I’m a Slow Runner and I’m OK With It
Have you ever watched a marathon or another running race? Have you wondered in awe how those athletes were able to cross the finish line in such a short time? Me too. Always. Despite finishing more than 30 official races — short and long-distance — over the past three years, I’m a slow runner. But who said running needs to be fast? Running at a slower speed has its own positives — I’ve discovered plenty for myself — so if you tend to be on the slower side and that makes you feel uncomfortable, read on.
Finishing Strong: On my first 10k, which turned out to be one of my fastest 10k races ever, I wanted to make it fast. I skipped most of the water stations, rushing through the course as fast as I could. I didn’t pay attention to the beautiful park with blooming trees and warm March sunshine. I just ran. I did finish fast only to feel dizzy, exhausted, and in a dire need to sit down and catch my breath. I got the time but I couldn’t savor the finish line moment of my first 10k. From then on, I made it my goal to cross the finish line strong, happy, and create a good running experience for myself. Now, finishing a race is always a special experience for me — I’m savoring the moment, admiring happy spectators’ faces around me, feeling strong, proud, and excited for myself and other runners. I’m far from being among the fastest on the course, but I go threw the race with a smile on my face, creating valuable memories from my run.
Enjoying the Run: I love running and running at my own pace helps me relax, observe, and appreciate my surroundings, whether it’s a local trail with wildlife and beautiful greenery or a foreign city. Sometimes I stop by to take a photo of an eye-catching building, a bunny on the side of the road, or a blooming tree, making the experience more memorable. And I’m not worried about sacrificing my time. I love meeting fellow runners, waving “Hello!” and smiling at them. I love being in tune with nature, feel its air, scents, and sounds around me. Would I be able to notice and enjoy all of this if time was my only goal? I doubt it. But running at my own, slower pace allows me to indulge in my run and my surroundings.
Meeting or Even Beating My Target Time: While speed is not my thing, I still set and achieve (sometimes, even overachieve!) my running goals. I usually set them based on the race length, course terrain, and my fitness level at that particular time and my average training pace. I’m also a strong believer in being strategic and allocating my energy wisely. My marathon strategy has always been to take a one-minute break to get a sip of water and catch my breath after every mile. I’ve used the same strategy for half-marathons and noticed that my finish time was better than if I were to run non-stop without taking scheduled breaks. I know it sounds counterintuitive and I was skeptical about it at first, too. But it works! Taking regular breaks also allows you to re-assess how you feel, look around, enjoy the race, and think about how far you’ve come.
Doing Fun Things Post-Running: When you don’t have a lot of free time during the week, you want to be wise about using precious weekend hours. When running in a long-distance race is taking half of your two weekend days, you still want to find time to enjoy your days off, spend time with friends, or do things for fun. When I run at my own pace and finish strong, I can continue with my day. I feel great and, after taking a quick shower, I still have the energy to go shopping, take my dog to the park, celebrate with my friends, or even go to a concert or an exhibition. Yes, my muscles may feel a bit sore, but it’s that pleasant mild post-workout fatigue that doesn’t prevent me to do more things in life and still have enjoyable weekends, race or not.
Unleashing Creativity: Running is a way for me to relax, listen to my body and the sounds of nature, and also listen to my thoughts. When I’m left with my thoughts for an hour or two, without any distractions, my mind becomes more flexible and unleashes creativity that’s been hidden away under the noise and stress of everyday life. It can bring up an idea of trying something new altogether or a creative solution to a problem that’s been on my mind. Or sometimes, I’m changing my perspective on things and look at the world from an angle that I haven’t thought of before. In any case, I’m coming back from my runs not only physically stronger and motivated to do more, but also stronger emotionally, more creative, and relaxed.
