RUNNING...
Ready, Set, FLY!
I tend to run about 15 races a year, give or take a few. I will do anything from a 5K, to a marathon, to a 200 mile relay with 16 team members. I consider myself incredibly lucky that at age 38 I can still pull this off. There are many reasons that I put these races on my calendar every year. They give me something work for. They take me to new places; both literally and mentally. They give me something to look forward to. They give me something to be nervous and excited about at the same time. They bring me together with my fellow runners. I love all of that. But really, if I'm being honest here, each time I race I am secretly hoping for that PR. The 'personal record'. That coveted time that is better than my last. That time that makes a runner jump for joy and feel insanely good for a day or week or year. The time that pushes that same runner to shoot for an even faster time in the next race because, well, you just never know. When I race I feel everything from stress to fear to joy to pain. I reach in, dig deep, cross my fingers, and go for it. I lay it all out there and try to set myself free. There is no other feeling like it. And it is that very feeling that keeps me going back to the starting line over and over and over again. Do I want the PR? You bet. But it is way more than that. I want to fly. And racing gets me pretty damn close.
SHOW YOUR WINGS Giveaway:
In honor of the race, your race, the race you've done, or the race you plan to do, the lovely birds of
Oiselle have generously donated a
"Wings out" PR Necklace for one lucky RWM reader. The necklace is designed by Oiselle team elite runner,
Melissa Gacek. To win this beauty, comment below. Tell us why you race. What gets you to the starting line? Or, what brings you back to the line again? Never raced or plan to race? Totally fine. Tell us what you do that inspires you to show your wings and fly. Because we all have that one thing that sets us free.
* Note: contest is for US and Canada residents only. The winner will be selected on Monday, July 22nd using random.org. Good luck!
...AND MUSIC
Listen to this:
California Soul - Marlena Shaw (Diplo Remix) 
SHOW YOUR WINGS Giveaway:
I race because I love the feeling of accomplishment I get when entering a finishing chute. In particular, I race marathons because I find comfort in the structure, and strength in the progression. It's a very visceral and physical way to measure growth.
ReplyDeleteI race for several reasons. For one, I am competitive and enjoy any type of competition. I want to use my talent for running and see what I can do out there. Racing gives me a purpose to training and a goal to go after. Sometimes that goal is a PR, while other days a PR may not be a realistic goal, but a certain place or process goal may be there. I love the rush I get coming down that finishing stretch chasing people down. Running has also been a faith journey for me. From racing I have found that I have the most success when I stop trying to do it all on my own, worrying about what I can't control, and instead give all my worries to God and place full trust in Him. That is one of the most satisfying feelings I have gotten from racing. I love racing and strive to give it my all each race to bring glory to God. When I am able to do that and inspire others to do the same, that is my favorite part of racing.
ReplyDeleteI also race for my PRs, and to get myself out of the rut of my weekly running routine. My favorite races though are the races I don't PR, but I do get to run with my 8 year old daughter. I love to watch her fly!
ReplyDeleteI race for the challenge, joy, sense of accomplishment, and fun. A lot of that does come from PRs - even bad races teach me something and get me closer to my goal. I'm training for a half marathon PR this September!
ReplyDeleteOnce I did my first two mile race I was hooked! Racing is just so much fun. This past year my husband and I began to really run and train for races. Last year we ran our first half marathon. It was so awesome! I just laughed through most of the race! I love the energy of the race and how amazing you feel for accomplishing your goal. We just started training for our first full marathon a few weeks ago. We are so super pumped to see what this new distance is like.
ReplyDeleteLeah F.
leahbfrazier@yahoo.com
I race because it keeps me motivated to train. I love nothing more than starting out a new training plan, looking at it each Monday morning to see what the week will bring with running. Knowing that there is a race at the end is the best way to keep me accountable.
ReplyDeleteI race to chase the next PR for sure - it's a huge motivator for me. But I also race because I know that someday my legs (or hips or knees or whatever) probably won't let me run anymore. I hope that day is in the waaaaaay distant future, but even on days when things just aren't clicking and running feels hard, I keep going because I know that running is a gift I might not be able to enjoy forever.
ReplyDeleteI race because it motivates me to train harder. Racing helps me discover I can do things I once thought impossible. I race for the challenge.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI love to race for many reasons. I love when all my hard work in training pays off with a PR. I love the energy and excitement at the start of a race and the feeling of belonging as I toe the line with other runners. Also the camaraderie and excitement that follow a race are tough to beat!
I race because I love seeing how far I can push myself. I've ran everything from 5ks to 50ks and am currently training for a 50 mile race. Pushing myself to go further (and faster) keeps me coming back for more.
ReplyDeleteI do most of my training alone, so I love the feeling of being surrounded by a like-minded community at races. It brings out my inner competitor to run faster than I possibly could on my own, and the post-race celebrations are always fun. A PR or age-group award is icing on the cake.
ReplyDeleteI love racing to test my own limits and to see how far I've come and how far I can go. I'm pregnant with my first child right now so I'm taking a break from racing. However, I do already have some in mind for fall when I'll be back out there running again! :)
ReplyDeleteI love racing because it provides a chance to push through pain and self-doubt and to see what I am capable of.
ReplyDeleteI love being around other runners! Racing gets me out there with a WHOLE lot of "my people" all at once, and I love that. Additionally, I'm in my late 30's too, and I love training for and snagging PR's.
ReplyDeleteLove the necklace! Love Oiselle! Love to run! Love to race! Love the running community! I race because I love the competition with the other runner and with myself!
ReplyDeleteRacing fulfills my competitive nature and gives me a reason to push myself, my body, to its peak. I love training for races... the weeks and months leading up to an event give me an amazing sense of purpose, over and above my mother and wife roles.
ReplyDeleteI run because I love the feeling of pushing myself as hard as I can and sweating buckets! I also love the great sense of accomplishment when I get that coveted PR. I'm addicted! :)
ReplyDeleteThe race is the culmination of all of my hard work! It's the focal point to all the training, preparation, and dedication I've been invested in myself. Kind of like a concert pianist who practices for 8 hours a day for the climax - a performance in the grandest of music halls - the race shows me how far I've come, brings me into the acutest moments of running, and tests me. Of course, not to say I don't enjoy the process either. I live for the tempo runs. :)
ReplyDeleteI race to chase PRs, to have a goal to work towards (and to structure my training), and to challenge myself to dig deep! I love the chance to connect with the running community too.
ReplyDeleteI race to celebrate all the hard work I put in during training. And also because there's something amazing about being surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of people all pushing towards the same goal!
ReplyDeleteI race to have a goal to work towards while I'm training.
ReplyDeleteI race to feel alive!! The adrenaline rush and the feeling of pushing myself to the limit and beyond! I also race because I love meeting new runners - it's a great bonding experience knowing we worked hard to get ourselves to this point and that we love torturing ourselves the same way!! Lol :)
ReplyDelete