Ever since I became a runner in 2012, I’ve been a proverbial fish jumping into bigger and bigger ponds. I got my feet wet with Couch to 5k. Then I jumped into the 10k pond. Now I’m about to run my fourth half marathon.
I’ve always identified myself as a “slow” runner, in part because as a beginner, I really was starting and finishing towards the back when I ran my first races. As soon as I accomplished one distance, I started working towards the next. Since I was working hard just to get to the start line, sure enough I was starting at the back with the rest of the new-to-that-distance-runners.
If I’m not careful, it can feel that despite all my hard work, I’m not making progress. After all, two years of running later, I’m still starting at the back.
Motivated people do this to ourselves all the time. As soon as we achieve something, we start reaching for the next achievement, surrounding ourselves with people who are already successful in that field and learning from them. No matter how big a fish we become, we always feel small because we keep jumping into the next pond.
Sound like you?
Stop.
Turn around.
Look at all the little fish and small ponds behind you.
According to numbers from statista.com and quickfacts.census.gov, there are approximately 300 million people in the United States over the age of 5, and only 54 million of them participate in running or jogging. That’s 18% of people, which means if you’re jogging at all, you’re a faster runner than 3 out of every 5 people you meet.
Running USA states that in 2013 only 1.9 million people finished a half marathon (which was a record high). That means that if you jog 13.1 miles, regardless of how long it takes you to finish, you’re accomplishing something that only .6% of people in the United States did last year. (that’s POINT 6 percent… make sure you look at the point!) According to the New York Times, If you were in the top 1 percent of earners in the US, your household income would be over $383,000 a year. No small fish.
So when I meander towards the back of the pack at the starting line on Sunday, I will turn around and think about the millions of people who would be behind me. The millions of people not running. Sure, I’m running 10:30’s and all my twitter friends are running 7 and 8 minute miles, but that’s because I dove headfirst into their pond, not because I’m not awesome.
And pretty soon, I’ll sign up for a 5k, where I now start right in the middle and race in the low 9’s. Then I can remind myself that it took swimming in a bigger pond to feel comfortable in that one.
I can’t wait for Sunday. I will to put my bib number on. I will find myself a place at the rear of the pack. I will applaud myself for being there and racing the same event as the elite athletes that are starting out at the front. They’ve earned their place, and I’ve earned mine.
Turn around. Look where you come from. Go back sometimes and visit the small pond; enjoy being a larger fish while you’re there. Be proud when you look at the incredible athletes you’re now joining on the race course. Be proud of your tenacity for doing something you’re not the best at, because you love it and it makes you healthier and stronger.
And on race day, remember: “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…”
Thank you for this post Kelly, it came at a time I really needed it. Good luck this weekend!
Thanks Debi! 🙂
Great post Kelly. Yes, it sounds like me!!
I just want to shake my head at myself when I think of my first 5K. Three miles was an eternity. At the beginning, I couldn’t figure out why a bunch of teenage boys were charging down the road in the opposite direction – oh, they’re running the 5K too and there’s a hairpin turn up ahead. I wore a hoodie then had to run with it cumbersomely tied around my waist when I got too hot. I got my butt kicked by an 81-year-old woman. Dang, she was impressive. My time was abysmal.
*sigh*
Good luck this weekend. Have fun!!
You have to watch out for older runners! Some of them have so much experience that they’re real race contenders! I love that, because it gives me so much hope that I’ll remain active for most of my life and be rocking half marathons when I’m in my sixties and possibly seventies. I saw a few women age 63 (it had their age on the front of their bibs) in line at the race, and I was completely inspired. It’s just harder if you START running at a later age – I find myself so far behind in my age category because I was almost 29 the first time I ran a 5k. It’s hard to make up the lost time…. but that doesn’t really matter, does it? What matters is enjoying the process, getting outside, meeting new goals, and challenging ourselves.
I’d like to be rocking races when I’m in my 60s and 70s too. Go us!
Good luck this weekend!
Thank you! I saw this right before my race and it made me smile 🙂