“When you say you are ‘slow,’ do you mean compared to the 93% of people who can’t run a mile without stopping, or the majority of Americans who never exercise?” We asked a runner this question at a recent race expo. She was trying to convince us that she was a “slow runner” and we were trying to convince her that there is no such thing as slow. (To be honest, we made up the 93% number. Fortunately, she didn’t ask us where we got our statistics.)
In the world of fitness and personal growth, we often find ourselves caught in a web of comparisons. We measure our progress against others, benchmark our achievements, and often fall into the trap of labeling ourselves as "slow" or "fast." But what if we told you that there is no such thing as slow, at least not in the way you might think?
The concept of slow and fast is entirely relative. What's slow for one person might be a remarkable achievement for another. It all boils down to perception and comparison. This is why our fitness challenges as Run The Edge do not have leaderboards or promote who can finish the "fastest." The point of climbing a mountain is to get to the top not who can do it the fastest. The point of our challenges is to finish and then to keep moving forward.
Every step you take is a step forward. You're covering ground, pushing your limits, and getting stronger. That's anything but slow. In fact, it's progress, and progress is always worth celebrating.
When you compare yourself to others, you risk losing sight of your unique path and the incredible strides you're making. Remember, the only person you need to be faster than is the person you were yesterday.
Here's a little secret: Progress might be gradual, but it's also relentless. It doesn't matter if you're moving at a pace that others might deem "slow." What matters is that you're moving forward, pushing your boundaries, and becoming the best version of yourself.
What if we replace "slow" and "fast" from our personal narrative and replace them with "progress" and "improvement?" Maybe then we can focus on not just getting physically healthy but mentally as well. You are NOT slow. You are in progress!