:09 -0500

It’s just a run , most of us ran every day, so what? Company PT was usually easier the Gunny didn’t exactly set a blistering pace.