Why Race?

btsinmd

There were a few races that I could have and some that I still can enter, some 5ks and some 10ks. I was eager to enter tham a month or so ago, but when it comes to the time to sign up, I don't.

I didn't particularly enjoy the one 5k I did. It was small and nearby and should have been fun. I got there and waited around, thinking, I could have been done my run before this one even starts. Then we lined up and the speedy people took off and I positioned myself among the last of the runners and just ahead of the walkers. I remained there the whole time and soon had no one to see in front of me and no one to see behind me. I ran alone. I crossed the finish line, still at the end of the runners and ahead of the walkers, and still seeing no one other than the volunteers at the finish line. No one ahead. No one behind. Walked up and got a banana and watched some children dancing to entertain until everyone got in. Then they had the awards and Fells and I went home.

It was pretty boring.

I'm having a really difficult time convincing myself to spend money to do what I can do on my own time at the same time and wherever I want. I like having personal goals, but don't really see the purpose in running in a race, at least a 5k (or even a 10k). I'm thinking now that maybe when I work myself to half marathon length, maybe I'll feel differently. It might be fun to be able to put a 13.1 magnet on my car.

Maybe I'll do a 10k race this Fall. Do you think that it might work out better than the 5k? It would be a larger number of people and so I wouldn't bring Fells. I don't know if that would make a difference.

btsinmd

Maybe I could be clearer. When I couldn't do a 5k I was eager to enter a 5k race. I know now that I can do a 5k, have done one many times in training now. I'm not fast at all, but I can run 3.5 miles distance without too much trouble. The 10k I would enter is on October 12th on the eastern shore, so quite a drive, but I have a friend who lives there who it would be fun to visit., I guess I believe, strongly that unless something happens like a sudden injury, I will be able to run 10k in a month, so if I am running 10k regularly by then, what would be the point in racing. I would already know I could do it.

Note, there is one race that I'd like to do. A friend of mine has been running a 5k every year in Maine at the end of October for a group called Hardy Girls, Healthy Women. You dress up if you want, but the costumes, if you wear them, must be scary, not sexy. This would be fun. I know at least one person doing the run, I like the organization, and the race appeals to me. I really did want to drive all the way up there and do this race. But my flyball team captain chose that weekend as our club's tournament, so that's one race that I cannot attend.

rduhlir

Honestly, races isn't for everyone. Some people just plain out hate them Personally, I love races. I love the atmosphere before hand and the people I can meet, and the wonderful stories I hear from people. But, if you don't like racing that is okay too. You may just be a personal goal type person. You set distance goals for yourself or something and do those.

Have you tried finding a group to run with? A lot of times the running stores will have group runs (more like motivating solo runs what happen to have others doing the same thing) and the groups will all enter runs together and complete them.

But, in the end it comes down to what you want really. If you don't like racing then don't do. Maybe you haven't found the race that excites you yet. My Bardog race was actually pretty boring. I PR'd, but all in all it was boring. The races that kill me are the over crowded ones. And I don't mean the fun runs like The Color Run or Glow in the Park; I mean the real 5K races where there are like 1000+ people and everyone is crammed together and stuff. I hate that.

TyFit08

I did 2 5Ks several years ago and I didn't and couldn't run the entire thing. My first 5K after finishing C25K was back in June and it was a smaller race. I was excited to finish and my time was faster than my practice runs, but the race itself was blah. I did another 5K in August with 4000 runners in Harlem, NY. The community cheered us on along the way, it was a big spectacle and it became clear that this is why people race. Smaller races are great for pushing yourself and getting out there, but the big races are a rush. It is great to see so many people out there doing what you are doing. It is impossible to run alone because there are too many people, so you have other races to push you to your limits. I did a 10K Sunday with about 2000 people. It was a beautiful and very scenic course and ended with a bbq where runners ate free. I did find myself alone a few times, but I would quickly catch up with the crowd or they would catch up with me. Yes races can get pricey, but for many it brings out the competitive spirit and I think the bigger races are certainly worth consideration.

likitisplit

Come to Atlanta, and I'll show you what racing is about...

For me, it's an arbitrary date that keeps me on track with training, except I've never been to a bad, unsupported race in the Atlanta area no matter how big or small it is. There's one production company that does most of them, and the other ones model off that one, so the experience is pretty unilaterally good.

I'd love to go to a noon one in Boston with beer.

PinkNinjaLaura

The one 5K that I ran was disappointing only because it wasn't chip timed. It was also a small, local race. I was generally within sight of a small group of slower runners so I was never totally alone. For me passing people on the hills, and passing people walking in the final half mile who had run pretty fast past me in the first mile, was a type of validation of why I get myself out of bed early three days a week to run. I also ran that 5K three minutes faster than I had ever run that distance before. I'm both excited and nervous about my next 5K on September 28.

jessiekanga

I agree that it needs to be a personal decision, and what's right for some may not work for all. I am quite slow, and in my 3 races ( two 5k and one 10k) have come in pretty close to the end. For me, racing is in part the energy, in part that it keeps me on a training schedule (I use any excuse to bow out) and in part a way to support various charities. I have spent my career in non-profits, and I can't donate to every cause I love, but when I run a local 5k because of who it supports, I do feel a part of something. I confess that I do pick races not only by distance and location, but also by who the beneficiary is.

I should add, I am a little social-phobic, so I never stay for the awards. I run, I look around at what's there, pick up a freebie or each kid, munch on something, and leave. I do MUCH prefer going with someone I know, even though I've never actually run with anyone (I would love to do that at some point). My 10k in two weeks will be alone, and I admit I'm dreading it. It's for Autism, which my daughter has, so I'll go, but I'm not looking forward to it. I want/wish for company.

bttrthanevr

I've enjoyed my races (but I also know there are better ones out there). The races I've run have been small, less than 200 (in one case less than 100) people and pretty fast. I wasn't last in the first one, but I was close (only ahead of three people besides walkers) with a sub 37 minute time. The second was fun because of the story it gave me to tell, DFL and a medal! I cherish my picture with the ambulance drivers. (But I never want to be last again!!)

I like that I CAN race...and that makes me want to do them. It also like others have said, fixes a point in time and gives me a defined goal to work toward.

But most of all, the race is kind of like my reward for training. I feel like I've earned it. (I do however want it to be chip timed...that makes it feel real somehow.) Silly, I know, to feel like spending $20-30 bucks for a shirt I will never probably wear, 4 oz of gatorade and half a banana, is a reward!!! But I somehow it is.

I guess I also just enjoy being with other like-minded people driven by some inner need to push ourselves further and faster, even if we don't think we will ever cross the finish line first. :-)