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Racing to Test the Human Heart, Physically and Metaphorically

Adam Hodges | May 30, 2013

“You have to wonder at times what you’re doing out there. Over the years, I’ve given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement.”

~ Steve Prefontaine

PreWhy race? As American distance runner Steve Prefontaine taught us, the real purpose of racing is to test the limits of the human heart. And we should take this to mean both physically and metaphorically.

Racing is about testing personal limits, and competitors in the race aid us in this endeavor. We strive to reach new personal bests, and we achieve satisfaction knowing we put forth the best effort that we can…with what we’ve got…on any given day.

And ultimately, giving your best is what racing is all about, whether you reach the podium, set a personal record, or simply do what you can at the moment (even if you’re zapped by the remnants of a cold). We race, we gain experience, and we learn from that experience.

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”

~ Steve Prefontaine, (January 25, 1951 – May 30, 1975)

Filed Under: Perspectives Tagged With: Racing

Adam Hodges

About Adam Hodges

Adam Hodges, PhD, is a trail runner, multisport athlete, and coach with credentials from USA Triathlon and the American College of Sports Medicine. In addition to coaching multisport athletes, he has coached high school cross country and track runners in California and masters swimmers in Colorado and California. As a USAT All-American triathlete, he has competed in the ITU World Triathlon Championships, the ITU World Duathlon Championships, and the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. As a masters runner, he has won a series title in the XTERRA SoCal Trail Series. He began running in his youth and enjoys passing on the knowledge and experience he has gained over the years to both new and experienced athletes seeking to maximize enjoyment, competitiveness, and longevity in the sport.

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