As Garry asked: Is the Mile the most popular running event?

[Brian]

As Garry asks in the May issue, what is the most popular running event these days?
The Mile? The 100? Something else?

As much as I love the Mile (Mile...not 1500 or 1600!), I think the event that combines the most sustained interest with speed is a world-class men's 5,000 meters...12-13 minutes of anticipation, usually with at least a handful who could win in there all the way.

That said, I could watch a competitive Mile race at any level, male or female, even at 6:00 pace in a junior high meet.

[tafnut]

Re: As Garry asked: Is the Mile the most popular running eve

It's the mile (1500) because we all want suspense (100-800 over too fast), but we have cultural ADD (steeple on up takes too long). We want our video bite in a nice 3-4 minute package, just like on MTV.

[79.]

Re: As Garry asked: Is the Mile the most popular running eve

Seen from old Europe, the most popular running
event in the USA is... race for MONEY.
No, seriously, the Marathon and the Mile seem
to be almost as mythical but more popular than
the 100m event, culturally, in North America.

[[email protected]]

Re: As Garry asked: Is the Mile the most popular running eve

The two relay biggies: 4x400m and 4x100m.

[Dutra]

Re: As Garry asked: Is the Mile the most popular running eve

Variation on a theme.

Two events:

1 mile/1500m

or

4 x 400m

[Sprint Stat Man]

Re: As Garry asked: Is the Mile the most popular running eve

Track fans can make a case for many events. I'd say the mile generates greater emotional attachment than any other event among aficionados. Just look at the endless Ryun debates here.

However, when talking about which event has the greatest impact on the wider world, nothing comes close to the 100m. The race to be fastest man/woman is as basic as sport gets and seems to strike a chord with even casual fans come Olympics time. The 100m gets a bigger build-up, more coverage and the winner gets more feted than any other event.

And if we define 'popular' as participation, the marathon has no peer.

It is no surprise to me that the 100m, Mile and Marathon would come to mind in this context. They represent three distinct type of human motion - pure speed, sustained run and stamina test.

[kuha]

Re: As Garry asked: Is the Mile the most popular running eve

I fully agree that the 100 is a popular and dramatic event. My problem with it is that its over so quickly and--frankly--from most seats in any normal stadium, you can't really be sure who won until the results come up on the board...

For whatever it's worth, my favorite running events (in order):
5000
mile/1500
steeple
800
400
100

As far as track meets go, I guess I'm of the LSD school...

[Class Clown]

Re: As Garry asked: Is the Mile the most popular running eve

>>And if we
>define 'popular' as participation, the marathon has no peer.>>

Only because there are so few tracks with 25,000 lanes and a set of blocks for each at the 100 start.