Why You Should Sign Up for a Race
Whether you are a new runner starting the Couch to 5k program or a more experienced runner with plenty of miles on record, I believe you should always have a race for which you are training. Whether it is in one month or six months or one year isn’t important. What is important is that there is a tangible goal that can be the focus of your training and planning and the motivation to get out and run.
Here are three reasons you should always have a “next” race in mind.
- It gives a set point to use in designing a training schedule. Your training plan should always be taking into account when to taper, when to peak, when to take an easy week, etc. It is so much easier to designate these time frames if you base it off an upcoming race.
- It is useful for motivation on days you are having trouble forcing yourself to go on a run. “Just getting some exercise” rarely never works as a reason for me to get out the door and moving. “Training for a race” does however.
- Races are fun and exciting! More than anything else, I think this is the reason runners should race as much as possible. Running can be a very solitary activity at times and racing is a great way to experience the camaraderie of the sport. The crowds, the volunteers and the other runners all make each race an amazing event to participate in, even aside from the feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing the race.
Why do you race?
photo via browneyes
