I run a lot of races but most of them I take it easy and do it for fun. I just love the race atmosphere. I pick a few a year to "race" though and really give it all I have. My favorite is definitely the half marathon.

Initially I ran for my health and scheduled a 5k as motivation to stick with it. I still sign up for races regularly to help with motivation. If I didn't have a race on the calendar ahead of me, I'm pretty sure I'd really slack off. I'm still not convinced that I actually enjoy the act of running. However, I love the sense of accomplishment I have when I stick to a plan, finish the run, and go farther or harder than my brain wanted.

I think my favorite runs are shifting to the 5 - 8 mile range. Used to be 3 would be my longest mid-week run. Now that's what I do when I have to talk myself into a quick run, just to say I ran.

Speed has nothing to do with it. It's a matter of attitude and approach to racing. My last 5K was only a tad under 27 minutes but I was racing and I'd lay odds that the runners trying to outkick me to the finish line were also racing.

Amen. My 20 marathons have ranged from 3:05 - 5:06 and I raced them all except for my three Bostons, one dress rehearsal and my debut. My 5ks last year were THREE minutes slower than usual but I raced them just the same as I did in 2013. I think when you've lived a certain way for so long it's difficult to suddenly switch gears mid-stream just because your weapons aren't as powerful.

I do a lot of what are called RACES - finished my 66th race of the year this past Sunday - but I certainly don't RACE them. These days, I'm pretty much a fun-and-finish runner, take my camera with me to the events, take photos before, during, and after, and post my race reports.

I think the word "race" will be defined differently by people. Are you going for your fastest time that day or are you racing AG or those around you?

 

I agree with Tim. Most people today don't "race" by my definition, they time trial. It is all about getting that PR. Just read the race reports. Most people will compare how they did with their PR. If they happen to get an AG award that is great but generally they aren't aware of who they are racing for it during the race.

 

I started running for health reasons and will continue to do so. I will race my races to the best of my ability that day and only a few times (with my wife, daughters) have I "run" a race.

There are races I run for time (what you're calling "time trialing"), and there are races I run for place.  I don't like those much.  They're too stressful.