Why I Race: Because it is there!

Through the years, I’ve been asked why I race. I reply simply, "Because it [the challenge] is there". This echoes George Mallory’s response when asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest. In short, that IS the answer. The challenge can be a race, a ride, a hike, a trail, a mountain or it can simply be a desire to learn, conquer, develop or hone a skill. The challenge can be as part of a team or as a solo adventurer.

Overall, it means being prepared in mind, body and soul for the challenge. It's being ready for serendipity to arrive and being flexible and adaptive to handle whatever happens. It's being mentally alert, physically strong and spiritually focused. It's realizing that the challenge has much less to do with the mountain, trail, river, ocean, course, etc. The bigger challenge is always with our self. As Edmund Hillary so eloquently put, "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."

Racing is much MORE than just racing. Racing parallels life...whatever struggles we are having, we will face on the course. Whatever situations we are dealing with we will come against on the trail. Racing is like going to your {insert spiritual tradition}: wear special clothing, surrounded by similar people with same passion. We all partake of the sacraments of dirt, sweat, blood and tears. And on the other side of the challenge, some of us attain the crown of victory but even in the moments of defeat, we all learn and grow...looking forward to yet another occasion when we can come to the altar of opportunity and seek what we need to know. What we need to know to do better, to dig deeper in order to ultimately be the best version of ourselves. It’s facing that challenge with courage, bravery and strength that allows us to learn how to overcome our self in any circumstance.

To be sure, a race IS won by the most swift; however, winning is MUCH more than an external award or trophy: Winning is believing in yourself, reaching into the core of who you are and pulling out your best. Winning is putting forth the effort, knowing you gave it your all, tried your hardest and had the fortitude to finish what you started. Winning is obtaining those internal rewards that no one or nothing can diminish or take away: confidence, self-respect, pride and humility.

This is why I race. This is why I like the Challenge.