whats the appeal of racing for you

I run a lot, (i think) minimum of 50 miles a week for the past 7 or 8 years. I keep track of my time and distance on a garmin and i know what competitive times are for racing 5 and 10's in my age group... but I have never raced. It doesnt appeal to me, but i firmly believe everyone looks at the world differently and value others opinions.
when i ask my friends why they race i usually get the same thing,
"its fun"
i believe its fun, but what else do you like about it. the competition i guess, but i compete with myself everytime i run, i kind of feel thats whats running is all about.
im very competitive in general (at work, games, team sports) but i guess running against a lot of average runners doent do it for me... personally.
am i missing something?

+1 on that. I run because I love it!! If I could run forever and not run a race fine by me.

I race because because you get a feeling of winning, yet its humbling at the same time. your most likely going to finish ahead of some people, but there are going to be younger people and older people that finish ahead of you. it reminds you that running is something you do for yourself. im happy for and impressed by the people that finish in front of me.
Im also happy for the people behind me, we are all out bettering our lives, usually pretty early in the morining-on the weekend-
there is good positive energy at a race, thats why i race.

I like to race because it takes what I do for fun and turns it into an event. I run for myself but when you are at a race, with so many other people who enjoy doing what you are doing it really makes it fun. Oh, and competition is good - makes me want to improve: run farther, faster and better.

Here's why I like to participate in races: I have yet to enter a race and not be TOTALLY INSPIRED!!! I am inspired by all the people and all the excitement and all the energy! I am inspired by the race volunteers who give of their time simply for a good cause. I am inspired by the money raised for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, kids clubs, and the list could go on and on. I am inspired by the wheelchair participants and the prosthetic participants....I admire their inner and outer strength...once I saw a ten year old boy walking around on his prosthetic leg with a huge smile on his face..race number on his chest. I am inspired by the 70+ age group and all of those from that group who end up passing me during the RACE! I am inspired by the first timers....and their courage to start a race in which their only hope is to cross the finish line standing. I am inspired by the people who come out of their homes, strangers who stand along the course, and people in the neighborhood who offer up some kind of treat to the runners simply and freely from their hearts...once it was a sweltering summer's night race and some people had cut on their sprinkler for the racers...man, it felt great! And once it was a group of wildly-colored-clothed people with virgin margarita mix and they were passing it out in their grass hula skirts.....all for the the plain fun of it! INSPIRING...yep, that's exactly why I run a race....not for medals, trophies, or recognition...but to see and be with others of my kind...who LOVE running

Running mom -nicely said. I completely agree.

But what inspired me to run my first 10k race was my Brother in law. He was diagnosed with ALS and it has progressed very fast. He went from a do it yourself kind of guy to not being able to lift a spoon in a month. Every time I ran I would think about him and how he was loosing the ability to do all the things we do everyday with ease and it kept me running. I decided that if I could run 3 miles that I should be able to run 6 mile. So I entered a 10k that was two months later and started training for it. I finished that race in 1:24:17, slow, but that's ok! Next will be a 1/2 marathon, sure I'll be slow in that race also, but I'll do it all the same. I may be slow but I'm running and will continue to run as long as I am able!

My sis-in-law talked me into my first half-marathon. I just wanted to finish no matter how ugly. I surprised myself and did okay. I did a similar race the next summer and improved my time quite a bit. I then did the same half-marathon a year later and did awesome for me. So for me, it was a great sense of accomplishment. I love the energy and commaradarie of the runners...whether we're fast or slow. I love the swag...shirts, medals, etc. I think because I am a late bloomer, this is a big deal to me.
I am not sure I will run anymore races. I want to but I get so nervous now. I guess because I want to continue to get better and I remember how much it hurts at mile 11-12 for me.
It is super fun and I especially love all the great people in the crowd who have no idea who you are and encourage you all along the way.

What I love about races:

1) The feeling my lungs are going to explode when I throw down the hammer to get the the finish. Makes me feel "alive".

2) The feeling of total & complete exhaustion at the finish line. I know right then that I've done something difficult that day, and completed it, regardless of my final time.

3) I can test my previous limits, and when I PR, the satisfaction that I'm progressing, not regressing. Makes me feel like I'm getting younger, even if I'm really not.

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Sotally Tober is Runnin' to the Finish Line

ST: I like to call that RTYP racing (Run Til You Puke) - giving it your all. If I'm not at puke threshold by the time I cross the finish line in a 5K then I know I didn't give it my all.

Entering in races is what motivates me. When I don't have a race on the horizon, then I tend to lose my motivation and find it easier to skip a run here or a run there. But when I know I'm preparing and training for a race, I know I have a routine and schedule I need to keep up with. I participate in almost all the races my local running club sponsors and try to travel to at least a couple races a year.
Now, I'm not a competitive or uber fast runner. Sometimes I place in my AG and other times not. It doesn't really matter to me. I just enjoy seeing my fellow club members and running races with them.
I compete with myself primarily and try to better my previous times or better my course PR's. It's a good gauge of my fitness and improvement.