Four reasons to get competitive

Long Valley Patch recently featured articles about two events that occurred on May 22 - the at West Morris Central and the .  These events highlight one of two fitness trends:

• Participation in organized competitions is rapidly expanding.  According to Running USA, participation in organized races has grown rapidly since 2001.
• More organized competitions are being formed.  Long Valley residents are discovering and participating in these newly organized competitions, including the Tough Mudder events and the NJ Trail Series (for which Long Valley hosts several events).

In the past, most organized competitions were aimed at runners.  That’s no longer true.  Whether you walk or run, whether you’re intense or casual, whether you prefer solo or team events, it’s easier than ever to find an event that matches your fitness profile.

Here are four reasons why you should enter an organized competition in 2011.

1.  You have a concrete goal and motivation to achieve it

Having a specific event on the calendar makes it easier to set fitness goals and more difficult to ignore them.

Goal setting is easier because the date and nature of the event is pre-established; you only need to set a performance goal.  Do you want to set a “stretch” goal or one that is more easily achievable?

Once you commit, it’s more difficult to put your training off.  Committing to an event probably means that you pay money to register, increasing the cost of procrastination.  Also, the fixed date increases the urgency of training.  With a finite number of days until the event, each missed day cannot be recovered.

2.  You help a good cause

There are multiple ways to participate in an organized event for charity.

You can join a team that raises funds for a specific cause, with each team member committing to raise a minimum amount.  The Walk Now for Autism Speaks race used that approach.  Other options for joining a team include the Team In Training (for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) and the Wellness Community of Central New Jersey (for cancer).  Based on personal experience, being part of a fund raising team requires effort but is more rewarding than simply participating in an event (especially if you have been personally affected by the cause).

Another strategy for helping a good cause is to participate in an event that donates proceeds to a specific charity.  The recent 5K Memorial Race donated proceeds to scholarship funds at West Morris Central.  An upcoming race, the Chatham Jaycees Fishawack Run (scheduled for June 11), benefits non-profit community organizations as designated by the Jaycees.  Knowing that proceeds will benefit a good cause makes it easier to plunk down the money to sign up for an event.

3.  You get the fun and motivation of group efforts

The camaraderie associated with participating in an organized event can add fun to your fitness building efforts.  Joining a team can be especially helpful in preparing for a race, and team-based training is common for first-time marathon runners.  Even if you don’t join a team, running or walking with a large group is a great change of pace.  If you’re competitive, finishing ahead of your fellow participants could motivate you to work harder.

4.  You get swag!

Most competitive events offer gifts, including shirts, finishers medals, and free food / drink during or after the event.  Some events host a post-event party for participants.  My closet is filled with shirts from races I’ve run, and I’m surprised by how often one of those shirts starts a conversation with a stranger.  My daughters also love the finisher’s medals and other race goodies.

Now that summer is in full swing, it’s time to get working on your fitness.  Sign up for an event that’s scheduled just before your beach vacation - it will give you that added motivation to get fit in time for the beach.

Given the number of events in the local area, you should be able to find something that suits your ability and needs, from 1 mile or 5K walks to marathons and longer.  If you’re open to traveling, there are even more options for you.

Long Valley Patch is a good place to start looking for local events.  Other places to look for events are below:

• Online race finder - can search by state, county (helpful for those of us in Long Valley)
• Cool Running
• Runners World Race Finder
• New Jersey Trail Series
• Marathon Guide

I’d love to hear your feedback...did I miss a reason to join a competitive event?  Do you have an event to recommend?  Please post a comment and let me know.