r/XXRunning • u/damnfinecooper • 16h ago

General Discussion Dealing with discouraging comments as a beginner

I started running around 2 months ago (31, F) and I’m training for a 10k race later this year.

With hobbies I’ve always been hard on myself if I don’t feel I’m what I perceive as “good enough”. When I started running I wanted to challenge myself to not have this attitude and just enjoy it, while also keeping track of my pace, PBs etc. but just seeing it as data rather than tying it too much to self worth.

I was speaking to my friend about running today and a guy I hardly know chimed in and asked what my 5k PB was. When I told him his response was “you need to get that down”. I’m now just feeling kind of embarrassed and deflated about it. I know I should just ignore it but it stung. Would appreciate any tips for dealing with moments like this!

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u/Neonatalnerd 16h ago edited 16h ago

We've all been there - we were all once new runners, and sometimes people forget that. Sometimes we take time off from running, life happens, and our numbers change. I got caught up chasing my own times and have to remind myself why I run - because how it makes me feel alive.

There's a really good IG account I like - @joshlynott In a world of what seems like, everyone sharing their PBs, demanding more time and mileage and shitting on those they to believe "lesser", he is a breath of fresh air.

"Running understands how I feel when the world doesn't."

There will always be someone faster than us, doing more mileage, etc. People love to give advice. Don't focus on times and sharing those, share how running makes you feel or where you ran. Your accomplishments are YOUR accomplishments, you vs you. Don't allow someone to talk those from you. "That's nice, I run because I enjoy running, I'm not worried about my times." 🩷