Raise your hand if you love running even though you’re slower than a sloth crawling through a huge pile of quicksand.
You can’t see me right now (at least I hope not, because that would be really creepy), but I’m raising my hand proudly with the rest of you.
I’ve been a slow runner ever since I started running and working out during my college years. Running is not my main priority right now, so it’s understandable that I’m not going to be posting any impressive times. Even ten years ago when pretty much the only exercise I did was running, I was still slow.
The fastest time I’ve ever achieved was about a 9:30 pace. That was on a really, really good day. Usually, my average pace fell between 10:00 and 10:15 per mile back then. These days, I’m lucky if I am able to maintain a pace of 10:30-10:45 per mile. An 11-minute mile is the norm.
I used to be self-conscious about what a slow runner I am, and I hated talking to other people about running because I didn’t want to admit what my times were. I was paranoid about not connecting my running apps to my social media accounts because I didn’t want to accidentally share a run and have people see how slow it was.
Eventually, I realized that all of this was ridiculous, for a couple of reasons.
One day it dawned on me that I was putting way too much pressure on myself. And for no good reason. I say it over and over again, but the fact is I’m not a professional athlete. I never will be. It’s refreshing to know that on days that I run, I do it simply because I enjoy it. I don’t have to force myself to run so I can win a marathon or qualify for the Olympics. There’s no sense in me getting upset over a slow run.
It also became clear that all of the judgment I felt for not being a fast runner was all in my head. When people wanted to talk to me about running, it wasn’t so that they could laugh at me. They weren’t doing it to brag about how much better they were. They just wanted to have a nice conversation with someone else who shared the same interest. In my experience, runners are supportive and welcoming and just like being around other runners – regardless of how fast or slow they are.
And, like I said earlier, running isn’t my main focus right now. It’s silly for me to think that I can bust out an 8-minute per mile run when I only run a few times a month. Lifting weights is where most of my attention is these days. We all know that it’s not easy to be a strong weightlifter and a fast runner at the same time. Maybe my interests will shift back to running in the future. Maybe it will always be something I do occasionally when the mood strikes. For now, I’m embracing my slow runner status. I’m not letting myself feel self-conscious about it anymore.
If you’re a slow runner and you feel down because you’re not as fast as other runners, I get it. I used to feel that way, too. But don’t let it stop you! The important thing is that you push yourself and do the best you can. There are so many things to enjoy about running. It’s silly to be embarrassed about running an 11-minute (or 12- or 13-minute) mile. Just lace up your sneakers and get it done – no matter how long it takes!
