I think I may be taking my new competitive drive a little far. On the way to and from PA, we saw several cars with '26.2' bumper stickers. My first observation is that far too many people are now running marathons, which means I'm being forced to up my mileage to an ultra. Competitive Drive Disorder Symptom #1.
But my second observation is even worse. Competitive Drive Disorder Symptom #2 has me pushing the gas pedal to pass these cars. Even when I'm not driving. I press my right foot on the floor, like wives often do when they need their husbands to brake already. Except I'm pressing the imaginary gas because there's an SUV with a little white circle on the back that reads '26.2.'
"Oh, no you don't, Miscellaneous Sedan. I will go 90 if need be. My bumper sticker is totally going to smoke your bumper sticker."
What is wrong with me? Who thinks that way? Who talks smack to a fender?
I got into running in the first place because it was far less competitive than ballet. No one in amateur running tells you you're fat or you have lousy turnout. No one critiques you because your hair and make-up are all wrong. You compete as much as you want to in running, unlike ballet, where you're forced into competition whether you like it or not. And in racing, you compete fiercely on the course and then chat congenially with the person who beat you (or who you beat) as soon as you cross the line. On Monday, I was racing one other woman for part of the course, and after we both finished (I beat her--ahem), we chatted casually about how humid it was and what fun it was to race. That's the best part of competitive running, if you ask me. You race, then you chat.
Along the same lines, while I love winning AG awards and competing for a top-3 spot in my group, I wasn't hung up on finding out if I placed second or third in my AG last weekend. I can let it go pretty easily and don't beat myself up over competition. For his part, though, Henry was pretty disappointed that I didn't have a trophy to give him. (That always makes a running mom feel just swell.) As far as he's concerned, there is really no point to watching me race unless I get him a trophy or free food at the end.
I won an Amazon gift certificate for placing at the 5k a few weeks ago, and I discovered I can buy 12 trophies with it, which would give me one for that race, one for Monday's race, and 10 more for just being awesome in general. Knowing you can buy trophies from Amazon in a six-pack really makes me feel all warm inside. I can reward myself and stroke my ego whenever I want, even if I lose. Competitive Drive Disorder Symptom #3.
Another reminder that my blogging will relocate on Monday June 1. I have called the movers and will provide a change-of-address URL as soon as I have it to share.
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16 comments:
I do the pretend pedal pushing thing too. However, I don't have a 26.2 sticker. Though that may be because I don't have a car. :)
Amazon sells trophies?! Man I'm going to get me some and then lie to my kids. "Your Mom is so awesome, look at how many trophies she got while running" and I'll sneak some in there for best baker and Susie Homemaker of the year. I figure, I'm ruining them enough as it is what's this going hurt? :P
Great post! I, also, am a pretend pedal pusher but it is only because my husband doesn't pay attention to the road while driving.
Who knew you could buy trophies? This might be my only opportunity to "win" something!
I don't own a 26.2 sticker. I wanted one after my first marathon, kinda wanted one after my second marathon but, by the third marathon, I didn't want one anymore. Wonder why?
Racing a runner's car... classic.
Way to go in the race. Do you get a negative competitive drive disorder symptom point that cancels out one of the others since you didn't worry about your AG placing? That seems fair and it would drop you down to only 2 CDD's
Yes, running is awesome because there isn't the criticism that was rampant for me in piano lessons AND ballet :O
Too funny. I totally check out the driver of those bumper sticker cars and smile crazily at them as if they are all my compadres...sort of like how I wave (usually flailing my arms in a weird motion while hyperventilating -- which explains the scared looks from others) at other runners on a trail! None of my brood liked anything I won in a race -- maybe I'll go out to Costco and buy a bunch of bags of gummy bears ..they'll love that as my race "winnings"!
I don't have one either--same as Nitmos--although in general I am not a bumper sticker person. They are like tatoos--you get one and all the sudden they are covering your body. I file it under the "there are two types of people in the world..." I do have a sticker in my garage though!
Disordered people are more interesting. Don't forget that.
I used to be a dancer too. Did we discuss this?
Great post! There is a car in my neighborhood with a Las Vegas Marathon license plate holder. I've never seen the owners, just the car sitting in the driveway. Still, i always make sure to run a little harder and stronger when I pass their house...
Another way to "one-up" the 26.2 crowd is start competing in triathlons....it is a whole new level of crazy. :)
A bit competative, huh? ;-) It's not easy to suppress, but it can be done. Ultras have a way of doing that because just finishing is never a given for anyone.
I TOTALLY get this. I don't try to pass drivers with the "26.2" sticker, but I do try to eyeball them. I like to see if they have that runner look, and then I try to hypothesize a reasonable PR for them - always slower than mine, of course!
If I see a 26.2 sticker, I try to decide if they look like a runner, or if they look like the marathon was a one time deal for them. And then I tell myself that I'm probably faster. :)
love this post...i can SO relate! :)
I think it's funny how people have the 26.2 (and 70.3, 140.6) stickers... heck, i even saw a 13.1 sticker the other day! However, my favorite thing ever is at Ironman races, people wear t-shirts that say "Oh, you ran a marathon? that's cute."
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