Last month, I finished my second half marathon.
And the day after, I couldn’t walk. The most basic movements, like bending and going downstairs, were pretty much excruciating. And while I was SORE and popping Advil, it made think about why I do this to myself. In other words, WHY I RACE in the first place.
The Backstory
When I graduated college, I had this bucket list item that I wanted to RACE in a 5K! I wanted to say that I ran 3.1 consecutive miles without stopping. Want to know when I crossed that item off my list? After I had our second daughter. My first 5K was completed in May of 2014 pushing a Double BOB stroller with a 2-year-old and 6-month-old. Three weeks later I completed another 5K with my double stroller. And let’s just say I was hooked…
Why I Race?
Whether it be running, cycling, triathlons, Spartans, or something else, I have competed in them all. The question is WHY? Even at the most basic level, racing has a cost. For those of us who are driven to compete, especially at longer distances, the cost is high. There’s time to train; money for race fees, memberships, equipment, and travel; energy that could be spent at work and with your family. But the truth is I LOVE it. I love the adrenaline, the energy, and the camaraderie that racing brings. Racing also helps keep me motivated, in that I am training for a goal. I have also raced to raise awareness for causes that are near and dear to my heart like Breast Cancer awareness and Autism.
The Training
A very wise fitness mentor of mine once told me that “racing is a family sport.” What she meant is that it takes commitment and SUPPORT from all family members for a person (especially a mom) to properly train. My husband is my rock and loudest and proudest cheerleader. I often lean on him to take the lead parenting role on Saturday mornings when I am training. A couple of times my parents or my in-laws have come to my house at 5 a.m. to watch the girls so I can fit in a long training session. I can honestly say that training helps me be a more patient mom and wife. My workouts are my self-care and they help me feel balanced, healthy, and strong.
The Social Aspect
What is better than some quality time with your friends? I have been fortunate enough to find an amazing group of MOMS that I train with and RACE with. We have raced Spartans, mud runs, road races, triathlons, and trail races together. Our training time helps us stay physically fit, challenges our endurance, and allows us to time to connect. Our long bikes and runs often center around conversations about breastfeeding, diastasis recti, packing lunches, a new book, and more.
When we race together it is so comforting to have a familiar face on the course. During the half marathon my training partner ran with me the entire time and coached me through every mile. She even ran ahead and got me water at all the stations so I didn’t have to slow down. Talk about friendship!
For me racing is a fun, motivating, and confidence-boosting experience. No matter how many races I’ve run, it’s still a huge rush to finish a race and celebrate my achievement. And that feeling of excitement is addicting!
