Running is supposed to be a fun activity, remember when you were a kid and you just took off running for no apparent reason, just for the fun of it? Back when you played Tag, Red Light/Green Light, or Sharks & Minnows? 

Fast forward to today. We try to be consistent with our routines, running particular distances, on particular days, at particular locations. But every now and then we can all get into a fitness rut where we find ourselves getting burned out. Somehow, the fun part seems to slip away and we find that our runs have become a chore rather than a pleasure.

Well, here are a few ideas you can consider to help perk things up and make things fun again. By turning things into a game, we can unleash that energetic child inside ourselves again.

1. PREDICTION RUN - Before starting to run a familiar route in your neighborhood you know well, try predicting how long it will take you. It doesn't have to be particularly fast, just whatever pace you want to go that day. Leave your watch behind and check it when you return. It's a nice break from a routine you might might be tiring of where you're constantly looking at your watch for pace. This is also fun in a larger group to have everyone write down their predictions and give out prizes to the one who comes closest.

2. LEAP FROG RUN - This one requires a small group of runners. Go out and start with an easy jog with a group of similarly paced runners. Then form a single line of runners. The runner in the back picks up their pace and accelerates (but not sprinting) until they reach the front of the group. Then, after a minute or two, the next person at the back becomes the next runner to accelerate to the front, and so on. By mixing this up, its surprising how fast the miles seem to go. Everyone instantly becomes part of a team, working together.

3. OUT AND BACK - With this variation, you do use your watch while you attempt to beat the clock. Do an out and back route that you are familiar with. When you reach the turnaround, pause your watch and mentally record that time. Now try to beat that time for your return. In real races, negative splits are challenging to achieve as your body tends to be more tired over the last half. But it's a nice goal to have, where you begin controlled, avoiding that jack rabbit start, and then end up feeling strong as you cross the finish line.

4. I SPY - You remember playing this game as children, or with our own children, when on a long road trip to help pass away the miles. When out for a run, pick something that you are likely to see often, like a stop sign, a blue car, or a barking dog. When you see it, accelerate for 10-60 seconds, then walk to recover for a minute. Then start looking again. Another variation is to do this in a group. The first person to identify the called item gets to continue at a normal pace while the others have to accelerate for 10-60 seconds. Careful not to lose sight of road traffic, pot holes and other obstacles along the way.

In June 2023, a group of Fox Cities runners set out on a trip of a lifetime to the great wilderness of Alaska. The centerpiece of this trip was the Anchorage Mayor's Marathon. Dave Moore took the lead in organizing things, and travelled there with his wife Elaine, Kathy Brun and Michele Micke. While Dave, Elaine and Kathy each did the 5 mile event, Michele completed the half marathon. You see, Michele only needed a couple more states to reach her goal of completing a half marathon in all 50 states and Alaska was one of the few she still needed. Dave had done this race 8 years earlier and recommended it because of the great scenery. So off they went!

Dave commented on how it was difficult getting sleep before the race because in June there is so much daylight, even late at night. He also commented about how beautiful the course was. But what he really became animated about was the other activities they did after the race. You see, when you travel that far, and understand how much beauty there is nearby, you need to do more than just run the race and come back home.

Dave rented bikes and rode along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, nestled between the coast and majestic mountains. They took the Alaska Railroad to the small village of Talkeetna, where they saw moose. They took a small plane towards Denali (formerly Mount McKinley), where they landed on a glacier! They also traveled to the small town of Whittier, where they drove through a one-of-a-kind 2.5 mile long single lane combined vehicle and railroad tunnel, then went on a 5-hour glacier cruise. Then they travelled 100 miles to take in the sights of Seward. While in Alaska they enjoyed great fresh seafood, and stopped at one of the many hot dog stands that used reindeer meat!

Let this be an example of one of the many great destination marathons, and how wonderful it can be to explore new areas while you are there.

OK, so you may be asking yourself, where can I go and run an ultramarathon where I can stop and eat at Taco Bells along the way while doing it? Well that would be Denver of course.

For the past few years, the Taco Bell 50k has been held in the Denver area in October with some interesting fun twists. Here is a race where preparation should not only include logging a fair amount of training runs, some gastric training is also highly recommended. 

During the event, you are required to stop at the 10 Taco Bells along the course, and eat a menu item from 9 of them. There are requirements to eat particular menu items, for example, at least 1 Chalupa Supreme by the 4th stop. No on-course products like Alka Seltzer or Mylanta will be allowed. Entrants must save receipts and wrappers for confirmation of stupidity at the end of the race. Although they surely don't mind the publicity and exposure, Taco Bell does not sponsor or endorse this event.