Why You Should Race (Yes, You!)

By:
Catherine Censor

Reviewed By:

I know what you're thinking: "I'm not an athlete. I was picked last for volleyball. I couldn't even complete the Presidential Fitness Test in fourth grade!" Even if you panic at the mere suggestion of running (or biking or swimming) to a finish line, competing in a race really is a realistic and rewarding goal.

Whether setting your sights on something ambitious, like running a marathon, or something more modest, like completing a 5K run at a brisk walking pace, competing in a race can do wonders for your physical and mental fitness. The experience focuses your training efforts, strengthens your commitment to stick to a program, and perhaps most importantly, gives you confidence. Crossing your first finish line may inspire you to ask, "If I can do this, what else can I do that once seemed out of reach?"

If you'd like to give racing a try but don't know where to start, help is just a click away. Whether you want to swim, bike, run or do a combination of the three, you can find national organizations for each sport. At the national organizations' Web pages, you'll find listings and contact information for local clubs. These groups of regional enthusiasts can tell you when and where to find races, advise you on training, guide you to local resources, and most importantly, connect you with like-minded people of comparable ability for regularly scheduled runs, rides or swims.

When you're used to training by yourself, working out with others can be a revelation. Not only can you pick up some pointers from more experienced athletes, but you'll also benefit from having some company. Conversation makes the miles fly by more quickly, of course. But it's the encouragement of people who share your goals and believe in your abilities that can really give you wings. So, too, does the sense that you're doing something meaningful not only for yourself, but for others too.

If you'd like to do good for others as well as yourself, consider the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. This nonprofit organization provides training for running or walking a whole or half marathon or for participating in a triathlon or century (100-mile) bike ride. You raise funds for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma and, in return, receive personalized fitness training by certified coaches, lodging and airfare to more than 60 accredited events in the U.S. and abroad. Your personal victory might be cause for celebration for millions worldwide.

Resources:

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training:
www.teamintraining.org

United States Masters Swimming
www.usms.org

Road Runners Club of America
www.rrca.org

USA Cycling
www.usacycling.org

USA Triathlon
www.usatriathlon.org

Talk with other women in training on our Cycling and Triathlons message boards.