Keepin’ It Real

I read a lot of blogs.  I talk to a lot of runners.  I’m a pretty social sort.  And I’ve noticed something lately.

We all talk about our PRs (personal records) and our running goals and times.  And many of us, myself included, feel the need to justify our “slow times.”

The other day, I heard someone say “Man, you guys make me feel fast.  My half marathon PR is a 2:12.  I’m so slow!”

First off, 2:12 isn’t slow.

But secondly, and more importantly, why do we feel the need to belittle our accomplishments?

I’m guilty of it myself.  “My half marathon PR is only 2:48, but I have a heart condition that I have to deal with so I’m probably not getting much faster.

While it’s true that my heart condition does limit my pace (as do these extra 30 pounds, let’s be honest), WHO CARES?  Why should I feel the need to justify my allegedly slow time?  I ran a half marathon.  I trained and my body carried me 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 48 minutes.  That’s pretty awesome!

And it doesn’t matter if it it took you 2:10 or 2:48 or 3:30 or 5 hours!  It doesn’t matter if you raced a 5K or a marathon.  You finished a race.  Maybe you ran, maybe you walked, maybe you sat down and cried mid-race before getting back up and continuing on, it doesn’t matter.  You set out to do something great and you did it.

And that is amazing.  You. Are. Amazing.

I’m always telling people to not belittle their accomplishments, and yet I do it to myself all the time.  Somehow, I’m not good enough or I’m not fast enough or not something enough.

I would never let my friends treat themselves like this.  So why do I do it to myself?

We need to keep it real.  Own our accomplishments.  Be proud of them.  Shout them from the rooftops.  Don’t compare to others.  Don’t make excuses.  Be yourself.  Be amazing.

12 thoughts on “Keepin’ It Real

  1. I have been bad about doing that too, but I’ve tried to be more mindful of it and don’t do it as much. As I’ve met more and more runners of different paces, I’ve realized that a lot of times “fast” or “slow” are relative to that person’s experiences and I shouldn’t judge myself and try to compare. Of course, I forget that sometimes.

  2. so you know how I always tell you how grateful I am that I got into running with you and your friends because I love your attitude? There are so many runners out there who make running sound SO miserable, and because I don’t really know any if them personally I don’t make an effort to find them online. But I do know a woman whose attitude towards her running always made me uncomfortable but I stuck it out, following her through various channels online, until she posted an Instagram from a run she did recently – I can’t remember the pace she listed, but it was definitely >10min/mile – and she complained about how slow she ran. (By the way, this woman is pregnant.) I commented and said “Hey, slow is relative! That sounds great to me regardless of how many people you’re carrying in your womb!” and she replied “Well, it’s slow to me!”

    I know this was over reacting, but if she had said “it’s slow FOR me” I wouldn’t have lost it. But when she said “it’s slow TO me” I felt judged, even if her choice of words was unintentional. I don’t want anyone to make me not like running because I don’t live up to their definition of being a runner. So I unfollowed her on Instagram, and, two weeks later, unfollowed her on Twitter because of similar comments.

    KEEP YOUR NEGATIVITY AND COMPARISON TO YOURSELF, that’s all I’m saying.
    Betsy recently posted…Frock Fridays: #AmericanSummerMy Profile

  3. I think as women, we do this far more then men, in all aspects of our lives. I’m as guilty as the next one. For me, even though I just started running, I’m slowly coming to accept that the pace I run at or how long it takes me to finish a run isn’t as important as the fact that I actually finished it. Its an accomplishment to be proud of each and every day. Sure, I’ll never come in first or set world records but that’s ok. I prove something to myself each and everytime I strap on my running shoes. Not every day is as positive as another but its a beginning. Great post!

  4. You are right, I see it all the time! I have to stop myself sometimes from thinking negatively about my times – at least I got out and did something, that’s better than nothing, right? Yep! We are all awesome, I agree! :0)
    Karen recently posted…Fitness Friday–July 12My Profile

  5. I think it’s a pretty human thing, going back thousands or even millions of years. We compare ourselves to others because once upon a time we needed to know where we fit into the pecking order, into the tribe. And maybe that was necessary then, and maybe it was even healthy in a way (in a smaller group, with little to no contact with a wider world, maybe everyone could be “the best” at something).

    But for our personal development today, to say nothing of our mental health, we’re much better off 1) being more accepting and appreciative of ourselves and 2) focusing our comparisons (if we have to make them) on comparing ourselves to ourselves–but really, even there, we need to go back to #1. Because we’re all going to have “off” days, we’re all going to have reasons why we can’t perform at our best. If anything, we would probably be better off focusing on our sense of our own effort.
    JohnSherck recently posted…STR: Days 26-30My Profile

  6. Running is so relative.
    My bestie can run 6 min miles which I think is disgusting fast. I love my happy 10 min mile pace.
    However, she thinks that she isn’t fast because other people who run 5 min miles are beating her in races.
    It’s all relative. There is always someone faster than us and, in truth, someone slower.
    However, it is important we try to be proud of our own accomplishments even though that can be harder said than done. Great post. Love your perspective.
    Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…Kitchen Sink Protein BallsMy Profile

  7. THANK YOU FOR THIS. I totally needed to hear it. I’m totally guilty of downplaying my accomplishments, especially lately, because my summer race times are just NEVER as good as they “should” be. No matter what, it is a thrill for me just to be able to run a half marathon, so I need to be better about not placing so much importance on what that finish line clock says!
    Jennifer L. Nelson recently posted…Weekly Workouts and The Scariest Run of My LifeMy Profile

  8. Great point! I was just thinking on my long run I wish I was a little faster, but either way I completed an 11 mile run. That’s pretty awesome no matter how you look at it.

    Thanks for the reminder!
    Abby recently posted…Date night: Quidam!My Profile

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge