Should I race?

Ok, confession time... I've never done a race. I'm not competitive. I'm an anti-social runner; prefer to run alone. I do not belong to a club. Despite this, I'm considering doing the Dalby Dash 10k. Not entered it yet.

Things that worry me about doing it: other runners talking to me, the 'incline' at the start (I struggle with hills, so I might have to walk up it), coming last - I know someone has to.

I was trying to think of some positives, and all I can come up with is the location, and it would be nice to say I've finished one race!

Is it normal to have such apprehension? 

Hi, I'm the same, all this running club thing and talking to people as you go along, fills me with horror.  I have done a couple of 15k runs and had the same worries about coming last.  I came near the end, not last phew and no-one talked to me, though it is nice to have the Marshalls clapping you and cheering you on as you go past!  If you know your time for 10k have a look at the timings, I do Innovation Sports 15k, there are 5 and 10k runners too, so have a look on their site and compare yourself, I am sure the Dalby Dash is not just full if hot runners!  I did them because I have just taken it up (age 52) and can't actually be bothered to run for 'fun'!   BTW hills, I think, is just a matter of pace.  Go slow up the hill and you will be fine.  I am doing this Jeff Galloway run,walk,run thing and it's great, and faster than when I was running the whole 15k.  Go for it, at least you will know then if you hate it or not!

One of the great things about running is you can do it in so many ways. Just because lots of people enjoy entering races doesn't mean everyone has to. If you are happy with the running you currently do, then there is no pressure to enter races.

Having said that, you could be missing out on something you may really enjoy. Why not just do it. If you like it you can do more, if you don't, well at least you know you don't like racing!

+1 for exiled claret.  I'm not the most sociable of runners and have no intention of joining a club, but I do enjoy doing a few races a year.  It gives you something to train towards, and it is a different experience to a training run.

I think everyone worries that they are not fast enough to "race", but in reality each event has the racers at the front who are running for position, and then the rest of the field are just competing against themselves to either get a personal best time or just complete the course.  And the crowds cheer the back of the field just as much as the front.

If you can manage 10k inside 1hr 19mins you wouldn't have come last in 2011.  If you're slower than that you would have come last and most probably received a cheer from the crowd staying around to see everyone home.  No biggy either way really.

I can remember feeling a little apprehensive about my first proper club organised race I entered but you soon realise that people are there doing their own thing, possibly competing for places, more often seeing if they can beat a PB or just basically having a day out.  I'd just give it a go if I were you.

Thanks for your replies. Better time a run then... that's how un-competitive I am, I don't even take a watch! 

I know some find they need a training goal, a race to work towards. I've never experienced that; I love running purely for the scenery and feeling I get from it. That's what I keep thinking 'I don't need to race'..  but as you say what if it's the start of summat enjoyable 

I came last at my first 10k race, won a nice bowl of fruit.

I don't think I can run with other people; that's my biggest obstacle 

It's highly unlikely you're going to find yourself running next to someone all the way who has exactly the same pace and tactics as you! It sounds like this is a local 10K after all, not the Great North Run!

Loads of antisocial runners already turn up at races with no intention of having anything to do with the rest of us, just wishing to stay in their own world.

They're the ones in iPods

Muttley wrote (see)

They're the ones in iPods

And they're the ones I'll quite happily DQ when I'm marshalling 
Any chance they can be anti-social without being a nuisance and forcing their anti-socialness on the rest of us? 

Feral -  Give it a go, if you don't enjoy it fair enough, but it might be your first of many. There a lots of nervous racers even the more experienced ones, some chat a lot and some keep to themselves, and if they're chatting too much when running obviously not putting the effort in.

Feral I am a bit like you.

On one hand the social aspect is really intriguing. On another hand I'm terrified of it.

I've tried out clubs before and enjoyed it but I much prefer to run alone. I like to look at the scenery, be in my own thoughts and most of all, run my own pace.

I take part in races for two reasons:

I am competitive so I try to run a good time by keeping up with others. 

I want to go for what I fear the most which is talking to other people. I enjoy it once it happens... But I'm a bit of a social outcast anyway and terrified of masses. But in races, you can talk to like minded people.
And if you choose so, you don't have to speak to anyone. Put earphones on. If you dont like music, just put it on so it looks like you're listening to music. Nobody will bother you then.

I'm a club member and I enjoy the camaraderie when a few of us turn up at a race, or compete as a team, but I'd equally be happy to enter a race on my own, just turn up and run, and hardly say a word to any strangers.  I might shake hands and have a quick chat with one or two runners finishing around me, but if someone is in their own little bubble going about their business I'd let them get on with it.

It's a race, not a house party!

I think it's shyness and a feeling of insecurity. I used to have very little confidence while running since a friend once commented that I 'didn't look good' while out on a run. This isn't an excuse, but I was nearly home so was pushing it a bit. That stopped me going out and I stuck to running on my dreadmill instead, but I find it tedious. I used to panic a bit if I saw another person out on my run. Then I started running with my dogs and that really helped.. as, in my mind, people are looking at them and not me. This seems silly even as I type it! 

It says no ipods are allowed in the race. I don't run with one anyway but I was thinking of putting just the earphones in to stop any chatty types. I cannot talk and run, it's enough for me to breathe. 

Unless you're at the back of a really long, slow race (e.g. VLM) I doubt anyone will be talking. You're not the only one who prefers to save your breath for running!