Running: whats wrong with competing against others?

MrBiggiesworth
MrBiggiesworth Posts: 846 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
In the world of adult running (5ks, marathons, triathlons, etc.) I often hear people say how you are only racing yourself and not to worry about what times other people are running. For me personally the only appeal of these types of races is to 'race' against the other people around me and see if I can catch that person just ahead of me and whatnot. Obviously I'm not going to take it too seriously if I finish 500th out of 800 or whatever, but I really enjoy racing the people who are around my same running level. I can't stand just running all by myself and only racing my personal time.

Replies

  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    I agree. That's the appeal of the race. And, when you're over 50 it feels really good to beat the majority of people under 40.
  • shannashannabobana
    shannashannabobana Posts: 625 Member
    I think people just say that because most people who are running are not going to win a race. So it makes more sense to improve your time.

    Not that there is anything wrong with competing with someone else!
  • wolfgate
    wolfgate Posts: 321 Member
    Nothing wrong with it at all. For most people in a race, the standard they are going for is a PR. That is where the "racing against yourself" comes from. The faster runners (in each age group) usually are more concerned with placing and will get into tactical races to try and win their AG. I wind up doing both. Most of my season is part of our local race series (mostly 5k - 10k). There finish placement, against a known group of guys my age, is everything and I'm most concerned with just beating them. That often means slower times than I might have run that day if time was the only factor. A handful of races each year I pick to just go after a time - usually a PR.

    Both are fun from my perspective. Nothing wrong with either one.
  • 230137isntmyweight
    230137isntmyweight Posts: 256 Member
    I do it and I'm a slow runner/walker. My goal is to beat the other walkers. I say if it keeps you motivated then go ahead and do it. So long as you aren't being a butt about it. No show boating and making fun of others who have given their 100%. Not that I'm saying you are, but I have seen some people do it.
  • Rastamann
    Rastamann Posts: 139 Member
    Nothing! If you do enough, you'll find that group that's always running up on your shoulders at the last mile or just in front of you. I try to catch them every time. That's how you get PR's. Win/Win :)
  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    Nothing. Obviously you have those runs where its a miracle that you just finish, but I always run faster when I am trying to catch someone or there is a person on my heels. I like being made better by those around me.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I don't think there is anything wrong with it. I do know some people who hate racing because they hate to lose. They are so competitive it takes the fun out of it. I like a little friendly competition. When I started racing, i couldnt care less if someone was coming behind me and passing, now I have a little more drive. There are always a few people I know who are around my pace of a but faster that I am trying to catch but at the end of the day, my first priority is to beat my previous time.
  • RAFValentina
    RAFValentina Posts: 1,231 Member
    I do both and nothing wrong with it at all! Whatever motivates you! Plus some other people in your shoes so they need YOU to race against! ;)
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Nothing wrong with being competitive, one of the things I love about the body markings at a triathlon is that when I pass someone they know they've been passed by a 57 year old!

    I suspect, however, the true spirit behind competing against yourself is the constant striving for improvement. You can't control how others train or eat etc but you are in control of yourself.

    As a middle of the pack runner I don't take things too seriously.
  • bert16
    bert16 Posts: 726 Member
    I don't think the point of saying "you are only racing yourself and not to worry about what times other people are running" is that you shouldn't actually be competitive in a race setting. I think the point is that (particularly for endurance events) you need to run your own race based on your training and abilities; which may mean that you don't go out with the fastest people off the start line, but rather hold back, pace smartly, and smile as you pass them later in the race, knowing that you executed your pacing plan. That's what it has always meant to me, anyway; whether when I was a serious competitive swimmer when I was younger or am hacking around in running, as I do today.
  • sm1zzle
    sm1zzle Posts: 920 Member
    Competition makes me work harder.
  • tonynguyen75
    tonynguyen75 Posts: 418 Member
    I'm confused. Don't they give out medals for first second and third place in the Olympics? Obviously there's some competitive nature there.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    You better believe that if you are within my view during a race, we are damn sure racing.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    You better believe that if you are within my view during a race, we are damn sure racing.

    I've seen your paces. We aren't racing.
  • guessrs
    guessrs Posts: 358 Member
    Go for it, if it motivates you. I personally am thrilled for other runners and prefer beating my PRs .
  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    The "you're only competing against yourself" mindset if good for not getting discouraged because someone else can do a sub-20 minute 5K and you can only go sub 40minute. The whole compete against yourself thing is about progress and seeing how far you've come not how far you have to go. Doesn't mean that you shouldn't ever compete with anyone but competition is only fun, healthy and useful if you are competing against people on or close to your own level.
  • aliceclutz90
    aliceclutz90 Posts: 151 Member
    I think people say that because for a lot of people, if they're trying to keep up with other people who may be in much better condition with them, they are going to end up burning out and not being able to finish the race! Nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition though :)
  • langurmonkey
    langurmonkey Posts: 92
    Personally I like using runners in front of me to "pull" me along so that I go faster, and hopefully pass them. I run much faster in races because of the competitive atmosphere. It's always nice to beat your friends :-)
  • Shawshankcan
    Shawshankcan Posts: 900 Member
    In the world of adult running (5ks, marathons, triathlons, etc.) I often hear people say how you are only racing yourself and not to worry about what times other people are running. For me personally the only appeal of these types of races is to 'race' against the other people around me and see if I can catch that person just ahead of me and whatnot. Obviously I'm not going to take it too seriously if I finish 500th out of 800 or whatever, but I really enjoy racing the people who are around my same running level. I can't stand just running all by myself and only racing my personal time.

    There is always one person I have to beat. No reason, I don't know them and chances are will never see them again, but somehow i have selected them to race against and they don't even know it.
  • RunnerElizabeth
    RunnerElizabeth Posts: 1,091 Member
    "You're only competeing with yourself, " is what we tell the new people to encourage them to sign up for races and see how awesome it is.

