Yesterday evening I wheezed my way round a 6k loop course in the beautiful gardens at Stowe. Some people were doing 12k and they were already starting out on the 2nd lap before I got back to the finish. Ok so they were young and had probably been running forever, I was old (ish) and only just starting my second year as a runner, but I still felt a bit demoralised.
I’ve come to realise that I always think like this. In my head I’m 20 and gazelle-like, graceful and fast. In reality I’m a 57 year old plodder. My partner (who has been running forever) keeps telling me to forget looking at the results of the 20 year old whippet-boys and look at women in my age category. So I did. To my amazement I was in the top half of all women running and the top three of women in my age group.
Reading this back it seems like I’m blowing my own trumpet. But my point is, sometimes we hold up the achievements of others as being so much better than our own, when really we are comparing chalk and cheese. I’m sure that there are some things at which I would be better than Mo Farah! Just not running!
So heads up everyone. We are all amazing, astounding over-achievers, however fast or far we run. Because we are out there doing it!
Have a lovely rest of the weekend🎉🏃♀️
Note to self: save this post to read before my next run, and apply for a job as a motivational speaker ASAP!
Written by
Katiepops
Graduate10
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You are right Katiepops . In fact everyone is amazing if they have got off the couch. I love to see those walking at parkrun as even that is making such a difference to their lives and wellbeing. Let’s give us all a round of applause 👏 👏 👏
Really well done to you! That’s brilliant. “Comparison is the thief of joy” and our stories are our stories and no one else’s. So blow your own trumpet to your heart’s content, we get it 🏃♀️🙂
I like that “comparison is the thief of joy”! It’s the absolute truth and not just about running. I’m stealing the phrase and will try to use it when I feel I’m not doing so great but others are. Thanks.x😊
I run with a lady at my club who doesn’t care. Winning isn’t on her radar, she just wants to run for running’s sake. And she does 50mile ultras. Ok so she’s 15 years younger than me and I can’t match her pace over more than about 5 miles (yet!) as she’s been running a long time; but when I start to feel a like I’m failing I have a mantra “run like Lisa” makes me slow down, re-evaluate and keep going.😊
My problem it seems is that I’m competitive enough to know that I’m not in the top 10, but not competitive enough to do anything about it. Just leads to a cycle of beating myself up over perceived failure!🤪
Spot on Katiepops👏👏👏. Starting running a bit late in life means that I have never even been tempted to compare my performance to others. It is just about me getting out there, enjoying the space and my only competitor is me. I do push myself to speed up and do greater distances, and I have been known to mention the odd PB on here (!) but after a few (surprisingly few) injuries arising from mistakes, I have learned to go for gradual improvement rather than step changes. All about finding our own happy space/regime and enjoying the experience.....errr ...nice to do a bit of overtaking though 😂😊
It is lovely to overtake. And I must admit to feeling a bit smug when, looking at weekly Parkrun results, I see I’ve come in ahead of people 10 years younger! But then I do try to hold on to the thought that I have no idea what stage of their journey they are on. 😊🏃♀️
Yes I agree entirely, but be competitive with yourself! I like PB’s and try for them but I am never going to compete with the 17m 5K’s at the Park Run But am happy to let them get on with it!
Yep the fly boys at the front can have their victory. Maybe I need to stop looking at the results. Discouraging to see your name in the second half of finishers when you’ve really tried your best though.🙄
That’s really interesting. I think it means that if I was 37 years younger, I would be running a 25minute 5k (give or take). My fastest in real life is 30:45, slightly downhill with a tail wind!.Just once I would love a sub 30!😂🏃♀️
You are awesome Katiepops, and yes we all are! Our expectations increase the better we get, but if we dial back time a few months, we’d be thoroughly astounded at what we can do now. So yes, definitely feel proud of your run - it was brilliant! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
You’re right. Half the time I just try to say that my goal is to finish. It never is, my goal is to finish and not come last! Comparing myself to others again! 🙄
I used to run regularly and I was obsessed with time and competition. To the point where I would be miserable if If I didn't hit the time I was aiming for. Looking back those times were insane! And yet it didn't satisfy me. Then I was diagnosed with an illness that affects your lungs, it put an end to my competitive running. Now I'm just happy to be out there running again, in all honesty I'm enjoying running now more than I ever have.
I like to finish my parkrun with a smile on my face rather than looking for a place to collapse. 😄
Funnily enough I did Parkrun yesterday. A minute slower than my PB from 2 weeks ago, but the sun shone (for an hour!) the birds sang and the woods were so beautiful. I really enjoyed it much more than the head down slog that I’d had to get the PB. 😊
It sure is. Off to cheer on some lunatics doing the Ridgeway relay in the rain in a minute. Crazy people, but not as crazy as other members of my RC who are doing Endure24 in Reading this weekend. 😊 🌧 🏃♀️ 😜
Yay! We all need to be reminded about our 'relative' challenges and success from time to time. It's all to easy to compare ourselves with others and get demoralised because we forget the circumstances of out own individual journeys.
How was running at Stowe? Have thought of doing that from time to time myself.
It was beautiful. The setting is just gorgeous and the course isn’t too hard. 1 or 2 loops depending on what you fancy. It’s all path and a small section of grass, so not too bad following recent weather. I wore trail shoes but could’ve had trainers. Quite a lot of people, but well organised and fun. Give it a go!😊
What a great post Katiepops and so true! We can be our own worst enemy. I’m glad you got to see how great you are today and you should be mighty proud of that!. So toot away sister, toot away 😁🎺👏
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(not)parkrun
Fabulous450 Goes Back to Old School “Out There, Don’t Care” Magic! 🏃🏽♀️❤️
