Most people at the club level speed skate for fun and fitness, but many speed skaters attend fun, amateur races as a way of challenging and testing their own skills. Racing is always optional and you can take it as seriously or in as relaxed a manner as you choose. Some skaters make it all the way to regional or national championships. The short track races sanctioned by the Amateur Speedskating Union of the US become the training ground for future US Olympic team members in both short and long track speedskating. But if fun and fitness are the only goals, we encourage that too.
Speed skating is a difficult sport at first, so please try to stick with it for a while.
It gets much better as your skills improve. At first, it is difficult to maintain the low body position and deep knee bend we strive for. The ankle support on most beginner speed skates is inadequate and the skates may not be too comfortable. Eventually, it feels great. If you participate in other sports, you will benefit by practicing speed skating.