    If this were completely true, there would be no need to sign up for races we could all just work on beating our own times on our usual routes. We enter races because of the other people, to be a part of the competitive spirit even if we have no hope of winning a race or placing in our age category (me, I'm not fast).

    When I'm in a shorter race, I usually push my 3 y.o. in the jogger. I start at the very back and have to make my way up. Sometimes it feels like I'm in a one on one race with everyone I pass. I can tell when people start pushing themselves so as not to be passed by the lady with the baby carriage. As long as they are doing it in good fun and not blocking me from passing I welcome the competition.

    I actually like starting a the back and passing people. I'd rather pass then be passed. And when I'm running races with the jogger, I know I'm not going to beat myself, so I might as well beat other people instead.
  • davemunger
    davemunger Posts: 1,139 Member
    One of the most enjoyable things about my running group is there are a couple runners who are very close to my ability. Although we don't always run in the same races, we definitely compare our times. My nearest competitor and I have a running bet: A beer each time one of us beats the other guy's PR at a given distance. Currently, I've got him in the 5K and half marathon, he's got me in the 10K and full marathon. It's an awesome feeling to "beat" him, even if he's not running the same race as me.

    That said, sometimes "winning" an age group or a given race can be fairly hollow. If the race I entered just doesn't happen to have much competition, to me it's much more satisfying to get a PR than to win the race. I know there are 100+ guys in my region who can easily beat me; there are probably 20 or so in my age group who can give me a real run for my money. If none of them happen to show up at the race I'm at, what have I really won?
  • Socalgal13
    Socalgal13 Posts: 34
    Nothing wrong with being competitive, one of the things I love about the body markings at a triathlon is that when I pass someone they know they've been passed by a 57 year old!

    I suspect, however, the true spirit behind competing against yourself is the constant striving for improvement. You can't control how others train or eat etc but you are in control of yourself.

    As a middle of the pack runner I don't take things too seriously.

    That is one of the most satisfying things with body marking at tri's when you can pass someone younger then you. Although I am pretty slow, the jets will come on when I see someone younger then me ahead, I just can not let the opportunity go by not to pass them...

    But then in Triathlon, the first place medal and the last place medal look the same!
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    No problem competing in most races, but try that in a mud run where you need help to get over an obstacle (and not help someone else) and you're an a-hole.
  • KathleenMurry
    KathleenMurry Posts: 448 Member
    I think it's OK to race people in races, but you need to be wise about who you choose to race. If you're like me, a 25 minute 5 km'er, you aren't going to start at the front and race the guys and gals doing 5 km in 15 minutes or less....you just won't keep pace with them for very long and you'll burn out fast and end up performing worse than you hoped.

    I always pick someone after about 5 minutes into the race when we've all spread out and I get a feel for how good the people around me are. I pick someone who is just a bit faster than me and I race them to the end. Always helps me improve my time.

    I just know better than to race a very experienced runner, especially in the first few minutes.
  • jerryvo
    jerryvo Posts: 66 Member
    It is a handicapping system for people who are not in the running elite. If you are able to finish in the top 1-5/10 places then yes you are racing against the other people in the race to win. Most of us are not in that category so when I finish in 357th place gauging my progress against others it irrelevant so you need something to reach for and that is beating your best time. That is not to say racing against the pack around you is not good motivation to push yourself to get in front of the 356th place person but at the end of the day who cares when you are that low in the rankings so you race against yourself to show progress.
  • gargoylekitty
    gargoylekitty Posts: 8
    I try to race to beat my own times, but I know that competing against others makes me go faster and placing is always fun.

    Also, not going to lie when I say I love seeing how many people I can beat and passing people, who sped on ahead at the start, in the second half is the best.
  • lesteidel
    lesteidel Posts: 229 Member
    I think if you don't like the idea of competition, you shouldn't participate in a competition.

    If you like the idea of competition, well, that's the while point of a competition right?

    And a race is a competition.
  • Holly_Lynn81
    Holly_Lynn81 Posts: 13 Member
    I mainly try to beat my own PR, but if there is someone near me I definitely feel the need to race them and push harder especially if they appear to be in my age/gender division :)
    Nothing wrong with competing as long as you are competing within your abilities!
  • rllewell
    rllewell Posts: 234
    I think it's OK to race people in races, but you need to be wise about who you choose to race. If you're like me, a 25 minute 5 km'er, you aren't going to start at the front and race the guys and gals doing 5 km in 15 minutes or less....you just won't keep pace with them for very long and you'll burn out fast and end up performing worse than you hoped.

    I always pick someone after about 5 minutes into the race when we've all spread out and I get a feel for how good the people around me are. I pick someone who is just a bit faster than me and I race them to the end. Always helps me improve my time.

    I just know better than to race a very experienced runner, especially in the first few minutes.

    This is pretty much what I do and I'm a 22-23 minute 5K'er. The person I'm trying to keep in sight is my 17 year old baby boy who normally beats me by 30 seconds to a minute! : ( A 9 year old boy I know beat me by 2 minutes last race. I do love seeing if I won or came in the top 3 in my age group, that is where my real competition is.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    In the world of adult running (5ks, marathons, triathlons, etc.) I often hear people say how you are only racing yourself and not to worry about what times other people are running. For me personally the only appeal of these types of races is to 'race' against the other people around me and see if I can catch that person just ahead of me and whatnot. Obviously I'm not going to take it too seriously if I finish 500th out of 800 or whatever, but I really enjoy racing the people who are around my same running level. I can't stand just running all by myself and only racing my personal time.

    The whole point of a race is to beat someone else.

    Crush em and drop em.

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