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| Picture is of the Las Vegas Marathon and Half and is from Competitor.com |
Earlier this month when I was reading my Women's Running magazine, I came across an article where the writer was recapping her experience at the Rock n Roll Las Vegas half marathon. Right away I was intrigued because I ran RnR Las Vegas too. However, she ran it for charity. I'm sure we all understand the concept of running for charity, you raise money, then you go run. This lady was running for charity but she was doing it a bit differently. She was running as a chaser.
When you run as a charity chaser, you start dead last! You place yourself in the very last corral (and if I remember Las Vegas correctly there were MANY corrals. I'm thinking at least 43), and you don't start until every last person crosses the start line.
Your job as a chaser is to pass as many people as you can. Each person you pass is equivalent to $1 for your charity. In this instance, the lady running was sponsored by Transamerica Life Insurance, so Transamerica Life Insurance would be the company responsible for donating the money to the selected charity. Her charity was the Edith Sanford breast foundation.
In the end she ended up passing 14,122 runners. That's a whopping $14,122 earned for the charity.
I love the idea of running as a chaser. Generally when we run races we are running them for ourselves and setting our own goals and trying to improve our own times. Running as a chaser is not about us at all. It's not about our own PR. Its about something so much bigger!
I'm sure there are stipulations to running as an "official" charity chaser. They only have one chaser per race so I am gonna guess its a difficult position to get. However, if you are not worried about time or corral placement, it might be fun to run non-officially as a chaser at some race and see how many people you pass. Would this interest you?
I've never heard of this before - sounds like a fun way for runners to raise money for charity!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it though?
DeleteI have never heard of this before, but it sounds like a great concept. Although, I don't think I will ever get to this point, as running will always be a challenge for me.
ReplyDeleteHaha, you and me both!
DeleteWow! this sounds really really cool!! a really cool new way to find motivation!
ReplyDeleteYea, I thought so too!
DeleteWhat a great idea! I would love to do something like that for a charity. It would be so motivating because I feel like you would push yourself pretty hard because you know that with each person you pass, you are raising money!
ReplyDeleteI think you would make a great chaser since you are so speedy!
DeleteHaha! And I would shame everyone too. I'd be like "If you let me pass you, I will earn money to help cure diseases!!!"
DeleteOur December race does this with a local business sponsoring the runner, but I also know NYC does this with a celebrity runner.
ReplyDeleteThat is cool that your local race does it!
DeleteI read that as well and love the idea. I've seen lots of races do this type of thing. Really fun!
ReplyDeleteThis was the first time I read about this and I was intrigued!
DeleteI read that article too and thought it was a really fun idea! Not sure how many people I would pass though
ReplyDeleteYea, I personally would be afraid to do it cus I wouldn't want the charity being disappointed in me..lol
DeleteWow, I've never heard of this before. It sounds like it would be a really cool experience.
ReplyDeleteYea, I bet the people who do it have the best time!
DeleteI would be a chaser's dream as slow as I am - a guaranteed pass :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, you are too funny!
DeleteI have heard of this, I knew a few companies that sponsored runners to do it. But and maybe this is just a few but I have heard they sponsor faster runners or runners who have built their name up in the running community to do it so the $ raised is higher so they can get their companies name announced in the media more.
ReplyDeleteBut hey if I was a runner like that heck ya I'd do it for the free travel and free race entries, the fact that your doing it for charity and sponsors would just make ya train and push harder I would think so you could pass as many possible and help earn a ton for charity! I'd be fun!
Yea, it would definitely have to be a fast runner!
DeleteThis is the first I've heard of this concept and I absolutely love it! Such a fun challenge for the runner and it's for a great cause. I would love to do something like this someday - even on a smaller scale it would be a really fun time :)
ReplyDeleteYea, it would be fun to find smaller races that did this!
DeleteThat sounds like SO much fun!!! I would totally do that. In fact, I might start!
ReplyDeleteGreat! Let us know if you do.
DeleteNever heard of the concept, but it sounds like a BLAST! Passing people is so motivating to me. I'm so competitive. I think something like that would really fuel me!
ReplyDeleteThis was actually the first time I've heard of it too!
DeleteI've never heard of this concept before, but really like it. If you're motivated to raise money for charity, then you'll definitely push yourself as hard as you can on race day.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a blast! I would love to do something like this! I'd say cheer for everyone you pass along the way too. :-) Make it about the community too!
ReplyDeleteThis would be so fun! I've never heard of this but I would definitely be interested in doing it!
ReplyDeleteThis is a cool idea!! I like that it adds a challenge to a race AND supports a charity!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this but yes! I'd totally do it! You know how competitive I am!
ReplyDeleteNow THAT is a cool concept I've never heard of before! What a neat idea and a great way to raise money for charity!
ReplyDeleteNow that I read this, I suspect the two runners who were carrying big mylar balloons (and who passed us) during the Houston marathon/half were chasers. I later saw in the starting video that they crossed the start line dead last, so that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteOh that's cool that you saw them. Now that you know who they are/what they're doing, you'll be on the look out for them next time!
DeleteHave never heard of this before, but it does sound like fun. The hardest part would be dodging a bunch of people. Very neat! I thought a chaser was what I was when I started running with our local running group, and I was trying to catch up with them at every run! lol !
ReplyDeleteYes, that would be my idea of a chaser too...haha
DeleteWow, I've never heard of this, and it sounds awesome!! What a cool way to challenge yourself AND raise money for charity. I would totally do this; I think I've definitely reached that "PR plateau" you speak of, so it couldn't hurt, haha.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of being a chaser, but how do you know you are the chaser and someone else isn't signed up for it? Seriously interested! Hook me up!
ReplyDeleteThere is only one chaser per race!
DeleteI have never heard of this concept. It's very interesting. It think it would also satisfy that competitive urge that most runner's have...just in a different way.
ReplyDelete