Monday, January 2, 2012

What am I going to do about it?

In my humble opinion there are two kinds of fast people. The first are gifted through breeding or training early in life, they have never known slow as many of us know slow. They have athletically gifted parents or started swim team at 5 and running track at 10. Speed is what they know and they are unable to comprehend slow. They do not understand going slow is not a choice. They don’t believe a 13 minute pace IS running. They don’t consider us athletes. They assume those of us who are slow lack training, desire or fortitude.  They are wrong.

I heard someone say the other day they felt sorry for slow people. On behalf of my slow sisters and brothers we don’t want your pity. What we would like is your encouragement and understanding.  Some of us come upon our lack of speed honestly. We didn’t have active parents or the encouragement and funds to be on a swim team or go to a school that even had a track. Of course it is true anybody can run but not everybody BELIEVES they can or has someone else believe they can. Please keep in mind a great deal of us came into the sport of triathlon or any sport for that matter, later in life.

We want you to understand a lot of us train just as hard and just as long as you do. The assumption is if we only trained more we too would be fast. This is where the second kind of fast people come in. I know athletes who started running as adults and shave a minute per mile off their pace every year. That is awesome and inspiring but not reality for everyone. Those who were not always fast understand those of us who are slow. They cheer the loudest for us on the run course or at the finish line. They have raced a 5K at a 12:30 pace, they know what a 15 mph bike average feels like. They worked hard, some harder than others and the speed came. They know what it is like to be slow and they appreciate the speed they have. These are generous athletes and great friends willing to spend their time and share their knowledge with their slower fellow athletes.

I am slow. Like most athletes I work at staying consistent but am not always successful. When I miss one week of training I suffer and lose fitness at an alarming rate. I get injured every single year. I want to get faster, I want my runs and bikes to be less painful.

So what am I going to do about it? I know I am not going to change the minds of the super fast they are going to believe if I only trained 20 hours a week and lost 20 pounds I would be faster and maybe they are right but at what cost? What I will do is work hard, be consistent, follow a plan, enjoy the journey and maybe, some day, the speed will come.  

7 comments:

  1. Sounds good to me. Good attitude. You are, what you are and it is enough. The standard is against oneself and not others..against improving you from you. Great post.

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  2. Great post! I was one of those people that ran a 12:00 mile for a couple of years and just this past year have gotten a little faster. It's all relative :) I'm just happy to be out doing something!

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  3. It's so hard when you lose ground. This year has been rough for me and i have lost a lot of time. Takes forever just to get a few seconds back, then you are sick or injured again.

    You're out there and doing the work. That's what counts.

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  4. Great post, Keri! I hear ya. Speed is all relative. I think that as long as people are trying, then they deserve the same cheers as the person in first place. We all work hard and we are all doing what we can.

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  5. Great post Keri! I am slow, but I have worked hard over the past couple of years to get a little faster (maybe harder than some of those naturally fast people). My main goal is to maintain fitness and to have FUN! If it ain't fun, then why bother? Besides, in every running group I've been in, us slow folks have the most fun!

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  6. Great post. And what respect goes. Who should earn it more. Someone who races for 9 hours or one that races for 16 hours....

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  7. I'm so happy to have found your blog! Like you, I am slow...but working on staying consistent and having fun! I loved your "Perspective" post too. Can't wait to read more!

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