Measuring up...

My latest obsession has been with running. I have always envied those who label themselves as "runners." Previously, I could never understand why anyone would run to just run. You are not chasing a ball, you do not get to score any points, you do not get to hit, jab or kick anyone in retaliation....you just run. What's the point in that. Now... I know. I picked up running again (although I use that term loosely because I have never been fully committed to it) in May when I discovered my neighbor was interested in doing the same. I was psyched. I had someone else to motivate me and hold me accountable. We started out slow and short. It worked but I soon found myself wanting to push myself harder and farther. I'm not sure if it was by body wanting to do that or my competetive nature. Regaurdless, I stuck with it and am getting ready to run my first 5 mile race. With the exception of last Saturday when I did five miles with April (on some of THE WORST HILLS!), I have never run this far before. After doing it last weekend I feel ready and empowered to do this race. So being the competitive person I am, I started looking up people I know who have done the race to see their times. Then I got to thinking why? Why am I always comparing myself to others? Why am I constantly measuring success by what others have or currently do. Why did I start this whole running thing? To complete? NO - I started this to feel better about myself, to get back into shape, maybe lose a few pounds and finally work towards completing a life dream of finishing a marathon. So if I started doing this for all of these reasons...why am I constantly worried about how I will compare to others - how I measure up. ENOUGH with that. Who cares what others do...I need to start looking only at myself and stop judging myself and others based on an average or what has already been done. I need to blaze my own trail in my story of life and I'm starting to realize I have NEVER done that. So here is my vow to myself and what I constantly need to tell myself: WHO CARES!!!
See you at the finish line!