Last week, Timehop reminded me what was happening in my life at this time last year: a lot of running. One-hundred and fifty-six miles of running in fact.
Gee, thanks. Just what I wanted to see when my running mileage is currently zero.
Immediately after reading that post, my mind did that automatic thing that everyone’s mind does: it went to that dark and unhealthy place of comparison.
We all know that place, right? The one that tells us we aren’t doing enough as so-and-so, training hard enough, biking enough, running enough, eyebrows perfect enough. The one that tells us we aren’t good enough. It’s not a fun place to be, inside your head like that, second guessing every little decision. Maybe I if I only did this. Or, maybe if I only did that. Maybe if I had better eyebrow genes! Damn you, mom and dad! (I’m kidding, mom and dad!)
When you stay in your head like that, comparing your journey to someone else’s journey – or even sometimes to your own journey from another point in time – you know what? Your journey suddenly loses its luster and sucks. Because her journey looks so much better! She always makes it look effortless and perfect… pushes so many watts… runs so many miles a week… look at her Strava data!
Well, I’m here to tell you – and to tell myself – to stop that right now. STOP THAT COMPARISON BULLSHIT. Because it’s not fair to you and all the hard work you are doing right now.
One year ago, I was a month out from IMCdA in the midst of peak training. Today, Kona is about 150 days out – and, I’m at a completely different spot in my training volume. It’s an unfair comparison to think I should be at the run volume I was at last May.
Sure, the work’s not perfect all the time or exactly how you want it to be (what I wouldn’t give to be running right now!). But, (I’m) you’re doing the work. Keep doing the work. Keep working hard and giving it your best every single day. It’s the only way you’re gonna improve.
And, like me, keep this on repeat in your head:
Comparison is the thief of joy. -Theodore Roosevelt
15 Comments
So much insight, Erin!
Believe…..believe….believe!
Always, always! Thank you, Mom! <3
I have a really, really hard time with comparison. I can’t seem to do anything that my friends are doing-and they’re all around my age. It’s getting hard to be happy and social with folks who are all doing training and races that I can only dream of. I’m going to do my best to have my own fun adventures this summer, but it stings to always be cheering others and not have my own race day.
“eyebrows perfect enough” — love that you added that in there! haha, all the times I, too, have compared my ugly eyebrows to the girl with the perfect ones around me. 😉 Silliness!! Great post, as always, sis!
Meh, running schmunning (I think that’s a word, right?!). I know you’ve been KILLING IT on the bike lately (and I imagine in the pool too), so just remember to focus on what is going well and focus on what is presently in your control. Stay grateful for every day you get to move your body and do things that you love 🙂 And if you find yourself comparing (to yourself or someone else), use it as fuel for the fire!! I know you know all these things of course!
I needed this today, Erin. Lately I’ve been doing a lot of this “comparison bullshit” at the pool. I’m a pretty slow swimmer, so it gets in my head every time I do a group swim or have to share a lane with someone a little faster. Heck, even looking over to the lane next to me and seeing someone fly by makes me doubt myself. Which leads to feeling incompetent. But at least I am there. At least I am trying. At least I am wanting to be better. You’re right – comparison robs us of the joy we can experience by just doing, and trying, and working hard.
Yes, i need to remember this! I tend to belittle what I do, saying I’m “only” training for a sprint. But my journey back from sedentary life has been loads of fun, and comparing it to others does take the luster away. Why would I do that to myself? Such wise words, Erin. Thank you!
Oh, Erin! What great timing just when I needed this. This has been a “meh” couple of weeks for me – the comparison was present and luster not so much. Comparison is indeed the thief of joy and I won’t sulk at the fact I’m “only” doing so much because it IS enough! xo
Thank you for the timely reminder! 🙂
A great reminder that comparison often isn’t helpful.
I agree: stop that comparison bullshit! And if you were to ignore orders and start running, everything would fall apart. Are you training simply to be able to run? No, something far greater, consisting of many pieces of a larger puzzle. Your running piece is missing just now, but you’ll get it back.
Btw I too have thicker eyebrow envy 😀
Absolutely, YES!! I’ve noticed in some of the triathlon facebook groups I’m in people put in so many more miles than me, and I second guess if I’m doing enough. I do what works for me. I do this because it’s fun. Doing what someone else does might not be as fun to me. So keep doing your thing!
Great post, and I love that quote. We have to remember that we are only competing against the best version of ourselves, and even with that, there is a caveat that we are doing the best we can at that time.
So much YES in this post. In so many aspects of my life right now, comparison to others can be almost debilitating. So, thank you for the reminder, and the quote. Wise words 🙂
Whenever I feel empty of joy it is usually because I am comparing my professional/ personal/ athletic journey to someone else. It is *always* relief to know that I’m not the only one who suffers from this affliction!