Johnson & Wales University ScholarsArchive@JWU Honors Theses - Providence Campus College of Arts & Sciences Spring 2014 Traditional Foot Racing v. Obstacle Racing Kathleen Sands Johnson & Wales University - Providence, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/student_scholarship Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons Repository Citation Sands, Kathleen, "Traditional Foot Racing v. Obstacle Racing" (2014). Honors Theses - Providence Campus. 17. https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/student_scholarship/17 This Honors Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Arts & Sciences at ScholarsArchive@JWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Theses - Providence Campus by an authorized administrator of ScholarsArchive@JWU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Sands Traditional Foot Racing v. Obstacle Racing Kathleen Sands Johnson & Wales University – Providence Dr. Fruzzetti Spring 2014 Sands Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine how to best promote, execute, and manage traditional foot racing and obstacle racing in the 21st century. Accurately measured traditional foot racing has been in existence since the 1600s (“Running History Story”). Much more recently, in 1990, obstacle racing originated and brought change to the racing industry (“The History of Obstacle Races”). As a result, this study investigated the two different cultures of traditional foot racing and obstacle racing, and what the introduction of obstacle racing means for racing coordinators of both types of events. A mixed methods study was conducted to examine this situation. 100 traditional foot race participants and 100 obstacle race participants were surveyed at races and through relevant social media regarding: demographic background of both traditional foot racers and obstacle racers, feelings toward traditional foot racing and obstacle racing, drivers of behavior to race traditional foot races and obstacle races, the frequency of engagement in both traditional foot races and obstacle races, and with whom traditional foot race competitors and obstacle race competitors decide to race. Expert interviews were also conducted to supplement survey findings and to gather expert opinions on both traditional foot racing and obstacle racing. The findings from this study are important because they provide race directors of both traditional foot racing and obstacle racing with a foundation upon which to plan future races. Obstacle racing has impacted the industry, but not to the Sands determent of traditional foot racing. Instead, a new demographic of young, single early professionals have emerged to run obstacle races; compared to the older, established business professional traditional foot racing demographic. Each of these demographics brings their own varied set of wants and needs to traditional foot racing and obstacle racing. These findings are translated into product, place, price, and promotion suggestions that race directors of both events can receive guidance from when planning races. Sands Acknowledgements I am extremely thankful for everyone in my life that helped me to take my passion for both traditional foot racing and obstacle racing and transform that passion into this thesis. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had Dr. Anthony Fruzzetti as both an advisor and a mentor. Dr. Fruzzetti assisted me in discovering how much I was capable of accomplishing throughout my writing of this thesis, as well as sacrificed several of his post-it notes to the cause. I would also like to thank my friends and family who stood by my side throughout the entire writing process. Your unwavering faith in my potential has made me the person I am today. None of this would have been possible without your encouragement. To my second family, everyone with whom I train for both traditional foot races and obstacle races, thank you for your motivational support. In particular, those individuals who took the time out of their busy lives and training schedules to contribute their knowledge and help distribute my survey including: Kevin Roy, Anthony Dagnello, Kim Wamback, Janine Calise, Alan Bernier, Danny Hall, Nich Haber, and Gordon Fletcher. Lastly, a shout out to all the coffeehouses and extra shots of espresso that fueled me along the way. Sands Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………………………. Chapter One: Introduction.………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 Chapter Two: Traditional Foot Racing v. Obstacle Racing….………………………………….. 3 Etymology.………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 History.……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5 Culture…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9 Participants...…………………………………………………………………………………………. 10 Chapter Three: Methodology.…………………………………………………………………………….. 14 Research Questions.……………………………………………………………………………….. 14 Research Design.……………...………………………………………………………………….…. 16 Survey Participants.…………………………………………………………………………….…. 16 Instrumentation: Expert interviews..…………………………………………...…….……. 18 Instrumentation: Survey Research ……...……………………………………………….…. 20 Chapter Four: Findings…………..……………………………………………………………………….… 23 Summary of Findings: Expert interviews…………………………………...……….…….23 Traditional Foot Racing….……………………………………………………………. 23 Obstacle Racing…………………………………………………………………………… 25 Summary of Findings: Survey Research…………………………………………………... 28 Chapter Five: Conclusions & Recommendations....……..……….………………….…………… 54 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………………………. 54 Recommendations ………………………………………………………………………………… 61 Traditional Foot Racing……………………………………………………………….. 61 Obstacle Racing…………………………………………………………………………… 65 Works Cited ……………………………………………………………………………………………………... 72 Appendix A: Expert interview Guides……………………………………………………………........... i Appendix B: Expert interview Responses……………………………………………………………. iii Traditional Foot Racing…………………………………………………………………………… iii Obstacle Racing……………………………………………………………………………..……..… xii Sands 1 Chapter One: Introduction Introduction Spartan Race, Tough Mudder, BoldrDash, Tuff Scramblers, F.I.T Challenge… all terms that instill different reactions in individuals depending on to whom you are talking. All these terms are titles of popular obstacle races. Obstacle racers may instantly perk up at the mention of one of their favorite races, while traditional foot racers may show drastically less enthusiasm. Other individuals may not even know what an obstacle race is, or have heard of the aforementioned terminology. This paper will discuss both traditional foot racing and obstacle racing with the ultimate goal of establishing knowledge on how to promote, execute, and manage traditional foot racing and obstacle racing in the 21st century. Similarities and differences of traditional foot racing and obstacle racing will be analyzed and studied to see if these play a role in whether or not participants are shifting their focus from traditional foot racing towards obstacle racing. This paper will also examine what marketable benefits can be drawn from these findings. Chapter Two will provide an extensive background on the etymology, history, and participants of traditional foot racing and obstacle racing. This information will be drawn from a comprehensive literature review of the existent body of knowledge in regards to traditional foot racing and obstacle racing. Chapter Three will explain the research questions studied in regards to traditional road racing and obstacle racing. The instrumentation and participants involved in this data collection will also be discussed, alongside the research design. Sands 2 Chapter Four presents the findings discovered through the research design considered in Chapter Three. These findings will be looked at in segments according to the research questions examined. Chapter Five will summarize both the topic and study performed. Conclusions from the findings will be also reviewed. Suggestions by the author will be made for traditional foot race coordinators and obstacle race coordinators in regards to the overall study and the conclusions drawn from the findings of the study performed. These recommendations will be presented according to product, place, price, and promotion suggestions. Sands 3 Chapter Two: Traditional Foot Racing v. Obstacle Racing Introduction In this chapter, terminology of traditional foot racing and obstacle racing will be defined. A comprehensive overview of the history of both types of racing will be provided, alongside an explanation of the culture that makes up both of these areas of the racing industry. The average traditional foot race and obstacle race participants will also be described and defined through present-day demographic statistics that have been collected. Traditional foot racing and obstacle racing are two different types of racing that are both major players in the athletics industry of the 21st century. Traditional foot racing has been in existence for nearly 400 years longer than obstacle racing, which makes these two events different in nature and presents interesting concerns regarding the impact obstacle racing’s creation will have on traditional foot racing. Numerous individuals participate in both these races every year. Many participants view racing as a hobby, and some aspire to obtain professional recognition. Etymology “Traditional foot racing” can be seen as a combination of the terms traditional and foot race. According to Merriam-Webster Online, traditional can be