Runners - why do you race?

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Replies

  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,247 Member
    I do the 5k park run on saturday and it seems like hell when doing it but feels so much better at the end and we all have a great ome

    I do those too, when I am not working early shifts that is lol.

    I love Parkruns.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    5K and 10K...For the medals.

    Anything over, just to get out.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    Its the only competive sport I can do at my age. Growing up I always was in sports but once we get older there is no little league for aldults. Racing gives me that sense of competition. I hope to take my age group some day but if not I will at least try.
    You should look into soccer. I know there are recreational leagues in my town for over 35 and over 45 players. There's an over 45 league who plays at around the same time as my son and it's a lot of fun to watch a bunch of 50-70 year old men running around the soccer field having a great time.
  • bekah1301
    bekah1301 Posts: 48 Member
    I don't think I would have bothered doing races but I entered the race for life with some friends and got a pretty good time - so the next year I wanted to beat it. Now I race to see if I can beat my own times, winning would be amazing but I don't expect that, position is a bonus, I just want to better myself!
  • reggie2run
    reggie2run Posts: 477 Member
    I race for the competion between both myself and the clock and the other runners. Racing gives me a goal and a reason to train. I want to become a faster and better runner.

    Also, it's just fun! Being around all the people and the exitement.

    This!
  • MrsPixelbark
    MrsPixelbark Posts: 175 Member
    fancy doing the park run on saturday?

    I'm away, but I could do next weekend. :-)

    Sorry to bump in on this, but I noticed you were based in the midlands...Is it the Swad parkrun (Conkers) that you do, or the Nottingham (Colwick) one? I'd really like to run a Parkrun, and those are my two options, I'm just really nervous about entering one really as I'm still pretty slow running wise, and I don't know anything about either of the courses terrain wise. Are they mainly on pavement, or is there some grass?

    As for me, I've signed up for a 10k in October, it'll be my first race but I can see myself signing on for more. Really, the race has given me a 'goal' to reach for, which is always nice to think about when training during the week!
  • Sox90716
    Sox90716 Posts: 976 Member
    I enjoy doing races that support local or national causes.
  • wxchaser
    wxchaser Posts: 173 Member
    I'm a really slow runner, so I know I'm never going to be a strong performer in races. But I've enjoyed the handful of races that I have done.

    The main reason I sign up for a race is that it keeps me focused, and supports my day by day, week by week running, giving some structure to my training plan, and exerting a nice amount of pressure to push myself forward. I'm not very competitive, but I do enjoy the experience of being *in* a race, with lots of other runners.

    Why do you participate in races?

    I'd have to agree with you on that. I'm doing it for myself, just to prove that I *CAN* do something when so many people have told me it's impossible. I'm still trying to even get to my first race, but I can't wait for it because I know if I finish, I'll want to keep going, maybe to bring up my time, maybe because I'll really enjoy that first big run. But whatever it is, I will continue to love running no matter what. It really helps me relieve a lot of stress and tension and it's also helped me focus my way through a panic attack.
  • PittShkr
    PittShkr Posts: 1,000 Member
    to keep up with the girl in the yoga pants
  • brandyk77
    brandyk77 Posts: 605 Member
    I race

    a) to challenge myself
    b) to gauge my progress
    c) to beat people
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    motivation to keep training... competition...and well eventually and occasionally the hardware
  • PrincessRunnerLindsey
    PrincessRunnerLindsey Posts: 15
    meerkat70: much like you, I'm not a fast runner, and I only started running to support my overall fitness goals.... buuuuut, I have learned to love running in the process! Now a mid-afternoon run is more calming to me than food ever was. It also appeals to my highly competitive nature - with myself, and others. Although I'm not particularly fast, I am always driven to earn a new personal best time during my races. I also love "going fishing" during the last 2km or so, as other people are getting tired. You just pick someone in front of you to "cast your hook at," and reel 'em in until you pass them! Toward the end, I definitely pass more people than get passed myself, which is super motivating! And, my goal is to always finish in the top 1/3 of my race division!
  • basillowe66
    basillowe66 Posts: 432 Member
    You don't know what slow is, you should see me run. But to answer your question, Only a few runners run to win the race, most of the people run to get a better time than they had before.
    Back 25 yrs ago, I started running so I could eat pretty much anything I wanted and not gain weight. I started running agian last year, to lose the weight I've gained in the last 10 yrs!!

