Competitive Vs Motivated

While I moved from the half marathon training block to marathon training block (the race is in January), I had some time during the recovery weeks to reflect on the past weeks of running and plan ahead for the January race. I was itching to get started with the new block and my physio asked me to slow down a week more to recover completely. I realized that I hated being slowed down for another week. It made me wonder if I am being too competitive!

I was always competitive. I always wanted to improve myself. I always wanted to do better than others around me. There was a time I had a huge fear of failure before every race and when I was on an injury-spree and DNFs, I was fuming with frustration and disappointment. So, it was a bit worrying if my sole motivation to run and train is competition.

It is not all competition. Self-improvement is not a competition. Of course I want to kick some asses in races; but what i find most satisfying is improving myself. I am always motivated to do better than yesterday.

But I should also learn to calm down a but and be kind to myself. Some days won’t be mine and i should be okay with that!