Running Speeds
I have what may be a silly (or even ridiculous) question:Why do recreational distance runners care about speed so much?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).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.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 ;)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.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.