Why Race?

Why should you skate a "race"? First of all, if you call it a race then it has the stipulation that you can only enter if you are in tip-top shape. No, no, no, don’t believe it. I am living proof of that.

If you’ve ever had the chance to skate in a race, made up a thousand excuses, and passed it up for whatever reason, I’m here to tell you that you’ve missed a great opportunity at having an incredible time. The thrill of skating with others in a pack is unparalleled. Crossing the line is just the icing on the cake. Sure, you’ll have butterflies, but it’s all worth it.

What do you need? A pair of skates, protective gear, and the discipline to get up early the morning of the race. That’s it! See, the hardest part is just getting up. Don’t let the others who might look like pros intimidate you. After all, and at the risk of sounding cliché, everyone has had his or her "first time." You don’t need five wheelers to have a good time either; after all, who are you out there to impress? You don’t need a skinsuit full of sponsors, just a T-shirt and shorts are fine.

The trick is to not set your expectations too high. If you set a goal of a particular time to finish, don’t try to break any records. Skate the race distance at a decent clip beforehand and use that as a guideline. Being in the race gets your adrenaline flying sky high, so that shouldn’t be a problem, just use that to your advantage and skate. Pick skaters that you know you can stay with (or beat) and set your sites on them. It also seems that people are afraid to skate close to others, especially right behind them. Learning to skate in the draft is your best ally in a race. Don’t look down at their feet, this will only make you dizzy. Listen to the "whoosh – whoosh" of their stride and stay with it. You can safely get within inches of the person in front of you, and it is here that you will extract the most advantage.

Earlier I said that I was living proof that you don’t need to be in peak shape. The last race I skated, I finished more than six minutes over my personal best. I was annihilated by four-wheelers. Did I have fun? You bet!

Remember that it is you, the recreational/fitness skaters that make this sport thrive. The top pros are there because you are there, not the other way around. The race promoters put on the races for you, they know the pros will show up. That’s why most events are broken down by age division and even skill level. If there were only pros racing, then the events would dry up quickly.

Only once will you experience the thrill of crossing the finish line of your first race. For those of you that have raced, remember that moment? I would bet that of you were the most proud kid on the block! When you cross the line for the first time, I guarantee that you’ll have a smile on your face.