I read something recently out in the running and blogging community written by a guy who is a very accomplished local runner and someone who trains extremely hard. I’ve never met him in person but I have a lot of respect for his work ethic, running talent, and his dedication to the local running community. But in his comments, he implied that he is upset by runners who aren’t on a constant quest for improvement — runners who don’t approach every race with the intention of setting a new personal record at the distance.
Runners like me.
It got me thinking about why I run, and what my goals are. (For the record, I believe this person reads this blog occasionally, and so I hope he’ll understand that I’m not trying to use this entry as a retort. I think he actually brought up a very interesting issue.)
If I went into every race with the intention of PRing, my running “career” probably would have lasted about 3 months. I would’ve run some races, but the first time I didn’t PR I would have gotten mad at myself and quit. It’s one of my more annoying and frustraing traits. But my running life is now entering its 4th year precisely because I don’t try to PR each and every time.
Look — let’s be honest. I’m not built to be a runner, and I don’t have natural running talent. I’m never going to be a truly competitive runner, so why kill myself just to get to the point where I can do 7 minute miles? I’d rather stick to a level of running that I can sustain that is happy and enjoyable rather than push myself to the point where I’m not enjoying it just to shave a few minutes off my 5K time.
I think I may be among the minority, at least in the group of Houston runners I’ve gotten to know over the past year, in thinking that way. And I know there are many runners out there who disagree with my opinion and don’t understand why I wouldn’t want to keep pushing to be the best I can possibly be, but hey — that’s me, that’s my personality. I push myself to the point where I am satisfied, and for me, that is enough.
It’s odd, actually, because I can be a very competitive person. But running has become something I do for me, not for anyone else, and I just don’t have that desire to go-go-go train-train-train. I don’t mean to come off as pessimistic or unmotivated — I do train, I do try to improve, and I do want to improve.
But I have a limit; there is a line somewhere that I won’t cross. It’s not a time or pace line as much as it is an “enjoyment” line. There is a point where running ceases to be fun for me. I came close to that point at the end of my marathon training (that 22-miler alone did me in!), and my running suffered this year because of it. So I took a step back and reevaluated (and continue to reevaluate) and that’s why I’m doing the Half this year and not the full marathon. I wasn’t ready to start training that much, again. Not yet.
I’m ok with that, and in the end, I think most of my runner friends are as well. The one thing that really drew me to the running community, and the one thing that has kept me involved, is that overall I find runners to be some of the most accepting people I’ve ever met. Most don’t care how fast or how far you run, as long as you just run! Period. It’s an individual sport and you can get as little or as much as you want out of it — that’s the beauty of running.
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Christmas arrives faster and faster each year. Wasn’t it just July, like, yesterday? I’m flying home to Charlotte tonight and am looking forward to some rest and relaxation. I’ll be in Atlanta for New Years, and back at work on January 3. Christmas will be different this year because Katie will celebrating in Seattle with Joel and his family. But they don’t leave until Saturday so I’ll get a couple days to chill with the Chalmers.
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Be nice to your UPS man. He’s crazy busy and he deserves it. 🙂
You are right on the money, girl: do what is best for you. I actually wrote about the same thing today in my blog:)
My thoughts….
I like running and training. I want to get better. But towards the end of marathon training I was tired of obsessing about food, water, what time I went to bed, explaining to friends why I couldn’t go out on weekends. I missed margaritas and other “adult” beverages! I got sick of worrying that I would slip, stub my toe, do anything that might jepordize the “big day.”
I want to get faster and stronger, but I want to have a life outside running, training and racing. Too much and I start missing out of other life things and that makes me resent running. Gotta find balance and for me that means I won’t be training/racing to PR every single time.
I’m not sure that you are aware but every race you do PR. Maybe not in time but in amounts of race. How many races did yo do last year compared to this year? PR! Most PRs in time come unexpectedly. You train hard, pound the pavement but in the end you need things to fall into place. Weather, course, attitude even the competitors in the field help. Most big races have bounties placed on World Records. Rarely are they achieved. So keep counting the amount of races and each time you cross the finish line you add yet another PR!
I’m with you. I run because it’s what I enjoy doing for fitness. It’s good for my cardiovascular health and has very little to do competitively other than to make incremental gains like I would in any other individual sport.
I agree, there’s a point where it’s more work than fun. I don’t need more stuff to stress out about.
Have a good trip.
Keith.
Run like you want to. Keep running and keep blogging about it.
When I could run, I always ran hard and during several months of training I hoped to get better times, but I gradually got slower and slower with age. Oh well. But you know you just can’t be serious about everything. I was a serious racketball player, serious about softball and of course singing. But running and golf, and life in general. Hey you better take it easy and smile alot. It goes by fast. I know it’s off the subject, but you don’t get to see me enough Miss Sarah.
Well Dr. G, I believe that son of yours (and that wacky friend of his) are planning for the 3 of us to make it down to P’tree City sometime around New Years. 🙂
Amen! I started to run just to maintain weight and all the “unexpected extras” that came along have been very fun, not to mention rewarding! If I ever stop having fun, then I’ll just revert back to my basic goal of running!