Bring It!

by Carilyn on April 12, 2012

I am uber competitive.  I think everything in life is more fun when you are competing against yourself, or someone else – even if they don’t know it.

Last week, I gave you my bucket list for big challenges – Western States 100 (this June), Badwater 135, and swimming the Catalina Channel.  While these big challenges spark my imagination and keep me motivated, it’s the little daily challenges that make every day fun and interesting.  Here are some of my past and present unique (read: oddest) daily competitions:

1.  Trying to beat my buddy in chin-ups:  My count – 2; His count – 5.  I’m gaining on him!  Keep drinking beer, buddy!

2.  Being the first one awake in the morning.  I hate when my running buddies are out training before me.  This problem is exacerbated because I am on the West Coast, and thus, on Pacific Time.  Basically, I have to wake up at least an hour earlier than they to make sure that I beat them out the door.  This competition is definitely tiring,  but so worth it.

3.  Swimming longer than the person sharing my lane.  I don’t care if you are 116 years old, you are going down!  If you are going to swim for an hour, then I will swim for an hour and 15 minutes.  And I hope you stop more often, too.

4.  Beating my former co-workers at Malibu Grand Prix racing, even though I had never done it.  This was just stupid.  But I won 🙂

5.  Unloading the clean dishes before Dance Moms goes on commercial.  I don’t know those ladies, but I feel competitive just because they’re so crazy.  Hmmm…that didn’t sound right.

6.  Folding and hanging up a load of laundry before the water starts to boil for the spaghetti. No way that water is going to beat me!

7.  Upping my long run to 30 miles from the planned 20 because someone I didn’t even know posted on Twitter that he was going to run 30 miles.  In Scotland.

8.  Hitting “Publish” on a blog post before editing it because I promised myself that it would be done by 8:30 NO MATTER WHAT.  Later, I had to go back and edit it when a friend asked me why I was “pimping up my bike”.  Sigh.

9.  Jamming up the 121 stairs in front of the woman carrying a briefcase and a latte because there was no way I was going to get stuck behind her.  Did I mention that my workout was already over and I was sitting in my car waiting for my kids?

10.  Drinking coffee on my treadmill while wearing only one shoe because I HAVE to start by 5:30.  Yes, I burned my mouth, and no, I did not figure out a way to run with only one shoe.

So, even as you read this post, I am probably out somewhere trying to beat the guy at the gas pump next to me in filling my tank first, or racing the mailman down the street.  You never know when a good competition might arise, so keep your eyes open and your competitive spirit burning.  And then tell me what you are doing.  Not that I plan to compete against you  🙂

What kinds of crazy things are you competitive about?

 

Happy Running!

{ 12 comments }

ultrarunnergirl April 12, 2012 at 10:05 am

#2 sounds dangerous.
#9 – I always have to race people up the escalator when I take Metro. Even if it’s the super insane long one at Dupont Circle.
#10 – now that’s really crazy. Laughed out loud picturing that scene.

kENT April 12, 2012 at 11:23 am

Are you sure that doing all those things falls under just being competitive or obsessive compulsive disorder!?

Carilyn April 12, 2012 at 11:30 am

Ha ha, Kent! Yes, definitely both! You didn’t think I could run 131 miles around a track if there was no OCD involved, did you? 🙂

Carilyn April 12, 2012 at 11:39 am

Love it! You probably get some great exercise! 🙂

Marcia April 12, 2012 at 12:12 pm

Hilarious! Dance Moms is nuts. My older kiddo likes it–yikes.

Carilyn April 12, 2012 at 12:30 pm

I agree! They are scary!

SteveQ April 12, 2012 at 12:50 pm

No one’s more competitive than me and I’ll prove it! Actually, my favorite competitive moment was when my brothers wanted to try out their new snowblower on my driveway and I insisted I’d get it finished before they figured out how to get it started. I “John Henry’d” myself to exhaustion, but I did it.

Carilyn April 12, 2012 at 2:49 pm

Oh my gosh, Steve! Every time you reply, I’m reminded why I like you so much. You crack me up!

Kate April 12, 2012 at 5:22 pm

You are hilarious. Especially #7. And #10.

I’m a competitive slacker. That is, I’ll feel all competitive when I see that someone on Facebook has run more miles than me, but instead of doing something about it I’ll just feel bad. Or sometimes I’m competitive about how much of a slacker I am…”Oh yeah, well, this is my first run this week!” Or about what I can do on how little training.

Hmmm…none of these things are much to be proud of…I bet I’m the least impressive person on your blogroll (more slacker competitivism) 🙂

Char April 12, 2012 at 8:15 pm

When I was able to run more than a few hundred meters in a row, I used to pick a runner ahead and try to run them down and woe betide if they tried to pass me back. Competitiveness is a part of being a runner isn’t it?

Carilyn April 13, 2012 at 8:52 am

I love it! Competitive slacker – too funny! That just made my whole morning! 🙂

Carilyn April 13, 2012 at 8:54 am

When I read about you chasing down the chickens, I knew you were my kinda gal, Char, so I can only imagine you chasing down a poor, unsuspecting runner! And yes, I agree that runners are naturally competitive, even if it is just with ourselves.

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