I also went my daughter run a 1/2 marathon and was in awe to see the different kind of bodies and said to myself I can do this. At 54, I try and run at least a 5 or 10k a couple times a year. It’s good for my sole, mind, and body.
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That is fantastic!! I so love running!! Glad you do as well!!
I haven’t raced this season at all, and my training has been curtailed, all due to foot condition that still isn’t resolved. And I was depressed about missing the good vibes of training hard and upset about my body fat percent growing again and how I look. My symptoms have forced me to run shorter distances and less frequently. And since my bout of Covid in April, I have lingering problems breathing and feel out of breath and panting much more easily.
What does help my head is to ignore my smart watch (I still can’t quite ditch it altogether, yet) and run to the capacity of my body. Run and walk and run and walk. I have been on the bike a lot more, and have explored various yoga sessions too. The physical exercise is more important and effective in quieting my head than it is in getting me in top shape this year.
Like you, when I have several days without a run, I miss it physically and emotionally. And that makes me a runner.
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Beautiful and true!! Mind body and spirit!
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I’m just now seeing this thread. Thanks for starting it. It resonates a lot for me for sure. Working on it!
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I’m very late to this thread, but I love the message.
Both the rooms of recovery and the gym totally have this in common. It’s easy to feel self conscious when we first walk in. What we eventually learn is everyone there genuinely doing the work has a profound respect for anyone else who’s showing up on the regular. Doing the grind. Little by little, getting better.
Hell, when it comes to the gym it can nearly bring tears to me eyes seeing someone power through that first painful month where everything is a struggle. And awe at those who seem totally fit but stay fit by always staying on it.
It’s all very heccin inspirational!
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So true! The thread idea came from me comparing my recovery time to other with YEARS behind them. The only thing I could relate it to was fitness but honestly I have an issue with comparing in general. We could be talking about recovery, fitness, life, looks, etc. I have such a hard time with comparing. I try hard to remind myself I am my only competition.
@RosaCanDo I’m glad you found the thread 
it’s not a very active one lol I just happened across that photo this morning
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I like this. It is up to us to try and be a better version of ourself then yesterday… we’re either getting better or worse. I remember thinking I wasn’t as far as I should be in my sobriety, wondering why I was struggling so much, others didn’t seem to be.
And the gym lol… ego lifting with shitty form to say your as strong as this person or that person… I think it’s just part of the journey for most unfortunately.
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Maybe I’m just older and wiser, but I quit comparing myself to others a long time ago. Now, I only compare myself to me: am I better today than I was yesterday? Did I learn something new today? If yes, than I know more today than I did yesterday. Did I teach something new to my students? If yes, then I’m a better instructor than I was yesterday. Did I try to show my wife she matters more than anything? If yes, then I’m a better husband today than yesterday.
And if I fall short in all those other areas, I’m another day sober, so I am better today than I was yesterday.
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I got into bad thinking by comparing myself with a good friend. We have the same degree. It’s slowly creeping up this feeling of not being good enough. Too stupid. It’s not even an active thing. It’s listening to her and silently checking in: didn’t know that or that of what she is so familiar with. Or talking about money. 
It’s tough part this not comparison topic. I have to be vigilant as it is everywhere. It’s exhausting and tiring.
I can distract myself by stepping away from it saying to myself (which often sounds as a weak excuse): this doesn’t make her a better person, being more happy and satisfied (which I think she is but this plays probably a minor role). It’s really an ongoing project and I honestly cannot say that I have crossed this off my list. It’s more like facing it again and again and often the thoughts start to spiral when I am already in a bad mood. Baby steps. I think (I try to convince myself of this) that being aware of it, of what’s going on, that I start to talk me down again, is maybe what is on the agenda at the moment. And scolding me for having these thoughts won’t help. Funny, yesterday I was thinking that I am so good to accept me being bad or not enough as a fact, reality and when I would say that I am good at something I instantaneously think how arrogant I am and that I over interpret this or that. Me being good doesn’t have the same ground or impact as me being not good enough, bad.
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Treating the interaction as a learning experience may help a bit. You didn’t know that or this when the conversation started but you do now.
Being in pharmacy, there are many different aspects and while I have the same license as other techs we all know different things. People that work with the insurance could run circles around me with their knowledge because that is not something I deal with daily.
I think it’s a good thing you are aware and working to compare less. I truly believe comparison is something we all deal with in one way or any.
Be kind to yourself my friend and have a great day 
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Love this! So true
This past weekend I had comparison come and try to steal my joy. The last hike I did was pretty hard for me. I was already over 3000ft higher in elevation than where I live and I was climbing upward. It was taking my breath away just trying to get up some parts of the trail. Next thing I see- a runner, literally effortlessly running on this trail I’m struggling with. I saw three or four more people running this trail. At first, I was mad at myself. I move like a turtle hiking. I like to stop and take in the views but also sometimes I need to catch my breathe and these people were just running like deer through the woods. I reminded myself that they probably live nearby and do that trail often. I saw people doing it without water and I had 2 liters with me. It seemed everyone was having an easier walk than me. I repeated in my head that comparison is the thief of joy. I’m so happy I was able to push those thoughts out of my head and enjoy my beautiful surroundings.
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Sounds like you had a great hike. There should be no shame with struggling in mother nature, she can be very brutal and effortlessly kills the weak. I’ve been wandering around in the mountains my whole life and I struggle all the time, it’s part of the fun. As for the people who run, don’t worry about them. In my mind they are missing out. I like your style, it’s like my own. I like to take my time in nature, see and learn as much as I can and enjoy every bit of it. Also in my neck of the woods if you act like a deer a big scary animal will eat you, hahaha. Happy trails to you.
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