I’m going to start off and say that yes, I know that a watch is real and that if you cross the line at 1:25 you are faster than someone who crosses at 1:35. I know that is an undeniable truth. However, when talking about running “fast” it can really just be an idea.
I’m talking to every runner out there, even if you’re going half a mile and walking and then running again and then walking. You are a runner. I’ve seen a couple of people exclaim, “just because I’m not fast, doesn’t mean I’m not a runner!” and you’re right! Who has the audacity to judge who you are? Who is judging how “fast” you are?
In a community where there are all different levels of running, and all different levels of success, “fast” truly is relative.
Think about it. We’re all slower than the World Record holder of any event; only one person can be #1. This is something I have to remind myself of when I get into to comparing game and get discouraged about not being faster. I have to ask myself, what are my goals? Why does it matter if a person has a better time than you in a race you haven’t run? Are you planning on running in the Olympics? What matters to you when it comes to running?
For me, I want to get faster, I have long term goals and short term goals that are related to time. But the overarching goal is to always have fun and enjoy the sport. I’ve been running for so many years and have met many of my best friends through running. We all share a love for this sport where we put one foot in front of the other and take to open roads and trails.
I may finish behind some of these friends and others I may be in front of, but it never matters because at the end of the day we all ran our own races. Good or bad (judged only by ourselves), we have something to share and bond over brunch, beers and mimosas.
It is a gift to be able to run. There are many people out there who can’t fathom being able to run a mile, maybe because they’ve lost a limb, or they have debilitating pain they’re fighting against, or mentally they just cannot wrap their heads around it. So just being able to lace up and head out the door, or jump on the treadmill is a feat in and of itself, and something that runners should pat themselves on the back for. It should also be enjoyed. Because really what is the point, fast or slow, if you don’t love what you’re doing?
January 24, 2013 at 9:57 pm
It is interesting how we apply this to ourselves too, not just comparing ourselves to others. I find that I have had one hell of a time mentally getting under the 8:00/mi mark in races.
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January 24, 2013 at 11:08 pm
I’ve noticed that, you talk about the fear of seeing 7s on your watch. You know the cure? Stop wearing a watch.
I like your point and struggle with competing with my former self, even a self that ran a time 6 months to a year ago. My coach always told me to “stop thinking and just run”, it’s some of my favorite advice that I often don’t heed.
MegG recently posted..Why “fast” is relative
January 24, 2013 at 10:19 pm
This is good. After lamenting how slow I am since taking off over a decade and being older and hurting and all of that, I recently found out that my “slow” 5K is fast enough to make me a sub-seeded runner in my age group at a huge local race. Like it matters. LOL
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January 24, 2013 at 11:18 pm
It’s all in our heads and when I see myself getting too competitive, or when other people call themselves slow I get super annoyed. There’s no reason to put ourselves down, or to feel like less of a person because bloggerabc or bloggerxyz has a minute or ten on me. I certainly understand the want to get faster, but being sad about “being slow” is a waste of brain space.
MegG recently posted..Why “fast” is relative
January 25, 2013 at 4:55 am
Your always lapping the person on the couch, right? If you make the effort you are absolutely a runner!
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January 25, 2013 at 9:17 am
Exactly! I think that people can get caught up in the identity of being a runner, especially bloggers who may feel they need to be keeping up with other runners. In my eyes if you run, you’re a runner!
MegG recently posted..Why “fast” is relative
January 25, 2013 at 4:57 am
I always feel this way when I write about my diabetes issues. Thanks for sharing with us!
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January 25, 2013 at 4:58 am
Great post. I know I find myself constantly worrying that I’m too slow for my running partner. In the end, she doesn’t care, she’s just happy to have a running partner too. And you’re really right, the goal should be to enjoy it.
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January 25, 2013 at 9:58 am
You shouldn’t worry, I know that I’m always happy to go for a run with a friend, no matter what the speed! If she feels like she needs to go faster she can add that into her training on other days, that’s on her!
MegG recently posted..Why “fast” is relative
January 25, 2013 at 5:38 am
that last pic of you = hardcore awesome!!
January 25, 2013 at 10:00 am
My form isn’t completely all over the place! I like it too. It was really nice of the mustache dash people to offer free pictures!!
MegG recently posted..Why “fast” is relative
January 25, 2013 at 10:01 am
Amen! I hear this from runners so often, especially when people run together for the first time. Almost everyone describes themselves as slow – whether they run a 14 minute mile or 7 minute mile. It’s all about progress and we’re ALL runners!!
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January 25, 2013 at 10:08 am
Love this post! I used to fall into the runner comparison trap so often when I first started running/blogging. Now I’m really trying to embrace my own speed, even if it’s slower than others. Sometimes it’s fun to run slow
(And kinder to my body!)
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January 25, 2013 at 10:43 am
I love it! And I know it’s so hard not to compare, it’s also interesting to see how far people have come so it’s natural to want to see other people’s times. We can learn so much from each other if we can get that nagging feeling of “I’ll never be that good” out of our heads.
January 25, 2013 at 10:09 am
I love that last picture of you! Yes- great post… time goals are fun for me too, and it’s largely a personal competition, wondering how far I can push myself and how much faster I could be. But compared to elites, we’re all as slow as molasses.
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January 27, 2013 at 8:16 pm
Thanks Laura! I agree! I love to see how fast I can get and it’s important and rewarding for me, it’s a component that makes running fun, until it doesn’t. I can be pretty hard on myself when i don’t hit certain times so it’s important for me to also remember that in the end it’s all relative!
MegG recently posted..Why “fast” is relative
January 25, 2013 at 10:21 am
Love this post. Always trying to improve, but we must do it for ourselves not to compare to others
thanks for reminding us. I am on mobile so I can’t tell, is there a way to follow via rss or gfc? I would love to see your posts on a regular basis 
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January 25, 2013 at 10:39 am
Thanks Jodi! I know I have a button on the side bar for RSS, I think it can be found if you scroll all the way to the bottom on a mobile device. Let me know if you have trouble and thanks so much for saying hi!
January 25, 2013 at 3:56 pm
Lovely post. That is why I am not too fond of races that require a certain qualifying time. I mean, I don’t care THAT much, but shouldn’t we all be able to run the same race? I am happy when I am consistent and of course thrilled when I can improve any of my running times.
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January 28, 2013 at 8:32 pm
I haven’t thought of qualifying races in that way. I’m on the fence about them. As someone who has tried twice and failed to qualify for Boston, I see it as a personal challenge but it’s easy to be envious of those who have had an easier time getting the time, which can make it a negative experience. What if I never qualify, does that make me less of a marathoner? I think it all comes down to how one deals with perceived failure, and success, is it enough to just be able to run? Large questions. For me it boils down to this, is the effort worth the reward when the reward is fun with friends and family, or just fun and freedom of the run? Answer is a yes, for me.
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January 28, 2013 at 10:01 am
Excellent point! Time spent comparing to others is just wasted time/energy. I compete with myself and I’m much happier that way–wasn’t always the case when I was younger.
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January 28, 2013 at 8:34 pm
Indeed! I’m learning more and more, I have to admit I still find myself peaking at other people’s times on athlinks, but for the most part it’s me vs me.
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