Friday Ramble 02/25/22

This week: Avoiding the comparison trap, a mind/body plank breakthrough, and a note of appreciation for sharing your stories.

The other day, about a mile into a run while climbing a decent sized-hill, I heard another runner coming up behind me. He breezed by with barely a sound, save for a subtle whoosh as he passed. There was no wasted motion to his stride. No huffing and puffing accompanying his breathing.  

Damn, I thought. That’s the last I’ll see of that guy today. 

A few miles later, however, our paths crossed again thanks to the zig-zag nature of the trail system. We exchanged pleasantries and ran together for a bit. His pace was crisp, way too fast for what I was trying to accomplish with this particular run, but still fun and engaging. 

“What are you doing today?” he asked. 

“10,” I said, keeping my words to a minimum. “You?” 

“Oh, 20-22,” he said cheerfully. “Been out since 4:30 this morning.” 

He then offered a detailed scouting report of the trail conditions in the park. Which routes still had ice and/or snow, which ones were clear. The dude had put down some seriously technical miles in the dark, and after 3+ hours in the bitter cold, he seemed as fresh as when he started. 

By this point, it was absolutely clear that my new friend was operating on an entirely different level than anything I cared to approach. So, I eased off my pace and called out, “Go get it, man.” He waved and shot off down the trail, bounding down a tricky slope like a gazelle before disappearing out of sight for good. 

Damn, I thought, again. Now that’s a runner. 

Rather than feel diminished after getting dropped so quickly, I felt inspired by his skill and energy. We may not have been in the same league as runners, but it would be foolish to compare myself to him even if we were, since I know nothing about his background or training. 

Yet, runners seem to do this all the time, even with people we don’t know and have never met. In our worst moments, we can lose our sense of self and question our own worth as runners. It’s a trap, but it’s an easy one to fall into, especially when we lack confidence in who we are and what we’re trying to accomplish.