How not to beat yourself up!: Yesterday... - Bridge to 10K

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How not to beat yourself up!

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10
39 Replies

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!

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Katiepops profile image
Katiepops
Graduate10
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39 Replies
Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

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 👏 👏 👏

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to Dexy5

We certainly deserve it at times! 😊

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10

Definitely! I think we compare ourselves to others too much and too frequently - just do it for us I say!👍

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to JonathanP

Irishprincess says “comparison is the thief of joy”. I have fallen in love with that!😊

in reply to Katiepops

That's brilliant... Nicking that.

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to

Haha I’m doing the same. It applies to all areas of life.😊

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate10 in reply to

Not mine just in case of copyright issues 😕 Theodore Roosevelt said it first.

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10 in reply to Irishprincess

He also said “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" - perfect.

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate10 in reply to JonathanP

Love this one 🙂

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate10

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 🏃‍♀️🙂

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to Irishprincess

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😊

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate10 in reply to Katiepops

Sadly I can't take credit. Theodore Roosevelt is the owner but it's a goody 🙂

Chris141 profile image
Chris141Graduate10

This is so right! Look at your own journey, where you have come from to now, and be proud of that. Then set goals you can achieve and go get them!

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to Chris141

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.😊

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministrator

Go you.. running because we can.. our way:) x

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to Oldfloss

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!🤪

Beachcomber66 profile image
Beachcomber66Graduate10

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 😂😊

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66

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. 😊🏃‍♀️

Chris141 profile image
Chris141Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66

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!

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to Chris141

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.🙄

Chris141 profile image
Chris141Graduate10 in reply to Katiepops

No look by all means! I do! Monitor your progress. But don’t worry about other people’s results! X

purplewalker profile image
purplewalker

Excellent advice . I’m 52 and a plodder so compared to me you’re doing great but I know I’m getting better and that’s all that matters. Happy running!

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to purplewalker

Ah but my plod maybe slower than your plod! Keep going purplewalker!😊

orangeguy profile image
orangeguyGraduate10

Well done with the 6k Katie... I posted this sometime ago, here's the link in case you didn't see it;

healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to orangeguy

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!😂🏃‍♀️

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10

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! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks

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. 😄

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to

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. 😊

GoGo_JoJo profile image
GoGo_JoJoGraduate10

Yes! We are all amazing, we just need to believe it! 👍💪😁

Well done for seeing the light, running is great for that too 😉

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to GoGo_JoJo

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. 😊 🌧 🏃‍♀️ 😜

DebJogsOn profile image
DebJogsOn

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.

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to DebJogsOn

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!😊

linda9389 profile image
linda9389Graduate10

Well done! Go you. Is that a public event? I must look it up - Stowe is so beautiful and not too far for me :)

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to linda9389

Google Stowe summer trail series. I missed the one in May, but there’s another in July, which unfortunately I can’t do. It’s lovely!😊

linda9389 profile image
linda9389Graduate10 in reply to Katiepops

Maybe next year for me then. Don't think I'll be racing 6K by July sadly, but it does look lovely 🙂

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate10 in reply to linda9389

There’s a winter series too!😊🏃‍♀️

linda9389 profile image
linda9389Graduate10 in reply to Katiepops

That's more like it! Thank you 🙂

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatGraduate10

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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