Reclaim Your Running Joy: Ditch Comparison and Thrive

Reclaim Your Running Joy: Ditch Comparison and Thrive

Comparison is The Thief of Joy

Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States is credited with the quote above. Comparison steals away the satisfaction we can feel with our own lives. We strive to live up to an unrealistic ideal we perceive in others: to be better, superior, faster, fitter, the list could go on forever.

The problem with comparison in running is that our comparisons are usually based on pace or distance. These two factors, though objective measures, are actually incredibly subjective and relative. Someone will always be faster than us, someone will always be slower. Someone will run distances both shorter and farther than we do. The trick is to find joy in your own running. Your pace will improve the longer you run. Your preferred distance, be it 400m on the track, a 5km or an ultra-marathon, is a distance your body and mind will be comfortable with.

Why comparison rarely makes sense

In a recent training session for a new volunteer role I am starting, I met a fellow runner. She is quite a successful middle to long-distance (up to 10,000m) track runner. We were both intrigued by our respective experiences in running events and distances. She casually mentioned that she “isn’t up to my standard” or something to that effect. I was astonished. Being a short or middle-distance track runner is a very different beast from running a marathon or an ultra-marathon. But is one more of an achievement than the other? No way.

Nobody would compare Usain Boltwith Eliud Kipchoge, one being arguably the greatest sprinter of our time, the other the greatest marathoner. Both men have achieved incredible feats in their respective events, though one does prefer running 42.1 kilometres more than the other. It just doesn’t make sense to compare.

Girls running trails

The Comparison Trap: An Endless Race

I recently organised a Sunday long run with a group of running buddies. My plan was a 24-kilometre hilly trail run, and a favourite loop from Darlington is known as the Kelly’s Climb loop. One of our running friends was keen to join but was very concerned about being “too slow” for the rest of us and was almost on the verge of running solo instead.

A gentle reminder that the group would not leave her behind and that the focus was on enjoying the run with great company rather than on a cracking pace, and she relented to happily join us. It was a poignant reminder for me to acknowledge that while we can be preoccupied with hitting our splits and maintaining our pace, comparing ourselves to others can leave us feeling like we won’t be able to keep up. Sadly, this can result in feeling that we are better off running solo and that in itself can steal away the joy of running.

 Embrace Your Journey: Run Your Own Race

It’s time to break free from the comparison trap and reclaim your running joy. Remember, running is a personal journey, and each step you take is a milestone in your own unique story. I received a few comments on my previous blog post about how I developed my passion for running when I discharged from the army. Some ex-colleagues noted how they hated running when they were in the army. However, once they left, they quite enjoyed running, and were quite good at it! Comparing themselves to other runners, or a set benchmark during regular military fitness tests meant running for them was an exercise in fear, and pressure, with no joy whatsoever.

Instead of focusing on how your performance measures up to others, celebrate your progress, no matter how small it may seem.

Celebrate Your Wins: Small Steps Lead to Big Victories

Every run you complete, every kilometre you conquer, is an achievement worth celebrating. By shifting your focus from external comparisons to internal growth, you’ll find that the true joy of running comes from within. The joy of running comes from the feeling we get from moving our bodies, endorphins, and the company of our running buddies. The joy of being outside in nature, of watching a sunrise over the hills, of working our lungs and our legs and our hearts.

Embrace the journey and remember that your only competition is the person you were yesterday. Everyone who ever put on a pair of running shoes and ran can rightly call themselves a runner. You don’t have to wait until you have run an organised event, participated in a fun run, joined a running group, or run a marathon. Once you have been for a run, you are a runner. You are not too slow, too unfit, too inconsistent. You are not “too” anything. Stop comparing yourself and reclaim your running joy, it is yours and it is free.

Cultivate Gratitude: Appreciate the Gift of Running

Do you constantly compare your running pace, distance, or achievements to others? This habit of comparison can quickly turn your passion for running into a source of stress and unhappiness. When we get caught up in comparing ourselves to faster or more experienced runners, we lose sight of our progress and the joy that running can bring.

Running is a gift that allows us to connect with our bodies, clear our minds, and explore the world around us. Instead of comparing yourself to others, practice gratitude for the ability to lace up your shoes and hit the pavement, trail, or treadmill. When you approach each run with a grateful heart, you’ll find that comparison fades away, leaving space for pure joy and contentment.

Conclusion: Run Freely, Embrace Your Uniqueness

Let go of comparison and reclaim your running joy. Embrace your journey, celebrate your wins, cultivate gratitude, and run your race. Remember, the beauty of running lies in its ability to empower and uplift you, not in how you stack up against others. So, lace up your shoes, hit the road, and run freely, knowing that your unique journey is worth celebrating every step of the way.

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