You're offered $100K to never do another timed run or race. Would you take the cash?

hypothetical wrote:

Suppose that you were offered $100,000 on the condition that you could never do another timed run or race again. That includes timed interval sessions, solo FKT attempts on trails, and sports where running is a major component (i.e., triathlons). However, you would be able to go on solo untimed runs and do easy runs with friends.

Would you take it?

Yes. At age 70 it's a non-brainer not to take the cash.

Hell yeah I don't really do any of that other stuff anyways and if I do, it's just for fun or if I'm betting someone that I will beat them in a race. Anyways, some people would do ANYTHING for 100k. Money is a game changer for the vast majority of people.

Nope. Don't think I would continue to run without the motivation of the stopwatch, and I really like running. Maybe if I got into "backyard"-style ultras, that would be an okay substitute "race"? Honestly I think if I were forced to take the deal, I'd get really into seeing how far I could run (slash hike) in a day (I'm still allowed to use the sun to "time" myself, right?). That way I'd still have an activity in which I could measure my progress--and compete, if only against myself.

hypothetical wrote:

Would you take it?

No. 500k maybe. 1 mil yes.

Umm. Yes, no question.

Sure, I don't time my runs and races don't mean what they meant to me years ago.

Hand it over.

Yes. Would take like 6 years off of my retirement goal. Another way to ask - is going for timed runs worth more or less than 6 years of your life?

local sheep wrote: Another way to ask - is going for timed runs worth more or less than 6 years of your life?

No, that’s a different question. Still, I’d probably opt for timed runs over those 6 years of life, because I love running.

No.

At this point, I’d be much more inclined to pay $100k if I thought it might make me injury free and somewhat competitive again.

WHoa! Tough one.

I might need something like a 12 step program to ween me off.

Like, run for the fun of running? Not sure I could get my mind around that one, fully.

At face value, I would tend towards NO, but might like to try it for a week or two to see how much damage it would do to me as the person I am, and if I could live with that going forward.

At over the age of 60, of course! Would pay for new running shoes every month.

`` wrote:

Honestly I think if I were forced to take the deal, I'd get really into seeing how far I could run (slash hike) in a day (I'm still allowed to use the sun to "time" myself, right?). That way I'd still have an activity in which I could measure my progress

You would have to do it on a completely overcast day. So you'd still have a rough idea of when to start and stop, but it would be much less accurate than a sundial.

No.

local sheep wrote:

Yes. Would take like 6 years off of my retirement goal.

6 years? I doubt it'll last half that long unless you live really frugally or get really lucky in your investments.

100k would mean much more for a younger person. If you put that money into an index fund and do not touch it for the next 30 yrs, it will grow to a significant amount.

For someone already retired or close to retirement, the value is much less.

Honestly, I thought it would be within a rounding error for most posters on this board. (j/k)

Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:

100k would mean much more for a younger person. If you put that money into an index fund and do not touch it for the next 30 yrs, it will grow to a significant amount.

For someone already retired or close to retirement, the value is much less.

Honestly, I thought it would be within a rounding error for most posters on this board. (j/k)

The value of 100K is less for someone older but the value of timed runs becomes less motivating once your PRs are only distant memories. Timed runs are the most motivating when you are still striving for improvement.

I know all the cool posters on here immediately say they'd take it, but I love running. It's one of the things I enjoy about my life the most (including competing for time). In the grand scheme of things, 100k isn't life changing money. So I'd buy a nicer car or upgrade my apartment slightly. Who cares? Those things wouldn't nearly mean as much to me as something I love to do.

silvery gold wrote:

I know all the cool posters on here immediately say they'd take it, but I love running. It's one of the things I enjoy about my life the most (including competing for time). In the grand scheme of things, 100k isn't life changing money. So I'd buy a nicer car or upgrade my apartment slightly. Who cares? Those things wouldn't nearly mean as much to me as something I love to do.

yeah, like he said.

FWIW, though, I'd give up the Heart Rate Monitor for fifty cents.