Who you callin' slow?

I am slow. I have never broken the tape at the end of a race, have never received an age group award - heck, I've never even placed in the top 50% of finishers in any race that I've done. I am a "back of the pack" runner. I am slow.

Recently, I've gotten faster. But I still consider myself slow. Then, today, I read this article.

"Here’s a secret about running. The feeling you get after a new PR, the satisfaction from a tough workout well done, and the disappointment from a bad performance all feel the same no matter how fast you are. That’s the beauty of our sport."

Huh.  Well, there's something.  Last year, when I ran my first 5K, it took me over 41 minutes.  Then, a few months later, I ran a 5K and it took me just under 36.  I was elated.  Yet I down played my elation, because 36 minutes is "slow."   I improved by over 5 minutes - cut my pace by over a minute per mile - and yet I still felt unworthy.

Last month, I ran/walked a 10 mile race, and while I was thrilled with the race and my finishing time, I didn't do a race report ON MY OWN BLOG because I felt that my time was nothing to "brag" about.  Plus the fact that I hadn't actually RUN the whole thing.

". . . regardless of your pace, you’re doing better than almost 80 percent of Americans. In a study conducted by the CDC, researchers found that less than 20 percent of Americans get the recommended levels of exercise, and more than a quarter of U.S. adults do not devote any time to physical activity."

 Again, huh.  I'm in the top 20% of something.  No matter what my pace.

I am run/walking a half marathon on Sunday, and I'm going to probably finish at the back of the pack.  But you know what?  I'm going to write one hell of a race report - and I'll be damn proud, no matter how my finishing time may compare to others.  Because I will have done something I never thought I'd be able to do, and that is worth bragging about.