A few years ago, I thought it would be fun to learn how to run. The training for me was all about enjoying the process, nothing else. I just wanted to see if I could do it. And once I started to get it, I couldn’t stop. I’d learned a new skill, and I couldn’t get enough. A few months into it, I noticed my body starting to change.
Huh. Duh.
An accidental byproduct of something I just wanted to do for fun.
But when we moved to Charlotte, running changed for me. In Buies Creek, I had the roads to myself. I never wondered how fast or slow I was going, all that mattered was that I was doing it. But here, I’m surrounded by other runners. Runners who run farther than me, faster than me, who have better form than me.
Anxiety started to poison the thing that once brought me peace and comfort. I became obsessed with how fast I was going. I’d strategically run the opposite direction, hoping not to come across another runner doing the same for fear of getting lapped. I’d get stuck in my head, and my runs would leave me stressed and exhausted in the worst way. And eventually, I stopped trying.
It’s easy to fall victim to comparison: in life, in fitness, in business.
Last week, I made a pact with myself to take the pressure off. To run just to run. Not because I need to lose a few pounds or tone up. Not because I ate french fries and ice cream. Not for any other reason than because it’s something that brings me joy.
And go figure, once I removed the pressure, I found myself enjoying the process.
Let this be a reminder to you to keep on keeping on at whatever pace works for you. Getting trapped in the game of comparison and pressure rarely yields productive results.
So take a deep breath. Remove the pressure. And try again.
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