“I simply hope individuals have enjoyable,” Jesse Itzler instructed me as we walked alongside the route of Runningman Competition’s foremost occasion, an 8-hour, choose-your-own distance race with choices starting from 5K to 50K. Itzler, a prolific entrepreneur, public speaker, and endurance runner, is the founding father of Atlanta’s All Day Working Co., the operating retailer that places on the Runningman Competition.
“The Race,” because it’s aptly named, takes place round a 1-mile loop and you may run for so long as you need, or don’t need. It kicks off at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, sandwiched between myriad health courses, perception-shifting wellness classes, the world’s largest sauna, chilly plunges, and a live performance from pop-savant-turned-Everest-summiter Mike Posner, amongst different issues.
This pageant has already taken leaps in recognition, rising by 25% from 800 runners in its 2023 debut to over 1,000 in 2024. That will not sound like an enormous quantity when in comparison with different races, however, after attending the pageant myself, I believe the intimate really feel of the occasion is one in every of its biggest strengths.
Runningman Competition might be absolutely anything the health fanatic needs it to be: you may run the longest race of your life (90% of entrants surpassed their mileage objective), you may be taught all about ‘shrooms (sure, these ‘shrooms), you may acquire new wellness expertise, or you may merely get pleasure from being round a thousand like-minded individuals.
The Runningman Competition
Had a remark about “simply having enjoyable” come out of another person’s mouth, the response might need sounded a bit hackneyed. However Itzler, an achieved ultra-runner and entrepreneur, carries the aura of a person telling the gospel reality.
Perhaps it was as a result of he form of appears to be like like Will Ferrell and had simply shed the American-flag-adorned blazer he wore to kick off Saturday’s foremost occasion. However I imagine it’s his prodigious expertise for making mind-melting endurance sports activities and wellness pursuits appear to be a day within the park.
Once you first set foot on the Runningman Competition grounds at Kingston Downs — a former horse monitor in Rome, Georgia — you’d be forgiven for considering you simply walked right into a micro Burning Man. Throughout the 1-mile loop that additionally serves because the race course, you’ll discover a whole lot of tents lined up in rows, a stage surrounded by booming audio system, individuals sporting very little clothes, and a lineup of name sponsors that appear like they have been chosen based mostly on their love for psychedelic mushrooms.
The weekend facilities round The Race, however that’s under no circumstances the one focus of Runningman. From the primary arrivals on Friday at 2:00 p.m. till the closing ceremonies on Sunday at 2:00 p.m., there was hardly any time when one other exercise wasn’t going down (save for perhaps 6 hours every night time).
Day One: Don’t Get together Too Laborious (Drink A lot of Water)
Step nearer, and also you’d have seen that your fellow “Runners” have been scantily clad as a result of they have been hopping forwards and backwards between a chilly plunge and the World’s Largest Sauna, or had simply wrapped a HIIT exercise adopted by zenned-out breath work. When anybody was truly stationary (which was uncommon), they have been scheming about what number of loops they might run.
On the similar time, they dug their fingers via bottomless coolers filled with Crimson Bull, purposeful mushroom-infused seltzers, and beers. The bar stayed open late, however the night time didn’t cater to booze-fueled raucous habits.
One of many extra refreshing sights of the weekend was seeing the “drink responsibly” mindset in observe, not out of obligation, however as a result of that’s how the everyday Runningman attendee prefers it. (There have been quite a lot of Athletic Brewing N/A beers being handed round, although.)
After choosing up your packet on Friday afternoon, you could have entry to courses and breakout classes galore, all main as much as a keynote speech from Itzler himself. Intro to Chilly Publicity, Guided Yoga, and the all-important Beer Mile spotlight the night, however you may as well take a look at the pickle-eating contest or an introduction to the walk-run technique.
Sadly for me, a baggage hiccup in Atlanta compelled me to overlook the afternoon’s “World’s Hottest Get together,” the place a whole lot of parents gathered within the large sauna with a dwell DJ — an occasion I believe needs to be thought-about can’t-miss subsequent yr.
Don’t Miss the Keynote
The spotlight, although, was the Everest Mindset Panel, which featured Mike Posner, Devon Levesque, and Dr. Jon Kedrowski, every of whom beforehand summited Mt. Everest. They spoke about their expertise on the mountain and what it took to get them there.
Even in case you don’t care about summiting Everest, listening to their tales was a deal with. Posner’s story, specifically, resonates: He went from a worldwide pop star most recognized for a tune about popping capsules with Avicii in Ibiza, to a wellness aficionado and Everest summiter that credit his life-changing about-face to breath work and a dedication to all the time taking the following step.
