Aside from health benefits, I run because it feels good to be faster than someone else. At any distance. Whether it be a friend, coworker, random person… if they’re faster than me it’ll always be something I think about
100% agreed. Whilst I’m always competing to be the best version of myself, I have to have someone to chase to keep me motivated. Winning my local Parkrun is a goal, having come 2nd about 10 times, but also being the fastest over 1500m - 5km at my club is a goal that requires me to get fitter and better than some very good runners.
Beau Miles (his YouTube channel is amazing) mentions this exact thing. He likes knowing that he’s put the work in to be the fittest person he meets on any given day.
When I’m out for a run and I see another runner ahead of me, I get obsessed to either keep pace with them, even if it nearly kills me or pass them up, if I feel they are going too slow. Also on the rare occasion another runner passes me up, I get angry and I get obsessed with pacing with them. A younger runner, about 40 years my junior passed me the other day, as I was taking it maybe a bit too easy. I then picked up my speed and paced him for about 5 miles, until he eventually stopped. I think he was in shock, when I eventually passed him up.
Yeah, I mean I think the advice to only compete against yourself comes from a good place, but it’s also not wrong to get your motivation from competing against other people.
I think that advice is usually directed towards people who are struggling because they’re unrealistically comparing themselves to others who are better than them, like they’ve just started out and comparing to people who’ve run for years.
It’s fine to compare yourself to others, that’s what racing is all about.
Aside from health benefits, I run because it feels good to be faster than someone else. At any distance. Whether it be a friend, coworker, random person… if they’re faster than me it’ll always be something I think about
This.
I adhere to the run your own run mentality but it feels great when someone else who doesn’t drops back.
Same. I need to be the best
100% agreed. Whilst I’m always competing to be the best version of myself, I have to have someone to chase to keep me motivated. Winning my local Parkrun is a goal, having come 2nd about 10 times, but also being the fastest over 1500m - 5km at my club is a goal that requires me to get fitter and better than some very good runners.
I have a friend that’s generally more athletic than me in most things, but he can’t beat my marathon PR, and I enjoy this.
This is my motivation too! Being one of, if not the most fit person in a room is such a good feeling.
Beau Miles (his YouTube channel is amazing) mentions this exact thing. He likes knowing that he’s put the work in to be the fittest person he meets on any given day.
https://youtu.be/EvT5XS7j-Dc?feature=shared
When I’m out for a run and I see another runner ahead of me, I get obsessed to either keep pace with them, even if it nearly kills me or pass them up, if I feel they are going too slow. Also on the rare occasion another runner passes me up, I get angry and I get obsessed with pacing with them. A younger runner, about 40 years my junior passed me the other day, as I was taking it maybe a bit too easy. I then picked up my speed and paced him for about 5 miles, until he eventually stopped. I think he was in shock, when I eventually passed him up.
Yeah, I mean I think the advice to only compete against yourself comes from a good place, but it’s also not wrong to get your motivation from competing against other people.
Especially coworkers
I think that advice is usually directed towards people who are struggling because they’re unrealistically comparing themselves to others who are better than them, like they’ve just started out and comparing to people who’ve run for years.
It’s fine to compare yourself to others, that’s what racing is all about.
Yep. And it’s actually great to do it in the workplace, because you know everyone else has a real job and is working roughly as much as you are.
I got two of the guys on my team to sign up for a half with me in February. If either of them beats me they get my job.