10 Reasons to Race
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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?
- 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. - Nothing
feels quite as satisfying as pushing my body as hard as I possibly can. It’s
just not the same in training. - I’m
not competitive in any other aspect of my life – racing feeds and satisfies
that part of me. - I
love the nervous energy I feel at the start line – and having no idea how the
race will unfold. - 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. - I
love trying to beat the boys. - I
love traveling to race – experiencing other cities, states and countries from
the perspective of an athlete. - I
thrive off the energy of the spectators – how generous they are with their
praise and encouragement, and how they electrify every finish line. - 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. - Breakfast
has never tasted as good as after crossing that line!
– Holly Bennett