He’s nonetheless a gifted artist with indeniable allure and confidence on stage, however one thing about seeing a man go from the peak of fame to a self-proclaimed all-time low, and are available again once more is immensely inspiring. Not each life change needs to be meteoric in scale, however typically an excellent Everest anecdote is important to show us that.
Day Two: The Race
Saturday serves the meat and potatoes of the Runningman Competition. Shouts from the stage begin early, performing as a de-facto wakeup name for all the group of 1,000 runners to listen to.
After health guru and GQ author Joe Holder led all the group in a warm-up at first line, Itzler stepped again as much as the mic to kick off the race, aforementioned American-flag blazer and pom-pom beanie in tow.
In nearly each race I’ve finished, the sensation on the beginning line is one in every of comparatively silent anxiousness. However the Runningman beginning line was distinctly totally different. Everybody was there to overcome one thing inside themselves, quite than the individuals round them.
It gave the beginning line a buzz of pleasure quite than stress. It was refreshing, if not significantly adrenaline-pumping. Everybody simply appeared stoked to be there, whatever the consequence.
A part of the startline’s chill vibes owed to the general ethos of the race. Sure, individuals signed as much as PR or run the longest race they’ve ever run, however all the factor takes place on a 1-mile loop. In case you weren’t there to get pleasure from your self, the race may simply flip right into a tedious exercise.
The course stays open for 8 hours and members can go away for a bit and are available again to run some extra later. So to maintain the temper not less than as a lot enjoyable as grueling, runners can bask in a mid-race sauna session, or seek out some spicy pickles and a Crimson Bull pick-me-up.
Publish-Race Celebration
After The Race on Saturday morning, the day was jam-packed with issues to do, together with yoga, breathwork, an intro to microdosing, and a musical efficiency from Posner. He ran a 50K within the morning and performed for everybody just some hours later, nonetheless rocking his Garmin Fenix and Hoka path trainers — the identical ones he wore throughout the race.
After Posner’s hour-long acoustic set that included all of the hits — sure, I Took a Tablet in Ibiza included — Itzler hopped on stage to introduce the Runningman Band, who performed a deliriously lengthy set of covers lengthy into the night time, kicking off the celebratory post-run get together.
No one appears to expire of power at Runningman, however perhaps that’s proof of idea; maybe recovering correctly and taking some additional time to focus in your well-being can hold you going longer than you knew you would.
Day Three: Restoration (With Goats)
In case you made it to mattress early (or establish as a masochistic early riser), Sunday morning supplied extra of the identical. A Wim Hof respiratory seminar, led by (you guessed it) Posner, kicked off actions, adopted by a mirrored image stroll with child goats, a panel on clear consuming, and one other on restoration (which was much-needed after the earlier night’s shenanigans).
The reflection stroll supplied a peaceable deviation from the depth of the remainder of the weekend — strolling quietly with cuddly livestock can do loads for a worn-out psyche. The clear consuming panel was a tricky, albeit convincing, train for me — my fingers and mouth occupied by a bacon, egg, and cheese crepe. Hey, all the things moderately, proper?
Nonetheless, it was enlightening to listen to from a well-versed panel of execs on the earth of well being advocacy and law-making. One significantly jarring takeaway pertained to the variations between European and American bread; you don’t wish to know what’s within the U.S.-version (potassium bromate).
The following restoration panel did a deep dive on the advantages of cold-exposure, saunas, and different practices — all of which helped me in my very own endurance journey, although your mileage might range.
From there, it got here time to log off and take a deep breath. And in any case of that, a deep breath was very a lot welcome. Those that have been lingered piled into their vehicles and headed house, pockets filled with wholesome snacks and extremely coveted Runningman merch.
Select Your Personal Journey
This yr’s Runningman was one for the books, and in case you went into it with the appropriate mindset, there was loads to take house past a customized hoodie. It was much less a time to set a document within the marathon, and extra a vigorous alternative to problem your thoughts and physique.
Past a novel likelihood to push your self to the bounds on the race course, Runningman supplied ample alternatives to hear, be taught, and meet new individuals — or not! That was the great thing about it; Runningman helps you to select your personal journey.
In case you’re keen on conquering a operating race in a really welcoming, low-stakes surroundings; if you wish to discover the world of purposeful mushrooms, clear consuming, and/or breathwork; or in case you simply wish to hang around with some actually cool individuals, Runningman is a must-do to your calendar subsequent yr.
Keep watch over the All Day Working Co. web site or Instagram for extra data on the 2025 version.
