experience and they will most likely gush about
how much they loved the event, the participants,
the course, and how much they can’t wait for their
next event. What a non-runner may not realize is
that racing is not always sunshine and roses, and
it actually takes a lot of hard-headed, stubborn
determination to train, show up, and complete a
race.
Racing is tough, and for a good portion of the
race itself many of us feel pretty terrible. There are
moments while racing that we feel like we may
puke, poop, and pass out, all at the same time!
(Okay, maybe TMI, but if you are a runner this
exact situation has happened to you. Just admit it).
We get side cramps and our legs s tart to ache, but
we push through. We are constantly striving for a
better time than the last race, which means we are
always pushing our physical limits in hopes of a final
time that makes us proud. We are surging onward
craving that happy release of accomplishment and
empowerment when we cross the finish line, and
sometimes we celebrate this while also dry heaving
as we collect our medal and water.
But runners are stubborn. We need to be. We
push our bodies to limits that we did not think
possible, and we do it because the feeling of
accomplishing a feat that intimidates us makes
us feel like we could conquer the world. We run
through pain, we run when our mind tells us we
cannot go any further, we do not quit.
My most recent race was no exception. I
participated in the Rap River Run in New Port
Richey. Last year I had run the 5K, and was pleased
25