Training but not competing

farmgirlsuz

Maybe I am totally insane, but for the past year I have been on a running kick. I started that C25K program and have kept my miles up ever since. I am now working on the Hal Higdon half marathon training program week 6 and everything is going GREAT! So what's the problem? I have never competed in a race. First I have this terrible fear that I would REALLY suck and I HATE losing. I know I am not the fastest runner out there and I have no intentions of ever being fast, just finishing.

Anyone else go through all the training and never compete? Am I cheating myself by not at least TRYING a race? I know a 5k would be a piece of cake, a 10K might be a little challenge and a half would be totally do-able if I set my mind to it, but I am still terrified!

As a side note-I DID sign up for a Warrior Dash in July and I almost have a panic attack thinking about doing that!

JustJennie1

You should sign up for a race because they're actually a lot of fun. The atmosphere, the crowd cheering and encouraging you to continue, the other runners around you --- it's very intoxicating. So what if you're not the fastest runner out there? And who said anything about losing? I've never been the first to cross the finish line but in no way do I feel like I lost the race because the only person I am competing with is my self. Just sign up for a 5k or a 10k. Hell if you don't want to have your time published any where, don't sign up and just run it.

Always remember this: You RUN your first race and RACE your second. Once you do your first you'll definitely want to do a second, and a third, and a fourth . . .