On Sunday as I was walking to my car after the Quad Cities race, I was carrying the trophy that I won for placing 2nd in my age group.  I passed a lady who was walking slowly.  She was hurting a bit and I could tell she had recently finished the half marathon.  I said, “hello” and she looked up at me.  She saw my trophy and with big eyes asked, “How did you get that?”  

I told her that I had placed in my age division for the 5K.  She immediately looked sad and said, “I’m really slow, I run a 12 minute mile”.  It absolutely broke my heart.  I hear this all the time.  It almost always comes from someone who just ran a very LONG race, and the person can’t yet appreciate the mere accomplishment of finishing something so grand.  So many compare themselves to others and assume that what they accomplish means less because they ran a slower race.  In reality, when we all run the same race and cross the same finish line then we receive the same finishers medal, regardless of pace.  It’s not a mistake that race officials handout these medals in mass.  It’s not a mistake that the finisher medals from an event all look the same.

We have just accomplished the very same thing.  Be proud.  Hold your head high, no matter how fast or slow you covered the miles.  It took a lot of hard work to even toe the start line so bask in the glory of your accomplishment.  You earned that medal, wear it proudly.  It’s the same one I have, you know.

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz.com ** amanda@tootallfritz.com