    Basil
  • Mceastes
    Mceastes Posts: 303 Member
    I race for similar reasons others have listed - it gives purpose to my training, pushes my limits and challenges me to constantly improve. But I love the competition - the rush of putting yourself out there and performing under pressure. When the race is over, you can't redo it - it's one shot and I love that! Plus sometimes, depending on the distance or how I place, there are medals - love medals.
  • miracole
    miracole Posts: 492 Member
    I could say it keeps me training, I could say I like to support causes, I could say I like to challenge myself.

    But those would not be the whole truth.

    The truth of the matter is that when I die and my great grandkids are going through my belongings I want them to find a drawer full or boxes full of medals and to think "holy crap great grandma was awesome!"

    That's right, I like the sense of accomplishment of being able to say I did it, even if it doesn't matter to anyone else but me!
  • cburky911
    cburky911 Posts: 89 Member
    For the most part it's for the "community". I was hooked when I did my first run and realized how supportive the entire running community is. Now when I go on vacations I am looking for 5K's that are going on while I'm there and I've also done a couple "destination runs"...signing up for races in order to give myself an excuse to go somewhere. That was my reason for running the 5K's. Then I did a couple of marathons just to prove to myself I could do it and keep me training.
  • RunAmock
    RunAmock Posts: 95 Member
    Cuz I really like bananas....especially when they're free. Oh, and hot water. And of course, the super cool t-shirts. Don't forget those.

    I race against myself, always. Love the exhileration of race mornings, the days before a race, and the feeling I get afterwards. :)

    Great topic, by the way.
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,247 Member
    fancy doing the park run on saturday?

    I'm away, but I could do next weekend. :-)

    Sorry to bump in on this, but I noticed you were based in the midlands...Is it the Swad parkrun (Conkers) that you do, or the Nottingham (Colwick) one? I'd really like to run a Parkrun, and those are my two options, I'm just really nervous about entering one really as I'm still pretty slow running wise, and I don't know anything about either of the courses terrain wise. Are they mainly on pavement, or is there some grass?

    As for me, I've signed up for a 10k in October, it'll be my first race but I can see myself signing on for more. Really, the race has given me a 'goal' to reach for, which is always nice to think about when training during the week!

    My turn to bump in now as you weren't replying to my post but asking somebody else lol.

    I do Parkruns, just wanted to reassure you that there is absolutely nothing to worry about at all. Just ensure you register online beforehand and print off your barcode otherwise you will not get a time, you only have to register the once after you have your barcode, you can pop along to any Parkrun whenever you wish - you don't have to let the organisers know beforehand either, you can just decide on the day if you want.

    They all start at 9am and are run in various parks (hence the name) usually on paths - I reckon they were designed that way so that they can be run all year round without the worry of waterlogged grass.

    Some people walk the whole thing, others run the complete distance, some walk and run.

    Only problem is, they become addictive haha.

    http://www.parkrun.org.uk/
  • MrsPixelbark
    MrsPixelbark Posts: 175 Member
    My turn to bump in now as you weren't replying to my post but asking somebody else lol.

    Thank you! I've registered (I registered a few weeks ago), it's just a case of plucking up the courage to go!

    I think I might just drag myself out there on Saturday and go from there. I just get really nervous that I'm going to hold it all back if I'm too slow. I'm sure that sounds really silly, and having had a look at times online I don't think I'll be last, but I get really nervous about these sorts of things!

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