Don’t skip your next fun, community race, as you will thank yourself later.  A few coworkers from Runner’s World told me about a race nearby that they were planning to go to. I was eager to bond with new friends, check out the local running scene, and try something new, so I immediately took up their offer to tag along and laced up my running shoes.

The games and fun atmosphere definitely worked to boost my motivation…

On a Thursday evening, we pulled in next to the railway tracks and walked over to a compost centre. I paid the entry fee in exchange for a bib with my randomised number and a logo that read “Fifth Street Cross.” It’s a cross-country race for runners with two laps around a course marked by yellow tape, covering about a 5km distance, with lots of small yet steep hills, sharp turns, and wooden boards to hurdle.

I’ve seen some runners dust off a pair of spikes to tackle the terrain. I even remember hearing someone shout, “I almost twisted my ankle!” within the first 90 seconds of a race. It’s hilly, messy, and far from your average road race.

The scoring system is fun and unique because the first person who crosses the finish line isn’t necessarily the winner. Officials determine rankings on a points-based system, where the top 30 finishers gain points. And, because it’s Fifth Street Cross, the person who finishes in fifth place is the person who wins. Each week, the race directors also add in a special theme or challenge to the race to help you score more points.

One night, runners had to collect their share of over 200 gold coins hidden throughout the course, as each one would add a point to their overall score. In another week, runners had to guess their finish time, and whoever came the closest won the most points. There’s even a mandatory costume requirement during the week of Halloween.

“Each of these activities allows someone else to be part of the front runners, while also highlighting that this is a fun, weekly series,” says Fifth Street Cross event promoter, Gabe Lloyd. “I aim to keep everyone motivated, as these moments offer comeback opportunities for runners who may not be the fastest but can still challenge for fifth place.”

The games and fun atmosphere definitely worked to boost my motivation when I was training for a half-marathon last year. And this season, as I’m gearing up for my first marathon and training has begun to feel a little monotonous, I’ve started attending a few of the weekly events again, whenever I can. When I’m there, I feel like I’m just a kid running around in my backyard, playing outside with friends.

It’s important to have something fun and carefree like this event when you’re in the midst of tackling serious race goals, says Sara Hayes, a certified run coach and owner of Mindful Miles.

Hayes says focusing on what you value about running can help you stay connected to your core motivations and maintain joy and fulfilment in your running journey. She explains that your values, like community or personal growth, are what give running meaning beyond just following a training plan or chasing performance goals.

To determine what you love about the sport, Hayes suggests asking yourself a question like, “Am I training for this race to get a medal and boost my ego, or am I training for this race because it makes me a better person, and I like the challenge?”

Hayes also recommends regularly reconnecting with your core values and what running truly means to you. This can be as simple as joining a weekly race in your community or doing your local ParkRun every other Saturday, but it can be any consistent practice that helps you tap into something missing from your training routine and your life, like community, growth, or simply joy.

Find out how a local community race has benefitted my marathon training, and how casual running events can help improve any race training experience.

1. It Takes the Pressure Off
Running at Fifth Street Cross helps me face my fear of deviating from my training plan. I typically take rest days every Thursday and Saturday, and run Friday morning with a Friday evening gym session. But to fit Fifth Street Cross into my schedule, I move my Friday morning run to Thursday night, and just gym the next evening. This helps challenge my perfectionist mindset by forcing me to adapt to change and be okay with moving workouts around.

Regularly exposing myself to the fear of deviating from my training plan is a great way to face it and move on from it, Hayes explains. Each week that I do Fifth Street Cross, I prove to myself that I can swap my rest days and move workouts around while still following my training plan and improving fitness. “Training plans are written in pencil, but so is your life,” says Hayes.

Separating yourself from the plan can initially lead to a little anxiety, but it helps you tap into the childlike state of play that we don’t typically get as adults, says Hayes. Play is important for runners because it helps you stay in touch with how you feel, and reminds you that you run because you love it.

2. I’m Overcoming Race Anxiety
The 5k-ish race typically has about 40 to 50 people, at least, during the weeks I’ve attended, and that doesn’t count spectators cheering us on.

Running 5km at race pace alone is very different from running 5km at race pace with 30-plus runners, Hayes says. “That helps people with race day and performance anxiety because they’re able to see how different experiences feel within their body, so it’s not as jarring or foreign when they’re put in that situation,” she says. For example, I’ve gotten used to the rush of adrenaline that hits me at the start line every week that I race, so I’m more prepared to feel it on the day of my marathon.

Knowing that you have at least one thing in common with others, that is, running, helps reduce the fear of the unknown and makes the environment feel more welcoming if you’re anxious, Hayes adds.

3. I’m Remembering Why I Started Running
Early on in my marathon buildup, I felt like I was just moving through the motions of training rather than really enjoying it, which made getting up at 5am for track workouts really difficult. It also made me forget why I love running so much in the first place.

But at Fifth Street Cross, it’s like I’m back on my cross-country team in high school. Not only do I get to run through grass and mud again, but it also has the same mix of competition and camaraderie. There’s excitement for the gun to go off and chase the person in front of you, but you’re also there to cheer on your friends and support fellow runners. You will get the same vibe and experience at your local ParkRun.

I feel like the best athlete I can be when I’m surrounded by a community of runners, moving my body, pushing myself to be better, and connecting with others. I get all of these elements at Fifth Street Cross, so it’s a weekly moment where I feel completely immersed in my “why.”

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