Running Speeds
I have what may be a silly (or even ridiculous) question:<p>Why do recreational distance runners care about speed so much?<p>Background:  I went through a phase of long-distance recreational running - I ran lots of half-marathons, marathons, and even the Disney Goofy Challenge for a few years (half marathon on Saturday, full marathon on Sunday).<p>It was all fun!  Training was satisfying, the running itself was tough but rewarding, I lost a ton of weight, got into great cardio shape, and overall, arguably, it changed my life for the better.<p>But I never once cared about doing any of it quickly, and I still don't.  It was always about the distance and the experience for me -- could I successfully run 26 miles? (and then enjoy the rewards of being able to eat a huge high-calorie meal guiltlessly afterwards ;)<p>It's still about the distance -- I love cycling these days and do it regularly with a lovely group of friends who also care about moving our legs and riding, say, 100 miles in a morning, which is a challenge.  But so so many other cyclists on the road as so focused on both doing it and doing it FASTER.<p>I just don't really fully comprehend why so many people care so much about the clock, beating other people, etc.  I know I'm not alone here, but I also know I'm in the minority, so I'd love to hear some perspective.