You can tell when you’re racing that people have many different thoughts in their heads – maybe they have a goal time in mind or are running for a charity. How can you tell? Well, try doing something to see how they react. I say supportive statements like, “Hey, good job!” or “You’re almost there!” or “Keep pushing!” Judging by their responses, I have formulated that maybe not everyone is on the same page as me.

My page usually reads: “I’m super stoked to be here. I’m doing this race to push myself to higher expectations and break my barriers. I’m going to have a BLAST today!” (Insert a little Irish heel kick.) In photos, you will see me grinning ear to ear, maybe even posing for the camera. I can see how my mentality differs from that of other competitors.

What brings people to race? Here are some of the reasons I have discovered:

Just to finish.

I passed a girl who was walking up a steep hill, choking to get air in her lungs. Cheerily, I trotted by and encouraged her to keep going. Through heavy lids and a devil’s glare, she barked, “I’M JUST TRYING TO FINISH!” Oh. Okay.

To win!

With serious stone glares, they will whiz by and not react toward any of your encouraging messages. Speaking will take too much time, and moving their mouths might decrease their aerodynamics. Frankly, this behavior scares me. But I understand that when you want something, you often let nothing stand in your way. Props!

For charity.

With the ice-bucket challenge clogging our Facebook feeds, philanthropy is present in our minds. Many 5Ks center around raising money for charities. Having a personal connection to a cause may yield the motivation to participate and show your support.

To reach further.

Maybe you want to beat your time or complete a new distance. Within this category is where I tend to fall, and it’s an invigorating place!

To have fun.

These people are my favorite participants. Their cheerfulness pumps me up to no end. They make me laugh and smile during tough moments, physical or mental. It doesn’t matter if their pace isn’t the fastest or if they walk half the race. Nothing can rock their world today. They’re enjoying the moment.

Knowing why your competitors are out there on race day may not affect your performance, but it has given me a stronger understanding and more appreciation for the running community (if it could BE any stronger)! Having an eclectic group with so many reasons for participating intensifies the meaning of racing.