The word "compete," and by association "competition," has been on my mind lately. When I mention to someone that I am registered for the Alaska Women's Gold Nugget Triathlon, I never quite know how to phrase it (other that the way I just did, which sounds rather stilted). I'm not really comfortable saying that I will be competing in the race, but participating doesn't sound right either. The conundrum: what verb to use.
It's probably safe to say that we all know what it means to compete for something, but I couldn't decide if it was really correct to use the term when you know you have no chance of winning whatever it is you're competing for. I finally looked up the verb "compete" today at dictionary.com. The definition it gave was: to strive to outdo another for acknowledgment, a prize, supremacy, profit, etc.; engage in a contest; vie. It also gives the World English Dictionary definition: to contend (against) for profit, an award, athletic supremacy, etc; engage in a contest (with).
Let's take those definitions apart a little. The inclusion of prizes, supremacy or some other sort of award clearly leads to an assumption that one is trying to win a competition. There is also the implication that one is competing against someone else; it's not just an effort to see if you can best your own past performance.
I also looked up participate: to take or have a part or share, as with others; partake; share (usually followed by in). This definition seems far too passive a verb, however, to describe the training and dedication that go into preparing for a triathlon, even if one doesn't have a hope of winning.
If you have any ideas for a solution to my conundrum, please let me know. Until then, I'll keep struggling, and training to best my own prior performance.
