Let's just say it and be done with it. Racing hurts. But here's another truth: having put in the effort to prepare for a race and then not giving it your all hurts even more. The first kind of hurt goes away in hours or a day. The second kind of hurt can last a lifetime.

When you think about it, the idea that running might teach you something about life shouldn't be too shocking. In a fairly obvious sense, running is life made small. A run has a beginning and an end. There are obstacles to overcome, good days and bad days. You pass some people and get passed by others. There are tests and challenges, disappointments and achievements, days you feel you have nothing left to give and other days when you feel you can go forever… Running for me is a special activity. It brings value to my life while at the same time it teaches me how to value it…. Running makes me a better person. Running, for me, is transformative. I have learned self-discipline and patience from running. I have also learned how to compete with grace, and how to face hardships with optimism.

I realize now that I was wrong to believe that running had to serve some purpose - that without a race in the future there was no point to running. Pleasure is reason enough to engage in some actions. I was mistaken to think that running for the sake of running was no longer enough. It was before I started racing, and it would be enough even were I never to race again.