Let the mind games begin
You work hard. You train. You learn what your body can and can’t do. You know what pace, recovery, and nutrition works and what doesn’t. You put money down. You book the hotel.
You’re ready. You show up. And, the mind games begin.
You look around at thousands of other people and begin to compare.
“But I’m not racing them! I’m
You have to resist the urge to toss the plan you’ve spent months on simply because you are racing with others.
As I mentioned before, when I talk of “racing” I don’t mean competitively. I’m talking about the challenging thing you choose just because it’s hard.
Triathlon is the ultimate individual sport. You’re with so many other people but you’re racing alone with no help. It’s all you and that’s part of the allure.
Your race is your race.
You are running your own race. Your race is your race. The course is the same, but the approach is up to you. You are distinct. You are unique.
It’s the same in life. You may not run alone but it is your race and not someone else’s.
When you embrace this, it frees you up. You can relax. You don’t worry as much. You enjoy it more. You focus on what is yours to do and let others tend to theirs.
Three Keys to Running Your Own Race
1. Drop the comparison game.
Others have more expensive bikes. They are faster. More experienced. They look the part.
It’s no different in life. Just scroll Instagram. They travel more. They have a bigger house. A nicer car. The perfect life. It’s all smiles and all laughs.
The quickest way to be miserable is to
If you are going to compare, compare down not up.
If you are going to compare, compare down not up. I don’t mean look down on others. That’s something entirely different.
But, if you’re going to compare, compare yourself with those who have less. Those with health issues. Those that can’t work. Those walking through deep suffering. It’s a perspective shift that makes you grateful.
When I’m running my race, I don’t care about the guy coming in ten places ahead of me. We’re getting the same medal. The same prize. The same satisfaction for having done the thing.
2. Remember that others aren’t even paying attention to you.
The hard truth is that p
So, while you’re all worried about everyone else and how they are doing, they aren’t even thinking about you. They are running their own race. Doing their own thing.
You’re so worried about how you look and the truth is, no one cares. The moment you realize this is the moment you can enjoy what’s right in front of you. Fear no longer has a hold and you can get on with it.
3. You can only give your best, not someone else’s.
Your best is your best. And, only you know if you’re giving it or not. All the energy and time spent trying to keep up with everyone else is pointless. It’s w
The truth is, we don’t sustain our absolute best all the time. We miss the mark. We slack off. We falter and fail. And that is where grace comes in.
So, pick yourself up and keep moving. Keep growing. Keep learning. Focus on that.
Day in and day out is where it counts. It’s habits. Consistency in the small things.
Find what you’re good at. The race that you’re supposed to run. Go and do that. Run your own race and make it great.