10 Reasons to Race

An
injury plagued summer season has prevented me from racing (whether running
events or triathlons) with the frequency I normally enjoy. But the break has
also given me a gift: a chance to rest and reflect, and to return to racing
with a fresh perspective as to why I’m compelled to compete in the first place.
As I gear up for my first race in quite some time (the PATH 10k in Kona, Hawaii)
I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 reasons why I race. What are yours?

1. Because
   I can. As long as my body is healthy and able, I see it as somewhat of an
   obligation to live up to what I am capable of.
2. Nothing
   feels quite as satisfying as pushing my body as hard as I possibly can. It’s
   just not the same in training.
3. I’m
   not competitive in any other aspect of my life – racing feeds and satisfies
   that part of me.
4. I
   love the nervous energy I feel at the start line – and having no idea how the
   race will unfold.
5. I’ve
   gained incredible confidence through racing – especially in longer events such
   as marathons and Ironman triathlons – to tackle any of life’s seemingly
   impossible challenges.
6. I
   love trying to beat the boys.
7. I
   love traveling to race – experiencing other cities, states and countries from
   the perspective of an athlete.
8. I
   thrive off the energy of the spectators – how generous they are with their
   praise and encouragement, and how they electrify every finish line.
9. In
   that life is often overly hectic, and my to-do list seems never ending, I
   relish in the tangible accomplishment of an event with both a start and a finish
   line.
10. Breakfast
    has never tasted as good as after crossing that line!

– Holly Bennett