Why I Walk in Races

When I tell people (usually non-walkers) that I'm training for a race, I usually get a puzzled look, or sometimes a double-take. "What?" they'll ask. "Why are you doing that? Is it a walk-a-thon? You don't think you're going to win, do you?"

It's a little hard to explain in a short 2 minute conversation. But here are the reasons I do races:

1. The challenge. I did my first race a few years ago to prove to myself that I could walk 13.1 miles all by myself. I'd never done anything that physically demanding before, and even a few years before that, I could only walk a couple of miles at a time. I walk long distances to show myself that I’ve come a long way and that my body is capable of doing amazing things if I push myself.

2. The travel. Participating in races allows me to go to fun places and see cities in a whole new way. I’ve walked through Cinderella’s Castle at Disney World and along the Ohio River in Cincinnati. I’ve even explored parts of the city where I work up close, in a way I’ve never seen before. Choosing a destination for a race is only half the fun; the rest comes with being able to see a place literally at eye level. To experience a city on foot is to have a better understanding of what it’s about.

3. The competition. When I walk in a race, I don’t compete with the other racers. Instead, I compete with myself, trying to go faster than my previous best time. Each race is an opportunity to test myself and improve my fitness and my speed.

4. The discipline. The experience of training for a distance race is an exercise in motivation and determination. Every time I want to roll over and go back to bed instead of going for a training walk, I have to ask myself how much I want it. How badly do I want to finish the race - and finish it well? Sometimes I have to make choices about how I spend my time, and do things like choosing to go home and go to bed early instead of staying out late. Those are the gut-check moments, the times when I choose health and fitness instead of short-term fun. The discipline required by the training schedule is good for me, because it helps to provide a structure for how I spend my time and for my exercise regimen.

So there you have it: the reasons why I walk in races. What are yours?