So… if you ever read this blog, you know I am a big runner. The husband is NOT a big runner (though much to my dismay he looks more like a runner than I do!) In fact, he used to run with me when we were “courting.” One day after he realized that I was in it with him for the long haul, he said, “I like you and I hate running, so I am not doing it anymore.” True to his word (except for a few short months in 2008), he never runs anywhere… ever.
That said, the husband has his “thing” too. I rarely mention it here. He is a race car driver. (Yup, seriously.) He participates in the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) 944 Spec series. He is the Midwest Series Director. Cars are his hobby and his passion. Some day, maybe, I will tell you how we wound up with every issue of the Porsche magazine Excellence, and several other cubic yards of car magazines, in our possession, but not today. Anyway, some friends and I attended the husband’s races at Autobahn Country Club in Joliet last weekend and for the first time many interesting similarities between our hobbies struck me.
10 Ways That Spec Car Racers and Runners Are Surprisingly Similar
1. We are more than a wee bit obsessed with our hobby. The husband lives, breathes, sleeps and dreams of cars. I pretend that he is more obsessed than me, but that is just a lie.
2. It is all about the data. Runners have their Garmins, heart rate monitors, and trackers of all kinds. Racers have Traqmate, video cameras, and in car computers. Many runners and racers are obsessed with these facts and figures and study them diligently. The husband does this WAY more than me.
3. We have lots of gear. I have a boatload of clothes, watches, holders, sneakers, compression stuff, etc. The husband has a race suit, fireproof shoes, socks and undies and more gadgets, gizmos and tools than you can shake a stick at. He even has two awesome mechanics that he travels with – maybe I need a coach?? The husband got me my very own race car trailer for our ninth wedding anniversary. Aren’t I lucky?!
4. We love to win and develop friendly rivalries. I go to races with my friends, and we see many friends and acquaintances there, but when the gun goes off I am in it to get the best placement and time I can. The husband and his good friend (I will call him “The Doctor”), The Doctor, have an awesome rivalry, but are super supportive of one another (and all of the other guys in the series) after the checkered flag is down.
5. Personal bests are like solid gold. Runners have PRs (personal records) at every distance. Drivers have “lap records” at every track. We both want these… Really bad!
6. Even when we win or run a PR, we immediately go to “what I could have done better” mode. As soon as the first water is drunk, I go into “how I could have run smarter” mode. I noticed that the husband does exactly the same things — especially when he goes to the video tape.
7. We value sportsmanship and stewardship very highly. I wrote a post about cheaters in races and the husband has many examples of people who show poor sportsmanship in his races. These are HUGE infractions in each sport. We HATE bad sportsmanship and cheaters. We also love to coach, guide and help our fellow racers and runners. Stewardship matters in our sports.
8. We love to talk about our hobby and to hash and rehash the races. This is awesome for the participants in each sport, but like watching paint dry for the non-participants. But we love each other so we deal with it!
9. We love our hardware — trophies and medals. I got a bigger trophy, the husband got the girl and a track record (and once “a big check.”)
10. We love our fans! Our awesome friends have been known to yell loud and long for running and racing!
I am not going to lie, I have been known to complain about the husband’s hobby. It takes him away a lot and he often chooses it over things that I would like us to do together. That being said, I love his passion and drive (no pun intended) to do his best. Even more than that, I love his sportsmanship and stewardship of his fellow drivers. I was so proud this weekend when some people from another car class mentioned to me that the husband and The Doctor are “so friendly, knowledgeable and super helpful to other racers.” Many guys have told me how the husband has worked with them and “their data” to help them improve. The husband wants to win, but he wants everyone to compete with him at the highest level they can. That is just one of the many reasons why the husband is an awesome guy and why would make a great runner, too, “if he ever chose to apply himself.” Alas, that is a story for another day!
As “our”mechanic said, “winner gets the girl.” And I will add, we live happily ever after – similarities, differences and all .